What makes a heroine on prime time television?

A recent study of female television heroes shows they have one 
common factor: Money.

Female action-adventure heroes or highly outspoken heroines either 
have trust funds or good jobs or both, says Dr. Susan Kray, assistant 
professor of communications. "Money is the holy water which makes 
everything possible for the female television hero. All heroes have to 
have the right looks, race, age and style before they can be admitted to 
the hero business, but females must have money as well."

Kray studied several prime time female heroines and found they did 
well financially and look it. They have professional salaries, or salaries 
plus inheritances, and no spouses or dependents.

"Each (female hero) is backed by money, sometimes big money," said 
Kray. "At the very least, she controls all of her own salary; no one else 
has claims on it. But it is not enough to possess money. She has to live 
her money. She has to 'look good,' in the Hollywood sense of looking 
good."

Affluent feminine characters apparently play well with the American 
viewing audience. Despite occasional violence or even unethical 
behavior, they find an audience which views them as acceptable, Kray 
said. "They are perceived as being perfectly feminine, no matter how 
many empires they run or ruin, and no matter how many corpses they 
leave scattered behind them."