The genre of melodrama has fueled debate for decades as it is constantly being critically redefined. Rick Altman argues that melodrama has "a syntax but lacks a clear semantic dimension", while Linda Williams sees it as a "mode" or a "tendency", its formal and stylistic motifs varying depending on the era of production and of the medium. ” (Griggs, April 1, 2007, p. 101). Melodramas are written for women's entertainment and aim to appeal to their sensitive nature and emotions. With this in mind, the way women are portrayed in some melodramatic films is interesting From a feminist point of view, melodramas sit alongside romantic comedies and chick flicks and it could be argued that they are actually a combination of the two. However, it seems that these films are destroying everything that feminists have fought for for decades they have tended to stereotype women, portraying them as desperate and incredibly dependent on men. A clear example of this is Jane Wyman's character, Cary Scott in Sirk's All That Heaven Permits, in which a widow lives. ...