Leader of the pack: modelling a modified leadership style in 'City Homicide'

Abstract

An analysis of a recent Australian television drama series, City Homicide (2007) offers some interesting recommendations about gendered leadership styles. This series, set in the homicide investigation section of a major city, presents multiple models of leadership, each embodied by one of the senior detectives. In essence the character and associated model of leadership which emerges as 'highly recommended' is one which manifests a range of positive attributes drawn from the spectrum of gender identities. This extends from a more stoic masculinity to an arguably more feminised form of nurture and empathy. This idealised and multi-faceted model characterised in Detective Senior Sergeant Stanley Wolfe (Shane Bourne) is given clarity of definition in being set in direct contrast to a couple of more traditional and unsatisfactory models of leadership embodied in two of his senior colleagues. One of these men, Detective Senior Sergeant Wilton Sparkes (Marshall Napier), reflects an old style, chauvinist mode of operation whilst the other, Detective Superintendent Tony Jarvis (David Field) is from the Armed Robbery and Drug Squad and characterised as a wiry and rather sly, "hard- man". The success of the modified, perhaps androgynous, leadership style of Senior Detective Stanley Wolfe, is apparent in the efficiency and collegiality he models for and is able to develop in his diverse team of young detectives. In contrast to this, the junior sidekicks of the drug squad "bully," largely operate as young thugs. While the privileging of a more communicative and compassionate style of leadership is refreshing and points to a positive modification of leadership style which has previously been inflected by negative aspects of hegemonic masculinity, the question remains – can a woman be similarly recognised as a leader and inspire the dedication and confidence of her colleagues? This question directs us to the fourth, and most senior leader in the series, Detective Superintendent Bernice Waverley (Noni Hazelhurst) who, armed only with a clipboard and a clipped dialogue, receives little screen time and even less credibility by the energetic pack of young detectives. This leads us to conclude that in City Homicide, the 'feminising' of a man's performance of leadership is endearing, but a female leader leaves the pack cold.