They feel that they are free to choose amongst the material available through the text and to abandon it at any time. The girls are clearly aware of the representational role of the television characters and make the distinction between the 'real' and the televisual. They watch television in an intuitive fashion, without preconceived judgment. They perceive the television characters independently of any prejudice towards whether the representation is real or not. They regard television, its texts and characters as a reality.
Many instances represented on television are very similar to the girls' own life situations.
Many of the girls' perspectives are mirrored by the characters and in these instances the characters, even though they are televisual representations, provide substantial reference and even companionship to the girls. The actions, personalities, values and statements the characters represent are real to the girls. Based upon their own horizons and worldviews, the girls employ a method of 'gap filling' as they interpret the world of the television characters. Meaning and information are obtained as the girls interpret the actions of the characters. A relationship develops as the girls process the meaning as appropriate for themselves.