Jax's Old Wives - Wendy Case

Sons of Anarchy whilst being critically acclaimed by its western audience has come under criticism by American biker gang members who claim that ‘women are more respected on the show than in most clubs’ (Sartore, 2017). Wendy Case is the mother of Jax's first born, Abel and had almost killed their son due to her heroin addiction. For a large portion of the series she was labelled as a 'junkie whore' (Sons of Anarchy, 2008) and was often outcasted from the main group of characters whom originally considered her part of their chosen family. 

Their lack of regard for her addiction, however, allows the audience to feel sympathy for her especially during the times when Gemma Teller gives her heroin whilst she is in hospital. (Sons of Anarchy, 2008) and then again when Jax stabs her with a needle, whilst she had been clean for a number of years and had also worked to become an addiction councillor, as a threat for seeing her son which had actually been allowed by his second wife Tara Knowles (Sons of Anarchy, 2012). Her treatment 'would have been a more accurate representation of what it was like to be a woman associated with a biker club' (Sartore, 2017). This as a result would mean that the audience would have sided with Wendy more as her treatment would have felt more real. This would have also allowed the audience to feel satisfied with her just resolution where the boys are left in her care and it is insinuated that she then lives a good life on the farm with Nero and his son, away from the anarchy that the Sons have caused. (Sons of Anarchy, 2014). The realistic nature of Wendy’s treatment and the accurate representation may have resulted in the audience allowing their own beliefs about biker gangs to create a personal connection with Wendy and understanding the cycle she was inevitably going to be stuck in. The ending subverts the stereotype and the ‘happy ending successfully explores the ‘escapist’ notion’ (Grandy, 2014) meaning that watching Wendy attain a positive ending suitably engages the audience and may even surprise and unsuspecting viewer who wholly believes the stereotypes and is expecting her to meet a fatal ending.