This week I have chosen an episode of One Tree Hill to analyze for my blog. In this particular episode there are many messages about gender role present from many different characters in the show. In particular I will talk about Peyton (who was drugged at a party), Nathan (who hid his feelings for a girl from his friends at school), and Karen (who made the first move on a man).
Peyton and Brook are two high school girls who pretend to be in college and go to a college party. While at the party Peyton goes into a dorm room with one of the boys and he puts a date rape drug in her drink. This represents the stereotypical role of women being the victims and men being the powerful force in situations. It says that men are in control and woman is weak.
When Brook discovers her friend is locked in the room with the boy she gets another boy in the dorm to open the door for her. She then takes Peyton outside and calls Lucas to come and get them. The fact that Brook chooses to call Lucas to come save them and not one of their girlfriends shows that she relies on men to save her from bad situations. This represents the stereotype that women need man around to protect them and keep them safe. It also shows that women should not be going out in social situations without men because they are unable to look out for themselves. Later in the episode Lucas and Brook and in the car together and Lucas asks Brook why choose to call him and not “one of the other guys.” This shows that it is common for a woman to turn to a man to save/protect them. Lucas and Brook both neither considered that Brook would call another female to come pick them up because she would also be unable to help.
The second character I want to talk about is Karen. Karen is Lucas’s mother and had just been offered the opportunity to go to Italy to study cooking for a few weeks. She doesn’t think that she should go though because she should be at home taking care of Lucas. This represents a woman’s natural instinct to nurture and take care of those around her. Even though Lucas is 17 years old and is very mature so he could take of himself, Karen still feels like she should be home.
Also, Karen is going against the stereotype that men should make the first move because she Kissed Keith (her love interest) in the airport before she leaves for Italy. Typically, men are expected to make the first move romantically because they are traditionally the more, masculine and dominant figures in the relationship. By going against this stereotypic Karen is showing her independence and confidence as a woman.
The final gender message apparent during this episode is shown by Nathan’s actions and words around Haley and his different actions and words around his friends. When Nathan is around his friends he feels like he needs to be a “man’s man” and not show his emotions. In order to do this he chooses to ignore Haley and not treat her in the kind, sensitive way as he does when they are alone. Haley, being “feminine” is upset by this and doesn’t understand why he can’t be kind and loving to her in public too. By the end of the episode however Nathan does treat Haley in public as he does in private so he breaks down the stereotype that men should not have feelings.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Home Improvement
This week I have chosen to analyze the gender messages apparent in an episode of Home Improvement. In this particular episode Al is interested in dating a woman he meets on the set of the TV show. Within the first few minutes of the show Tim and Jim each attempt to give him advice on how to win over the woman and get her to accept a date with her. Tim tells Al that he needs to be a tough guy and let the woman know he has some “hair on his chest.”
What Tim means is that a woman wants someone masculine. The idea of masculine being referred to is a man who is tough, raw, and a jerk to women. Tim’s theory is later supported when he says that the reason Jill fell in love with him is because he was tough a “manly man.” Tim is very persistent in telling Al that the last thing he wants is for this woman to think of him as a “sensitive guy.” Tim believes that if this is how the woman views Al she will not be attracted to him.
Jill gives Al the opposite advice than Tim does. Jill insists that woman DO want a nice, sensitive man. She is implying that to be masculine can mean being caring and emotional. Men do not have to be emotionless all the time. Jill counters Tim statement from earlier by saying that the real reason she fell in love with him is because he was so sensitive. Jill claims that a woman wants a man that she can be comfortable with, someone who she can talk to.
Tim disagrees with Jill’s comment that woman want a sensitive guy by saying that woman always say they do but then end up dumping the “nice guy” for the “tough guy.” This represents the male idea that they need to be strong and controlling in order to take care of a woman. This contrasts to Jill’s idea of masculinity and shows the differing feelings of men and woman relating to gender roles.
The interactions between Jill and Tim’s son Brad also support Jill’s idea that woman want a caring man. Whenever Brad’s girlfriend is around he is on his best behavior. He is doing things around the house that he never did before such as putting on a clean shirt and washing up before dinner. Brad’s girlfriend also makes a comment to Jill about how Brad must compliment his mother on how pretty she is often because he is such a gentlemen. It is obvious that the girlfriend really likes Brad which implies that she is attracted to his caring, sensitive form of masculinity.
What Tim means is that a woman wants someone masculine. The idea of masculine being referred to is a man who is tough, raw, and a jerk to women. Tim’s theory is later supported when he says that the reason Jill fell in love with him is because he was tough a “manly man.” Tim is very persistent in telling Al that the last thing he wants is for this woman to think of him as a “sensitive guy.” Tim believes that if this is how the woman views Al she will not be attracted to him.
Jill gives Al the opposite advice than Tim does. Jill insists that woman DO want a nice, sensitive man. She is implying that to be masculine can mean being caring and emotional. Men do not have to be emotionless all the time. Jill counters Tim statement from earlier by saying that the real reason she fell in love with him is because he was so sensitive. Jill claims that a woman wants a man that she can be comfortable with, someone who she can talk to.
Tim disagrees with Jill’s comment that woman want a sensitive guy by saying that woman always say they do but then end up dumping the “nice guy” for the “tough guy.” This represents the male idea that they need to be strong and controlling in order to take care of a woman. This contrasts to Jill’s idea of masculinity and shows the differing feelings of men and woman relating to gender roles.
The interactions between Jill and Tim’s son Brad also support Jill’s idea that woman want a caring man. Whenever Brad’s girlfriend is around he is on his best behavior. He is doing things around the house that he never did before such as putting on a clean shirt and washing up before dinner. Brad’s girlfriend also makes a comment to Jill about how Brad must compliment his mother on how pretty she is often because he is such a gentlemen. It is obvious that the girlfriend really likes Brad which implies that she is attracted to his caring, sensitive form of masculinity.
Friday, February 13, 2009
The Office
This week I will be analyzing an episode of the TV show The Office. There are three stereotypes in the episode I want to discuss. First the cat women, second the stereotype of men not being crafty and creative, and third men being insensitive.
One of the main characters in the show is a single woman who announces to the office that she has just spent seven thousand dollars on a new cat. Also, she set up a nanny cam in her house so she can watch the cats interact while she is at work. This plays on the stereotype of older single women who have no children and their interests in cats. The show is sending the message that all women want to nurture and take care of things. And since the woman does not have children, all of her time and energy is focused on her cats. The show sends the message that men do not have this natural instinct because when she tells the men in the office none of them understand why she would spend that much money.
The second stereotype on this show is that women should be interested in party planning and crafts while men should not. This is shown because two men are put in charge of planning one of the female employee’s birthday parties and they mess everything up. They do not pay attention to details or what the birthday girl would want. The show is saying that men are thoughtless and again, women are more caring. Also, a comment is made by one of the men planning the party to the second man planning the party that is sign was feminine. The sign was full of stickers and glitter and was much decorated. The message was that men should not be concern with little details and accessorizing like women are.
The final stereotype on the show was that women should be more sensitive than men are. This was shown because Michael, the boss in the office, was very emotional and upset about an ex-girlfriends new relationship. As he has his breakdown it becomes apparent that everyone around him fells uncomfortable and confused by the situation because he is a man and no one know how to comfort him like they would a women. The show is saying that men should be tough and not show their feelings but it is okay for a women to.
One of the main characters in the show is a single woman who announces to the office that she has just spent seven thousand dollars on a new cat. Also, she set up a nanny cam in her house so she can watch the cats interact while she is at work. This plays on the stereotype of older single women who have no children and their interests in cats. The show is sending the message that all women want to nurture and take care of things. And since the woman does not have children, all of her time and energy is focused on her cats. The show sends the message that men do not have this natural instinct because when she tells the men in the office none of them understand why she would spend that much money.
The second stereotype on this show is that women should be interested in party planning and crafts while men should not. This is shown because two men are put in charge of planning one of the female employee’s birthday parties and they mess everything up. They do not pay attention to details or what the birthday girl would want. The show is saying that men are thoughtless and again, women are more caring. Also, a comment is made by one of the men planning the party to the second man planning the party that is sign was feminine. The sign was full of stickers and glitter and was much decorated. The message was that men should not be concern with little details and accessorizing like women are.
The final stereotype on the show was that women should be more sensitive than men are. This was shown because Michael, the boss in the office, was very emotional and upset about an ex-girlfriends new relationship. As he has his breakdown it becomes apparent that everyone around him fells uncomfortable and confused by the situation because he is a man and no one know how to comfort him like they would a women. The show is saying that men should be tough and not show their feelings but it is okay for a women to.
Friday, February 6, 2009
This week I will be analyzing an episode of the TV show Sister Sister. The episode was about Lisa (the mother of the twins) being proposed to by her boyfriend. Throughout the episode Lisa was expecting to be proposed to and waiting for the boyfriend to give her the ring. At no time during the show was it even considered that Lisa could propose to her boyfriend. It was clear that it was his job, as the man, to do the asking. This represents that Lisa thinks as a women it is her job to be catered to and longed for. It was the man’s responsibility to ask her to get married and take care of her.
Also, the twin’s boyfriends were doing a fund rising even for their fraternity. The fraternity was having a bake sale which the twins made cupcakes for. I think this sent the message that cooking and baking were a girl jobs. The boys assumed their girlfriends would make the goodies for them and the twins did so without a second though. This show is saying that cooking and baking are feminine and should be done only by women, not men. Also one of the twins asked her boyfriend why they couldn’t just have a car wash like regular fraternities. This shows that the girl agreed with her boyfriend. Baking is something for girls to do. Not boys. Boys are supposed to be outside taking care of their cars. She believes that is masculine and should be done by a boy not a girl.
Also, the twin’s boyfriends were doing a fund rising even for their fraternity. The fraternity was having a bake sale which the twins made cupcakes for. I think this sent the message that cooking and baking were a girl jobs. The boys assumed their girlfriends would make the goodies for them and the twins did so without a second though. This show is saying that cooking and baking are feminine and should be done only by women, not men. Also one of the twins asked her boyfriend why they couldn’t just have a car wash like regular fraternities. This shows that the girl agreed with her boyfriend. Baking is something for girls to do. Not boys. Boys are supposed to be outside taking care of their cars. She believes that is masculine and should be done by a boy not a girl.
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