One Tree Hill

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.