In The introduction of Mary Celeste Kearney’s book The Gender and Media Reader, she provides an overview of the way in which the book’s subsequent essays address the roles and images that are typically associated with the portrayal of gender in the media. Kearney shares insight into feminist based activism and gives an overview of the waves of feminist theory. Kearney also shares theories surrounding and the evolution of LBTQI activism relative to gender and media issues. Kearney provides a thorough introduction into the field of Gender Studies. In this article Kearney asks and answers the question"Why study Media & Gender?" Kearney introduces the major themes explored in the book including, feminism, queer theory, and This article provides a framework to begin considering media with a more gender critical eye. As a woman, I have always been aware of the fact that women are typically portrayed in the media in a manner that reinforces stereotypes and detracts from their power and or wisdom. However, I have not typically considered specific gender roles and consumed media from a feminist perspective. I thought it might be interesting to watch a film that I have seen before, and to watch that film through the eyes of gender roles.
I have always been fascinated by the idea of the makeover films that portray women as more socially acceptable once she becomes pretty and embraces traditional feminine qualities. Rosalind Gill refers to the makeover paradigm in the article Post-Feminist Media Culture a concept that requires women to believe that their life is lacking or flawed in some way and that they need to be reinvented or transformed by following the advice of an image consultant or relationship expert. I searched to find a film that specifically dealt with this makeover theme to determine how gender plays out in these films. This genre of films includes Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries, Clueless and The Devil Wears Prada. The film Miss Congeniality is a makeover film with a gender twist, in that the central character seems to identify with men and is portrayed as heterosexual but extremely masculine in her manner of speaking, thinking and doing her job. In this clip from Miss Congeniality with Sandra Bullock—Bullock’s character Gracie initially displays extreme masculine qualities which seem to contribute to her seemingly lonely and pathetic life. In this clip, gender roles are blurred and Benjamin Bratt’s character Eric Mathews actually treats Gracie as a man. Gracie asks if the chief selected her for an assignment because she is a woman, Bratt’s character asserts, “We never think of you that way. “
Even though Gracie accepts the assignment, receives a makeover and learns to behave in a more feminine manner she still seems to continue to resist femininity. Throughout the film, Gracie continues to allude to the fact that displaying any feminine characteristics would make her less effective as a professional, a familiar theme with women both in the media and in reality. All of the women competing in the pageant seem to be weak and ditzy without very much depth. Although the film presents gender in a sort of reverse way throughout, it still manages to reinforce stereotypes and portray women as less intelligent and less powerful than their male counterparts. The gender reversal becomes a little uncomfortable by the end of the film and as the case with most commercial films --of course she cries and falls in love in the end as Tom Jones is singing, “ She’s a Lady”..
The Wimp Factor
In Hegemonic Masculinity, Rethinking the Concept, R.W. Connell suggests that concept of masculine hegemony should be reconsidered to allow for the incorporation of newer ideas and to consider the expansion of others. The consistent theme in the Connell piece is the idea that masculinity is complex and that not all masculinity manifests in a way that subjugates women. Connell also shares the interesting assertion that some men, especially professional athletes, have a career that is very masculine and virile, but those same men live lives outside of the job in ways that are in some ways the very opposite. In the media, especially in citizen journalism, any show of emotion or exhibition of qualities that are not typically masculine might get a man labeled a wimp.
An example of this concept that immediately comes to mind is American football star, Tim Tebow. As a fan of the sport, I am amazed by the reaction to Tebow as a man and as an athlete. As starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, Tim Tebow’s job represents the epitome of masculinity. However in a lot of ways Tebow’s demeanor off the field seems to be the exact opposite, he is considered a humanitarian and is openly Christian. Because of his openness about his faith and his demeanor, Tebow is often criticized for not having the “killer instinct” necessary to succeed in football, he is often called a wimp for showing emotion.
The idea of a man who is sensitive or nurturing to his family being labeled as a wimp was also addressed in the Wall Street Journal article as it reviews the new television shows that aired at the beginning of the television season. In the article attached below, Wall Street Journal media reporter, Amy Chozick, labels the men of the 2011-2012 television line-up as a bunch of “wimps.”
A New Generation of TV Wimps
He is happy. He respects his wife, loves his kids, helps around the house. So how come he feels like a total loser? Welcome to the new sitcom.
By Amy Chozick, Wall Street Journal - June 10th, 2011
The shows featured this season all seem to have the common theme of men taking on gender roles that are typically reserved for women. These roles apparently did not resonate well with viewers since the vast majority of the shows listed in this article were cancelled based on ratings halfway through the season. Although these shows were initially created to be breakout comedies that would challenge our ideas about gender and a man’s place in this society, it seems that these shows missed the mark.
In the clip below a female doctor and a CBS Morning Show reporter discusses the wimp factor as it relates to men and how they deal with the common cold or the flu. The remarks made by both the anchor and the doctor would very much be considered sexist if they were made toward women by men. Therefore, in this case the women are sharing stereotypical remarks about men. Although the term wimp seems to be very carelessly used to describe any qualities in heterosexual men that remotely resemble feminine qualities.
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