Issues of Gender and Race - Essay Example

Issues of gender and race are a very controversial topic, since time immemorial. This is majorly because in the later centuries, women were greatly discriminated, and they were not allowed to carry out certain functions and roles within the society. For instance, in the 16th, 18th, and the earlier parts of the 19th century, women were not allowed to carry out certain functions, and this includes voting, or engaging in economic activities (Vaughn & Goren, 2013). Race was also a factor during these periods of time that was characterized by slavery. However, the 20th century, saw an increase in human rights, and the promotion of the concepts of equality. This is further depicted with the passage of equality laws, and the existence of civil rights groups, whose intentions is to promote human rights. This includes equal representation of both genders. The major interest of this paper is on the media industry. This paper seeks to examine the manner which the sitcom genre, is able to construct the concept of gender and race, within the society. Sitcom as a genre of comedy constantly features characters sharing the same universal setting, for example residence or place of work, with time after time comic conversation. Sitcom is the abbreviation of situation comedy (Morreale, 2003). Programs like these originated from radio, however these days, sitcoms are found frequently on television as one of its prevailing story forms. A situation comedy television program may possibly be created in frontage of studio viewers, depending on the programs creation set-up. The use of laugh trucks imitates the sound effects of a live studio audience. The usage of these laugh trucks is one of the major characteristics of the sitcom genre movies. Situation comedy contrasts with the other types of comedy like the sketch comedy and stand-up comedy as it has a plot and ongoing characters in, basically a comedic narrative plot. The situation is often made up of comedic sequences lay down within a family unit; place of work, or amongst a set of associates (Eduardo, 2011). Before and during the 20th century, comedy sketches were offered within a series of shows and assorted with tuneful presentations, as in vaudeville. The growing mass medium of radio allowed audiences to often return to the programs, so programs could display the same characters and situations in each and every episode and look forward to audiences to be well-known with them (Eduardo, 2011). Friend, aired for ten full seasons in 1994, is a renowned comedy show in the United States. With its fame and the affectedness of television, Friends has been a change in American believes and culture. As the increase of feminist association, it is significant for us to understand what is portrayed in the aspect of gender feminism. Although many has claimed that Friends is one of the least feminist television show. Where they tie women with some stereotype images, many aspects of the show have shown the reduced notion of a traditional woman. This is a woman who was looked down upon by the society, and forced to concentrate on other roles, like taking care of children, as opposed to carrying out other duties, that were male dominated. This is because they were living in a society that was dominated by men. Amongst the six associates in the television series, I will concentrate on Rachel Green. Rachel, the major actress in Friends, is a blood young woman under pressure to set up and sustain pleasing careers as well as a romantic relationship in Manhattan, NY. Rachel has changed radically from the initial episode to the final one. She starts out as a classic snooty well-off White girl who is spoilt by her father (Eduardo, 2011). Even though Rachel is portrayed with a typical figure of a white girl, her deeds of neglecting her boyfriend at the altar isnt tolerable as a customary woman. Moreover, her now and then affairs with many men is an example, that shows of her independence sexual character. The playwright never adds up the events where Rachel gets looked down upon because of her sexual liberty. This situation provides an example that the character of Rachel does not show the stereotypes that other sitcoms depict to tyrannize women. Furthermore, still when Rachel ended up having a kid with Ross, the writer avoids revealing conservative general responsibility in Rachels character. In many ways, Rachel Green avoids the stereotypical gender roles of women (Dines & Humez, 2011). According to the working state, women have been at all times exploited in the labor force throughout since the past. Where they get paid less than men, and they can by no means be in senior position than men (Morreale, 2003). Nevertheless, the writer of Friends challenged this idea. Although Rachel was jobless at first when the show begun and relying on her dad, after talking to her friends, she gets a job and starts to work. Rachel has worked her way up to her dream career in style. She begins as a waitress at the home coffee shop; after that, she gets employed at Bloomingdales (Thornham & Weissmann, 2013). After much hard work, she lastly gets an offer from Ralph Lauren, and she then gets promoted later on. She receives her personal office and personal helper. Furthermore, in the end, Rachel declines an offer from Gucci and decides to go for her dream career in Paris. The achievement Rachel earns in her career is a motivation to all women. It is a development in the portrayal of traditional women in the workforce on television (Morreale, 2003). Rachel is successful, she has a flourishing career, and she is capable to work her way up and earns this success. The writers dismissed all stereotypes that women cannot be employed, and cannot be triumphant through Rachels character. Rachel is an independent woman with success. Also, the writer shows how Rachel fights with the unjust motherhood leave. Many women nowadays drop their jobs when they give birth or simply get replaced by some men. In the show, Rachel has to return to her workplace two weeks early to pick up her work since her job is threatened. Her boss doesnt sympathize her (Morreale, 2003). He told Rachel to report back to work right at that time when her daughter has no one to look after. Also, when Rachel cannot adhere to it, he would just offer the chance to another guy. Rachels job was threatened by her parenthood of having a baby. But, Rachel pushes through and manages to keep on working besides looking after her child. The character of Rachel, in this programs are shown as a very strong woman who does not necessitate a man to fulfill her. She can rise to the test of balancing job and motherhood. People judge working mothers because they arent sure that women can manage the responsibility (Gymnich, Ruhl, Scheunemann, & Hoth, 2010). The program Friends, is also able to depict the manner which pregnant women are treated in the society, and at their job places. These women are always forced to leave their places of work, in order to take care of their babies (Morreale, 2003). This is an aspect of gender discrimination, and this is basically because even men, are supposed to take care of their children, but they are not always given some maternity leave. This situation is best shown by the character of Rachel, who is forced to take maternity leave because of motherhood. In this program Friends, Rachel is a very successful woman. She has a good job, and she is a sexually liberated woman. This means that she decides who to date, and who not to date. These characters are able to portray Rachel as a feminist, and also a role model to women who are aspiring to become independent within the society (Morreale, 2003). Therefore, this television series makes it possible for men to respect women, based on the achievements of Rachel. Throughout the entire series of the sitcom Friends, there is almost no outside ethnic group. On the other hand, when people of dissimilar races come into their cultural life set, they are challenged, feared, by the ordinary cast of characters (Wasko, 2009). The cast of Friends is constantly exposed seated in a cycle at a coffee bar called Central Perk, resting on the same sofa each moment. It is almost as if they are the prevailing party or society, and each person else around them is less significant as well as not finely sufficient to be a component of the major characters conversations. A typical example of disliking people of a divergent race is that moment when Ross starts to date Julie, a lady from China. Rachel becomes envious and is not only discourteous and mean to her, but will not allow the other characters inside her circle of friends to spend time with her (Eduardo, 2011). In this clip, for two minutes and forty seconds in, Julie is shown as a member of her group of friends, which is an unusual circumstance for people of other races. She is being kind as well as serving Rachel with the food and fitting her apron for her. Rather than being appreciative, Rachel insolently calls her a bitch. Still in the same scene, Monica accepts to go shopping in the company of Julie, though feels fault for letting her in. Even though this can be viewed as just being a good best pal to Rachel when she is sadden concerning Ross dating somebody, it can as well be looked at with an ethnic viewpoint. If one individual within their white society does not want another person who is regarded as an outsider, then, no character can tolerate them in as well. Rachel is portrayed as a classic white lady, with a great hair, and well curved body, and great skin. The comparison between Rachel and Julie is so great that it is very difficult to look past the scheme of racism in this circumstance. It is subtle though very current. The commencement of this subsequent clip, too reveals the hate and disrespect for an outsider inside this sitcom. Rachel is not very tolerant of Charlie, the African American lady, who is dating Joey (Spangler, 2003). She is tentative about taking her shopping and letting Charlie into her life. All the way through the whole series of Friends, not one marginal ever lasts for more than a few of episodes. There are white characters, for instance, Mike, Phoebes spouse, who do end up breaching the circle but are lately received back by all the character inside it (Spangler, 2003). Friends does give the impression of keeping that tight bond, between whites and other races all through the ten seasons and due to these examples, it can be viewed as containing a racist point of view. Apart from being one of the biggest sitcoms of all time, Seinfeld also makes us express amusement at our gender responsibility in the world these days. It too overcomes female marginalization as it does not limit women responsibility by placing her at the secondary role. One of the show major characters is Elaine, who at times, takes on a more prevailing role than her male counterpart (Morreale, 2003). For example, she is always portrayed working hard for flourishing business, apart from having a more significant profession than the major leads in the show. She not only works in high-powered positions but also have a steady and consistent work, which hardly features in the main male characters of the show. It is a much rare occurrence, as mostly the opposite of this is what is always portrayed in movies, television, or in media these days. As far as the media is concerned, the information always shown concerning femininity tells that women are not constantly strong decision makers. Seinfeld contrast this idea when Elaine makes nearly all of the decisions and her declare on how proceedings and situation should be carried out always remain final. She even portrays a more dominate physical role by shouting out to her male co-leads (Mills, 2009). She will even shove her male co-leads and at times beat them to the ground when she want to make a point understandable or when she is surprised about something. She threatens the male leads of the show, and this makes the fear her as revealed in most of the episodes of Seinfeld. An action resembling this is unusual to show in media and television concerning women. It not only present comical moments in the show but also expose women to authority which is a good and inspirational transform for our present civilization. In the majority of the Seinfeld episodes, Elaines personality is certain, self-governing and is portrayed as being extra sexually leading and in charge of her male relationships. Mills (2009) explains that she is an example of a woman who shows the character of a modern woman who is liberated and independent. An additional instance of this is exposed in most of the episodes by presenting her personality as more sexually confident than her male co-leads. Her character is frequently portrayed as having power over her male dates and affairs. It is revealed by the several episodes when she is dating a character recognized as, Pudddy. She constantly determines at what time they break up and get back together again, and she is frequently the one scheming everything they do. Elaines character has had an impact on the way femininity and sexuality is viewed in our society in the present day. She was authoritative, comical, elegant and had a explicit control responsibility above her male counterparts in the series (Edgerton & Rose, 2005). It had a constructive effect because of the shows fame and the way it established a new and more elevating outlook of women in the media. To finish Seinfeld does a brilliant job of putting an end to stereotypic male and female roles that are portrayed in the media. It is too a great means to guide others in our society to revolutionize their constricted views of gender roles, and adopt new habits of viewing at male and female responsibility in society. In conclusion, Friends, the television series manages to portray women as strong people within the society. This situation is better depicted through the characters of Rachel who is a single mother, but is at liberty to express her sexuality. This is depicted in the manner which she is able to live her boyfriend at the altar, and keeps on engaging in sexual activities with many men. This is a situation that women were not allowed to engage in, in the 19th and 20th century, since they were looked down upon, by the society. The episodes off Seinfeld further give examples of the liberated women. This is through Elaine, who manages to control the manner she is associating with men. She is able to control her relationships, and she is not under their influence. Race is also depicted in these episodes, with characters such as Rachel, not valuing people who are of different race like her, basically, the Chinese. References: Top of Form DINES, G., & HUMEZ, J. M. (2011). Gender, race, and class in media: a critical reader. Thousand Oaks, Calif, SAGE Publications. Bottom of Form EDUARDO R. INFANTE. (2011). Researching Work-Family Discourses Step-by-Step Audiovisual Analysis of the British Sitcom Only Fools and Horses (1981-2003). Cambridge Scholars Pub. EDGERTON, G. R., & ROSE, B. G. (2005). Thinking outside the box a contemporary television genre reader. Lexington, University Press of Kentucky. Top of Form GYMNICH, M., RUHL, K., SCHEUNEMANN, K., & HOTH, S. (2010). Gendered (re)visions constructions of gender in audiovisual media. Göttingen, V&R Unipress. Top of Form MORREALE, J. (2003). Critiquing the sitcom: a reader. Syracuse, NY, Syracuse University Press. Bottom of Form Top of Form MILLS, B. (2009). The sitcom. Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press. Bottom of Form Top of Form THORNHAM, H., & WEISSMANN, E. (2013). Renewing feminisms: radical narratives, fantasies and futures in media studies. Top of Form SPANGLER, L. C. (2003). Television women from Lucy to Friends: fifty years of sitcoms and feminism. Westport, Conn, Praeger. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form WASKO, J. (2009). A companion to television. Oxford, Wiley-Blackwell. Top of Form VAUGHN, J. S., & GOREN, L. J. (2013). Women and the White House: gender, popular culture, and presidential politics. Lexington, Ky, University Press of Kentucky. Read More