Modern Family (2009-Present)
Depicting exactly what its title is, Modern Family is a "mockumentary" about the modern day family. In this show, the sex icon, Sofia Vergara, plays Gloria, a silly housewife that cares most about her family and her appearance. In one episode, Gloria teaches one of her step-daughter's children that she too can be beautiful, but she has to wear dresses sometimes. Insinuating that women need to fit this sexist role to feel good about themselves. This character is also the perfect example of today's wealthy housewives. She just has to look pretty for her older husband when he comes home, but most viewers love this character because she is so stereotypically "pretty" that she comes off uneducated. For example: she and the other characters in the show would often make fun of her accent. Although she is depicted as this dumb "hottie," the character Gloria has much more depth than that. She is most often the character that insists other members of the family make up after fights or help each other out, she is the one who seems to want to keep the family together and functioning most. In summation, Gloria is a hot mom that does not seem very educated, depicting her as this stereotypical housewife, but she also has a kind heart, which is another stereotype for woman, because they are supposed to be more caring than men. Gloria, is basically the most womanly stereotype that there is: kind hearted, hot, and dumb.
Julie Bowen plays Claire Dunphy, a seemingly put together mother of three. Claire seems like the most average character in the show, but she too has her quirks. She will pick any fight if she finds it to be the right thing to do, but viewers will often times see her become frustrated or frazzled by her family. However, this mother is what keeps the entire family going, without her this unconventional family would definitely crumble (or end up in jail). Claire is the mother that will always look out for her kids, the woman who will be in the business of the people she loves, and the lady who gets a bit ahead of herself at times. One could peg her as the stereotypical mother that always puts too much on here plate at once, we all know that mom that volunteers for this and that, goes to her kid's soccer games, and always has dinner on the table, well that is the character of Claire Dunphy, except in her case, she tends to often fail.
The young star, Sarah Hyland, portrays Claire's daughter, Haley Dunphy, the "popular girl" in school. Haley is very pretty, and she uses that to her advantage. This character doesn't have much in the department of "school smarts," so she gets by on help from her younger sister and her appearance. This rebel child has always given her mother trouble, but she seems to thrive on it rather than feel badly about it. At the end of the day, though, Haley loves and cares for her siblings by offering advice or being there for them. Like Gloria, Haley portrays the "dumb hot girl" stereotype, unlike Gloria, Haley is also a "mean popular girl" in school. In reality, this stereotype rarely exists, but it is constantly portrayed in movies.
This show is all about the stereotypical image of what women should be and how people perceive women. It doesn't show growth in the female characters except for when they set aside their own problems and opinions and start caring for the other members of their large family. This is a show all about making the viewers laugh, which the females in this show definitely do, in part by being the stereotypes that they were aimed to portray.
Julie Bowen plays Claire Dunphy, a seemingly put together mother of three. Claire seems like the most average character in the show, but she too has her quirks. She will pick any fight if she finds it to be the right thing to do, but viewers will often times see her become frustrated or frazzled by her family. However, this mother is what keeps the entire family going, without her this unconventional family would definitely crumble (or end up in jail). Claire is the mother that will always look out for her kids, the woman who will be in the business of the people she loves, and the lady who gets a bit ahead of herself at times. One could peg her as the stereotypical mother that always puts too much on here plate at once, we all know that mom that volunteers for this and that, goes to her kid's soccer games, and always has dinner on the table, well that is the character of Claire Dunphy, except in her case, she tends to often fail.
The young star, Sarah Hyland, portrays Claire's daughter, Haley Dunphy, the "popular girl" in school. Haley is very pretty, and she uses that to her advantage. This character doesn't have much in the department of "school smarts," so she gets by on help from her younger sister and her appearance. This rebel child has always given her mother trouble, but she seems to thrive on it rather than feel badly about it. At the end of the day, though, Haley loves and cares for her siblings by offering advice or being there for them. Like Gloria, Haley portrays the "dumb hot girl" stereotype, unlike Gloria, Haley is also a "mean popular girl" in school. In reality, this stereotype rarely exists, but it is constantly portrayed in movies.
This show is all about the stereotypical image of what women should be and how people perceive women. It doesn't show growth in the female characters except for when they set aside their own problems and opinions and start caring for the other members of their large family. This is a show all about making the viewers laugh, which the females in this show definitely do, in part by being the stereotypes that they were aimed to portray.
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
This series that features how to cook meth has become very popular. Most of the women in this show have to remain strong and independent because the men in their lives are in the business of meth. The protagonist, Walt, is married to Skyler, the dominant female role in the show. For a while, she tolerates the drug business, even helping out her husband for some time. Because of her morals, though, Skyler fights to get out, not forgiving her husband. This character doesn't stand down to her husband, which can make her seem "bitchy," but it's a good thing for women to begin being portrayed as more dominant and less submissive, as we live in a more progressive era. During moments of the show, the viewer can see her lose her cool, but for the most part, Skyler is an independent woman who will not stand for things she doesn't believe are right, and will most often speak her mind. A giant step up from the era of I Love Lucy
Marie is a character that takes effort to like. As a gossip girl, thief, and overconfident younger sister, she inserts herself into her sister Skyler's life, continuously inputting her opinion into Skyler and Walter's relationship. Skyler and Walter become so fed up that they lie to her, and even still, Marie tries to help them through that problem, even though it is a lie. Along with that, she assumes it is in her position to take her sister's baby when she finds out about the meth cooking. This character thinks she is the alpha female and as a result, deserves to know everything about everything. You could call her a stereotypical woman for this fact, because she inserts herself into people's lives, thinks she is always right, and needs to know all of the drama and gossip around her. This nurse, a majority female career, cares a little too much about the people she surrounds herself with. Marie is the typical, average day woman because of her need to know everything about everyone, loves the color purple, is interested in fashion and interior design, and gets upset when her husband needs space from her. But, this woman is often found doing her own thing by having her own job and doing things she needs done for herself. The writers of this show took a step backwards in the progression of the role of women in television by making this character a typical housewife with a job.
Marie is a character that takes effort to like. As a gossip girl, thief, and overconfident younger sister, she inserts herself into her sister Skyler's life, continuously inputting her opinion into Skyler and Walter's relationship. Skyler and Walter become so fed up that they lie to her, and even still, Marie tries to help them through that problem, even though it is a lie. Along with that, she assumes it is in her position to take her sister's baby when she finds out about the meth cooking. This character thinks she is the alpha female and as a result, deserves to know everything about everything. You could call her a stereotypical woman for this fact, because she inserts herself into people's lives, thinks she is always right, and needs to know all of the drama and gossip around her. This nurse, a majority female career, cares a little too much about the people she surrounds herself with. Marie is the typical, average day woman because of her need to know everything about everyone, loves the color purple, is interested in fashion and interior design, and gets upset when her husband needs space from her. But, this woman is often found doing her own thing by having her own job and doing things she needs done for herself. The writers of this show took a step backwards in the progression of the role of women in television by making this character a typical housewife with a job.
Pretty Little Liars (2010- Present)
Following the lives of four girls after one of their friends dies, Pretty Little Liars has become a hit with young women. The high school students Aria, Hanna, Spencer, and Emily are forced to sort through rumors and gossip, beware of their lives being put in danger, and solve the mystery of the murder of their friend. All while dealing with boyfriends/girlfriends, old/new friends, teachers, and family issues. This show revolves around drama, which women are stereotypically "supposed" to be concerned with.
Aria has been dating her teacher, dealt with her parents splitting up, and keeping her friends in line. This character is kind of like the leader, the very kind and courteous friend who tries to keep her head straight while also keeping her friends in order as well. Like most of the other girls, she keeps little to herself and leaves all of her opinions out on the table for all to see. Emily is known as the "weakest link," subject to a lot of simple torture from "A." This character is the jock, but also the most loyal to her friends. After coming out of the "sexuality closet," Emily becomes more comfortable with herself as well as speaking her mind. She grows throughout the show by being less of the self-conscious young high schooler, to a mature young woman who will stick up for her friends. Hanna is the "dumb blonde." With only a single parent and a lot of financial problems, Hanna finds refuge in her friends. She is the pretty and popular girl at school, often speaking her mind in moments when maybe she should not. Similar to Haley Dunphy in Modern Family, the character of Hanna is Hollywood's favorite "pretty, mean, popular girl" persona. This false stereotype is seen time and time again in many modern day movies. The final girl, Spencer, is the smartest one. The perfectionist, and sort of bossy, Spencer tries her best to protect her friends and finally finish off this "A" business. This character is a role model of sorts, because she keeps her head on straight throughout most of the show even with her own problems along with the dangers, and she is the perfect student.
All of these girls have traits that make them seem like stereotypical women, such as: attractiveness, sass, gossipy, secretiveness, need for acceptance, and drama filled lives. But, they are also portrayed more like independent young ladies who can take care of all of these disasters and themselves without the help of men (though sometimes men are necessary), more than high school girls who freak out over the slightest mishaps. These girls, who one would assume are just damsels in distress, are actually rarely that. Instead, they a fighters, which is a wonderful thing to start showing woman as being. These ladies all learn to speak up for themselves while also taking care of each other. So, although they do fall apart when they get dumped, or fail a test, or gossip like the stereotypical high school girl, they are also more so depicted as strong women that can take care of their selves.
Aria has been dating her teacher, dealt with her parents splitting up, and keeping her friends in line. This character is kind of like the leader, the very kind and courteous friend who tries to keep her head straight while also keeping her friends in order as well. Like most of the other girls, she keeps little to herself and leaves all of her opinions out on the table for all to see. Emily is known as the "weakest link," subject to a lot of simple torture from "A." This character is the jock, but also the most loyal to her friends. After coming out of the "sexuality closet," Emily becomes more comfortable with herself as well as speaking her mind. She grows throughout the show by being less of the self-conscious young high schooler, to a mature young woman who will stick up for her friends. Hanna is the "dumb blonde." With only a single parent and a lot of financial problems, Hanna finds refuge in her friends. She is the pretty and popular girl at school, often speaking her mind in moments when maybe she should not. Similar to Haley Dunphy in Modern Family, the character of Hanna is Hollywood's favorite "pretty, mean, popular girl" persona. This false stereotype is seen time and time again in many modern day movies. The final girl, Spencer, is the smartest one. The perfectionist, and sort of bossy, Spencer tries her best to protect her friends and finally finish off this "A" business. This character is a role model of sorts, because she keeps her head on straight throughout most of the show even with her own problems along with the dangers, and she is the perfect student.
All of these girls have traits that make them seem like stereotypical women, such as: attractiveness, sass, gossipy, secretiveness, need for acceptance, and drama filled lives. But, they are also portrayed more like independent young ladies who can take care of all of these disasters and themselves without the help of men (though sometimes men are necessary), more than high school girls who freak out over the slightest mishaps. These girls, who one would assume are just damsels in distress, are actually rarely that. Instead, they a fighters, which is a wonderful thing to start showing woman as being. These ladies all learn to speak up for themselves while also taking care of each other. So, although they do fall apart when they get dumped, or fail a test, or gossip like the stereotypical high school girl, they are also more so depicted as strong women that can take care of their selves.
In this video clip, we see Hanna talk to her old friend that has been put in a hospital about a TV series, which is a very "girly" thing to do, but then we see Hanna become a fighter girl that will speak her mind no matter what the consequence (which is in this case, getting kicked out of visiting hours).
Links for Info:
http://pretty-little-liars.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page http://modernfamily.wikia.com/wiki/Gloria_Pritchett
http://breakingbad.wikia.com/wiki/Breaking_Bad_Wiki
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FoHRQg7lLY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpWNdjRvgLE
http://pretty-little-liars.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page http://modernfamily.wikia.com/wiki/Gloria_Pritchett
http://breakingbad.wikia.com/wiki/Breaking_Bad_Wiki
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FoHRQg7lLY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpWNdjRvgLE