Portrayal of Gender in Television Shows - Essay Example

?Race, Ethni and Gender: Portrayal of gender in television shows Introduction: The mass media such as films and television are an integral part of our society, today, which play a crucial role in shaping our ideologies regarding relationships, and what can be deemed as 'acceptable' identities. Television in contemporary times has evolved as a highly consistent albeit repetitive medium of entertainment with a mix of shows presented primarily as entertainment, yet have a deep meaning impact on the manner in which our lives are governed and shaped. According to Buckingham (2003) the media has the power and influence to shape public perceptions and influence the manner in which relationships and social patterns are defined. Contemporary media has evolved over the years to include a range of assorted programs aimed particularly at the youth and teens wherein critical issues related to portrayal of gender, sexuality and individual identities are telecast and promoted through stereotypical representations of the same. According to Bindig (2008) television and contemporary media plays a powerful role in shaping the teen identities. The gender representations in such shows hence is a critical issue which needs to be analyzed with regard to its impact and influence on the young television audiences. This paper on Portrayal of gender in television shows aims to assess, examine and understand the issue of gender representation on popular North American shows such as Gossip Girl, or One Tree Hill. The social construction of gender: According to Wharton (2011) the term gender refers to the social meaning associated with individuals within a social system. Representation on the other hand refers to "the use of language to say something meaningful about, or to represent, the world meaningfully, to other people ... Because we interpret the world in roughly similar ways, we are able to build up a shared culture of meanings and thus construct a social world which we inhabit together (Hall, 2003, in Krijnen et al., 2010, Pp. 169) Contrary to the general belief that the construction of gender identity is a biological phenomenon, the sociologists believe that it is a sociological phenomenon, whereby the factors that contributes in creating an identity is based not only due to the characteristics acquired by humans by birth, but through socialization and civilization (Lorber et al., 1999; Hogg & Terry, 2000; Gauntlett, 2008). Sociological researchers claim that gender identities are formed and developed through constant human interactions and are highly dependent on one's social background or lifestyles (Zimmerman & West, 1987). The construction of gender theory states that individuals are actively involved in constructing their own gender identities according to their social backgrounds and personal experiences. These identities may or may not be stereotypical in nature and may often contradict their widely perceived representations. Allard et al (1995) states that individuals are "not passively shaped by the larger societal forces such as schools or the media, but are active in selecting, adapting and rejecting the dimensions we choose to incorporate, or not, into our version of gender" (in Nyalunga, 2007). Thus the complexities as well as contradictions regarding one’s identity depend heavily on a range of factors which shape our understanding regarding gender and its role in the society. Television is a mass medium which plays a key role as a cultural storyteller which through its wide range of programming reflects the values, culture, society and ideals of contemporary American society. It shapes the attitudes and beliefs of the audiences and fosters the development of gender identities through repetitive messages concerning ideal behavior and characteristics of individuals. The various patterns adopted by the television medium has the capacity to send various implicit messages regarding acceptability of certain norms and its cultural relevance with regard to diverse group of viewers, thus influencing their ideologies in the process (Clark, 1972; Gerbner, Gross, Morgan, and Signorielli, 1994). The impact of gender representations on the audiences is aptly explained by the cultivation hypothesis developed by Gerbner. According to this hypothesis, the viewers of television shows develop certain fixed perceptions regarding the content shown on popular television shows, regarding what constitutes the "real world". The viewers are hence more likely to believe and develop their own perceptions and imitate the images represented on such shows (Gerbner, Gross, Morgan & Signorielli, 1981). Various television shows today, telecast more or less similar types of images with regard to what can be deemed as "popular culture". The shows aimed at youth, in particular have fixed or stereotypical views regarding gender roles, regardless of the type of program. The cultivation effect, as stated in the hypothesis, does not impact the viewers immediately, but occurs gradually over time due to persistent portrayal of similar images for a longer period of time (Jefferes, 1997). Gender representation in television shows: One Tree Hill Synopsis One Tree Hill is an American television drama which premiers on The WB television network. The fictional teen drama, which is based on the lives of five main characters namely - Lucas Scott, Nathan Scott, Peyton Sawyer, Haley James Scott, and Brooke Davis, traces their journeys and relationships through their high school years. The male lead characters Lucas and Nathan are half brothers, and portrayed as athletic basketball players, who, initially begin their relationship as enemies and gradually transform into a strong bond of friendship and brotherhood. The second season sees the entry of a new character Jake Jagielski who is also a basketball player and is depicted as an unusual and interesting character on the show. The female lead characters are depicted as cheer leaders who are in relationship with the hunky basketball players (i.e. the male leads of the show). The show covered a range of emotions from romance, to hostility and dealt with key themes aimed at adolescents such as sexual representations, friendships and betrayals, portrayal of stereotypes and breaking some in the process. This show highlights the manner in which youth and adolescents are largely represented in the popular media thus, promoting new definitions and perceptions of gender identities as viewed by the target viewers, and changing the deep rooted socio-cultural norms. Gender representation of Key Characters: Male Characterization: Lucas Scott, Nathan Scott and Jake Jagielski are portrayed as the quintessential high school jocks with extremely good looks, an athletic build and popularity. They date the head cheerleaders, and are the envy of the other regular students. However, despite the stereotypical representation of gender – that of presenting male leads as athletic, hunky, charming and having highly desirable attributes the show also breaks certain stereotypes by lending unusual shades to the lead characters. For instance, Lucas is shown as a fabulous basketball player who, despite his tough exterior, and popularity, exudes an inner charm. He is a poet at heart, and uninhibitedly displays his emotions and feelings about love and friendships through his gestures and actions. The show thus breaks the stereotypical male image - that of a tough guy who is immune to or incapable of displaying his emotions, an image which for years had dominated American culture and literature. Nathan on the other hand, is portrayed as the typical high school jock who displays little or no emotions, has several affairs, and sports a carefree nature. However eventually, his character transforms into an understanding, considerate, selfless and loving person from a spoilt jock. Jake is one of the most interesting characters on the show. He is also shown as a basketball player very much similar to the other two male leads in physical characteristics, but with a twist in the tale. He is shown as a single parent who is extremely loving and emotional towards his baby daughter, and manages his multiple roles - that of a regular high school kid, a basketball player, and a parent effortlessly. Female Characterization: The female leads in the show i.e. Peyton, Brooke and Haley are also typically portrayed as extremely beautiful, young and gorgeous young girls, who are depicted as cheerleaders - the epitome of desirability, as depicted in popular culture and mass media. The physical characteristic of all the three female leads is typically conventional – which are the very definition of ‘beauty’ and desirability, with svelte figures and sharp features. Peyton is one of the girls in her high school cheer leading squad and typically dates the star basketball players, is cold and aloof and head strong. Thus although the characterization follows the stereotypical route, this character displays certain traits which defy the conventional definitions of feminity which essentially longs for companionship and is highly dependent on the male counterparts for security and compassion. Peyton is portrayed as a strong young girl who is vary of sharing her feelings with others around her, unlike the regular female stereotype which is known to have a longing for sharing ones' feelings. Also, unlike the stereotypical cheerleaders she is not very girly, dislikes shopping - a highly stereotypical feminine trait, and is seen mocking her fellow cheerleaders for associating with anything overly girly. Brooke is also a cheerleader who comes from a rich family and is stereotypically portrayed as spoilt and having a stuck up attitude, albeit with a fiercely independent nature. This character too breaks the social stereotype of a typical cheerleader by showing nuances to her character such as compassion for others, and the need to help others in need. Haley on the other hand, is depicted as a nerd but unlike the stereotypical nerds who more or less are detached from the popular group, falls in love with a high school jock - Nathan and bears his child at a very young age, and is shown pursuing further studies despite her responsibilities as a single parent. Conclusion: The representation of gender in television shows in general and One Tree Hill in particular highlights the use and implications of Essentialism or biological determinism; and socialization. Essentialism is concerned with a belief that individuals are assigned certain roles and are meant to act and react differently to situations on account of the biological differences in their brain structures and learning styles and patterns. Essentialism suggests that males are more likely to possess masculine traits such as aggressiveness and competitiveness as compared to girls. The depiction of characters such as Lucas and Nathan - in the pilot episode where they play a basketball match, and also throughout the series point to the use of essentialism by television shows. Socialization or the Sex Role theory states that the individual identities and the sense of masculinity or feminity are formed on the basis of messages received by the viewers through mass media, and are also acquired through socialization process. However, the mass media has a great and powerful impact on the manner in which the lead characters are portrayed and repetitive messages tend to have a long term impact on the viewers who try to imitate and emulate such behavior in reality. The role of popular television shows hence is of extreme significance since the popularity of the characters is highly dependent on the social construction of the society which in turn derives its sense of identity from such popular programming. References: Allard et al., (1995) in Nyalunga, D., (2007). Dispelling the misconceptions and myths about gender, International NGO Journal, Vol. 2 (1), Pp. 1-5 Bindig, L., (2008). 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