Gender is represented all over mass media today, specifically in TV shows. One of the most popular shows on television, Modern Family is a perfect example of how gender roles both fall into and defy certain stereotypes that are portrayed in society. The show introduces us to three separate families, all making up an enlarged, extended family. We are introduced to the Dunphy's: Phil, Claire, Haley, Alex, and Luke. We are also introduced to the Pritchett-Tuckers: Claire's brother Mitch, his husband Cameron, and their adopted daughter, Lily. Lastly, we meet Claire and Mitch's father, Jay Pritchett, his "trophy wife" Gloria, her son Manny, and Jay and Gloria's son Joe. This extremely interesting and comical family dynamic is the root of many jokes throughout the series. Premiering in 2009, the show's initial promotional poster quoted "One big (straight, gay, multi-cultural, traditional) happy family." The show often uses stereotypical gender roles to either make jokes or play into the fact that they are trying to be as diverse as possible. The show appeals to viewers of all ages, races, genders, and sexual orientations by poking fun at not only one, but all stereotypes we often see in mass media.
Claire, Haley, and Alex's Portrayal of Gender Roles
Claire is a stay at home mom for a large part of the show, while Phil goes to work and earns money, which is tied to the traditional American thoughts that men need to provide for their family, while women are meant to tend to the house. Compared to Gloria, who is always dressed up and fancy, Claire is more practical, like a typical suburban mom. She is rarely "dolled up," and generally just wears typical and casual "mom attire." In a way, to defy her gender role, Claire is the one who makes the executive decisions between her and Phil. She very often makes jokes about his poor decisions, and she is the one who shows responsibility. When Claire makes reckless decisions, the show does a great job of adding comedic lines to her hasty choices.
Both Phil and Claire repeatedly play into the gender role of women: that a woman can be either smart or pretty, but not both. This is seen through their two teenage daughters, Haley and Alex. Haley is the stereotypical "cool" girl. She is always seen as the prettier one, she easily talks to boys, and from the start of the show it is seen that she highly dislikes school, and therefore is not intelligent. Alex, on the other hand, is seen as the smartest one in the family, and graduates as valedictorian. Because she is so intelligent, she is portrayed as awkward and is often looked at second, when compared to her sister's looks. The relationship between Haley and Alex further supports the gender roles of women, and how they can be either pretty, or smart, but not both.
Phil and Claire often tell Alex to stop taking herself and her school work as seriously as she does, which she often refutes by poking fun at Phil and Claire's intelligence, or lack thereof. Alex frequently talks about her sister's looks and how she can not live up to her in that regard. Modern Family has made it a running joke to keep these gender roles going for six years, but the characters have grown tremendously in regards to defying their stereotypes.
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Gloria
Gloria is originally from Columbia, which she often discusses and makes jokes about. She is often heard saying “In my country…” and then comparing the life she now has with the adversity she dealt with in her home country. Gloria’s character embodies the perceptions that many Americans have regarding women from Latin America. She supports the “stereotypical” Latina woman, such as being dependent on her husband, being hot tempered, as well as being sexy, and very into her looks.
In an interview discussing how Sofia Vergara allows her character to be "too stereotypical," she quickly jumped to defend herself and her character's stereotypes, saying "...there are many types and styles of women all over the world, and this stereotype goes more toward seeing us as all about our families, hard working, standing up for ourselves, ultra-protective of our kids, and that we do ourselves up more than others,
because a lot of us wear perfume even to take the kids to school in the morning."
In an interview discussing how Sofia Vergara allows her character to be "too stereotypical," she quickly jumped to defend herself and her character's stereotypes, saying "...there are many types and styles of women all over the world, and this stereotype goes more toward seeing us as all about our families, hard working, standing up for ourselves, ultra-protective of our kids, and that we do ourselves up more than others,
because a lot of us wear perfume even to take the kids to school in the morning."
Mitch and Cam
Mitch and Cam along with their daughter Lily make up the Pritchett-Tucker's. Between the two of them and their exaggerated flamboyance, it is hard not to laugh at the jokes they make and the way they portray their roles of parents. In stereotypical society and in mass media, gay couples often play the role of both parents, with it being defined who is "the mom" in the relationship. Modern Family also does this, except in such an exaggerated manner that the audience can't help but laugh. Cam, on one hand, is the more flamboyant one of the two, but is also more athletic, more handy around the house, and more likely to stand up for what he believes in. Mitch, on the other hand, is more feminine. He often gets scared by a passing spider, or bird, yet still tries to show his masculinity to his daughter, Lily. The entwined parental identities seen in Mitch and Cam's relationship truly expresses that one person doesn't only fit into one stereotype. Their family dynamic makes for a comical, yet believable relationship that contradicts the "normal" stereotypes often seen in mass media in regards to homosexuality and gender roles.
Modern Family's Use of Gender Roles
Looking at various sources and discussions regarding rhetoric, it is palpable that Modern Family truly encompasses everything that mass media uses to portray gender roles. By using the gender roles that Claire, Haley, Alex, Gloria, Mitch, and Cam both commit to and defy, the show is able to add satire to the stereotypes they use, and the producers help to show that despite the fact that their characters fall into these stereotypes, they also challenge them which can be seen through the various examples and pictures on this site. The rhetor (producers/creators) of this show got their point across time and time again, and proved that one person does not only fit into one stereotype- and stereotypes themselves do not define someone.
Six years after its premiere, Modern Family will be starting its new season in September. The cast has grown tremendously, yet the jokes they make keep getting funnier and funnier. This show made it okay to make fun of everyone, and to make light of the stereotypes we too often see in mass media. The characters of this show all fall into a stereotype, and throughout six seasons, the creators have shown ways that their characters both commit to, and defy their stereotypes. The way the producers bring humor to these issues in mass media are helping to change the world. One person is not defined by one stereotype anymore- all people are all different, and we can no longer define people by their "stereotypes," but we must judge them based on their actions. Gender, race, and sexuality are no longer defining characteristics in the 21st century, and Modern Family is helping to get rid of these stereotypes all together.
SOURCES:
TV Criticism 2013. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2015, from http://tvcriticism2013.blogspot.com/2013/09/modern-family-gender-roles-and.html
How "modern" is Modern Family? A Critical Review on the U.S. Sitcom Regarding Gender Roles and Hegemonic Ideologies. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2015, from http://www.academia.edu/1302382/How_modern_is_Modern_Family_A_Critical_Review_on_the_U.S._Sitcom_Regarding_Gender_Roles_and_Hegemonic_Ideologies
Gender Roles in Modern Family. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2015, from http://www.lifecho.com/gender-roles-in-modern-family/
Modern Family Source » » Gender Roles and Homosexual Parenting in Modern Family. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2015, from http://modern-family.org/2011/12/12/gender-roles-and-homosexual-parenting-in-modern-family/
The Dynamics of a "Modern Family" (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2015, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reel-therapy/201004/the-dynamics-modern-family
TV Criticism 2013. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2015, from http://tvcriticism2013.blogspot.com/2013/09/modern-family-gender-roles-and.html
How "modern" is Modern Family? A Critical Review on the U.S. Sitcom Regarding Gender Roles and Hegemonic Ideologies. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2015, from http://www.academia.edu/1302382/How_modern_is_Modern_Family_A_Critical_Review_on_the_U.S._Sitcom_Regarding_Gender_Roles_and_Hegemonic_Ideologies
Gender Roles in Modern Family. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2015, from http://www.lifecho.com/gender-roles-in-modern-family/
Modern Family Source » » Gender Roles and Homosexual Parenting in Modern Family. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2015, from http://modern-family.org/2011/12/12/gender-roles-and-homosexual-parenting-in-modern-family/
The Dynamics of a "Modern Family" (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2015, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/reel-therapy/201004/the-dynamics-modern-family
