A Critical Analysis of Gender and Racial Issues in Modern Family

下面为大家整理一篇优秀的assignment代写范文- A Critical Analysis of Gender and Racial Issues in Modern Family，供大家参考学习，这篇论文讨论了《摩登家庭》。《摩登家庭》是一部美国家庭情景喜剧，于2009年在ABC电视台首播，最新一季于2018年9月首播。自第一季开播以来，《摩登家庭》引发了公众对性别刻板印象、种族冲突等一系列社会问题的关注和讨论。

Modern Family is an American family sitcom originally released on ABC in 2009, and its latest tenth season has been premiered in September 2018. Since the first season, Modern Family raised awareness and discussion of the public on a series of social issues such as gender stereotypes, racial conflicts and marriage equality for LGBT and so on. Khalelli (2017) in her critical review suggested that Modern Family could be the most divisive TV show, and when President Obama believed the it promoted racial and gender equality, Present Trump called it “racist”. Focusing on the episode 1 to 3 in season one of Modern Family, this essay critically analyzes how this TV show deals with the gender and racial issues of the society. Based on the analysis, it is learned that, firstly, Modern Family has reinforced gender stereotypes by highlighting the differentiation of gender roles; secondly, it has reinforced racial stereotypes by addressing the genetic differences between the white and the people of colors; and lastly, it is a positive attempt to challenge the mainstream culture of the United States, while may fail to achieve this goal.

First of all, Modern Family has reinforced gender stereotypes by highlighting the differentiation of gender roles. Clatterbaugh (1996) suggested that gender stereotypes refer to the generalizations about the features of characteristics of gender group (p.11). According to Dill and Thill (2007), media depictions of male and female characters are the major sources of gender stereotypes (p. 851). For example, in advertising, TV shows and vide games, male characters are typically portrayed as the breadwinners who work outside; while female characters are generally portrayed as happy housewives who took responsibility for all the housework. In fact, in Modern Family, such differentiation of gender roles is represented and reinforced. For example, in episode 1, the first scene is in Phil and Claire’s house where Claire is busy at the housework, preparing the breakfast for the family and doing the laundry, while Phil was in a professional suit, thinking about the appointment he has made for his customers. In the TV show, Phil and Claire represent the most typical American family—mothers are situating family members, adjusting children’s clothes; and fathers are working outside, while, at home, are waiting for direction from mothers in the background. In Jay and Gloria’s family, the gender stereotypes are also represented. For example, Gloria is depicted as a sexy woman with long hair, thick lips and perfect figure. She married Jay, a white man who is much older than her, and she confesses that she engages herself in this marriage for a stable and wealthy life. Thus, the character design of Gloria also indicates a gender stereotype, portraying women as “sexually objectified physical specimens” (Dill and Thill, 2017, p. 851). Thus, from Modern Family, it is learned that gender stereotypes are reinforced due to the design of characters, such as Claire as the typical American housewives, and Gloria as the typical sexy and material barbie dolls.

Secondly, Modern Family has reinforced racial stereotypes by addressing the genetic differences between the white and the people of colors. Toland and Mueller (2010) suggested that racial stereotypes are based on the discrimination against the genetic discrimination of people of colors, such as the skin colors, the appearance and accents when speaking foreign languages (p. 110). Racists may even claim that rather than social institutions, racial inequalities are because of the inherent differences in racial groups’ genes, especially their IQ (Toland and Mueller, 2010, p. 110). According to a research study, media are much more likely to hook up audiences through racial erotics, such as using more pornographic pictures of black women than white women to lure viewers of Internet news, articles or videos (by Mason, 2016, p. 822). According to Mason (2016), such media strategies reinforce the racial stereotypes because the racial erotics implies the inherent vulnerability, incapability and weaknesses in self-discipline. In fact, in Modern Family, such racial stereotype is also addressed, and the racial discrimination is also implied. For example, Gloria is a character which is depicted as a sexy while sensitive and even a little clumsy woman who comes from Barranquilla, Columbia. In the first three episodes of season one, Modern Family, both Gloria’s appearance and her words are featured by sexual suggestiveness. For example, in front of the camera, she openly talks about how she enjoys her sex with her husband. When she pays a visit to Claire and Phil’s house, she shows her new dress to Phil and even ‘lures’ him to touch it. Throughout the TV series, Gloria keeps in her heavy accent, and when she talks about sex in such accent, this character seems to be more erotic. Thus, the design of the character Gloria indicates racial erotics and also reinforces the gender stereotypes of people of color, over-generalizing about the clumsiness and sexual liberation of people based on their racial identity.

Last, but not least, Modern Family is a positive attempt to challenge the mainstream culture of the United States, while may fail to achieve this goal. The critic Michelle Haimoff (2012) criticized the show for keeping casting women who stay at home as moms and husbands who had successful careers. As a family sitcom, Modern Family failed to depict “modern” families by breaking the conventional attitudes in the mainstream culture of the United States. Instead, this TV show may adversely affect audience perceptions of reality and what’s normal, making audiences believe in the importance of traditional America family style. As a result, Haimoff (2012) strictly criticizes it as “it makes for sexist television. It also makes for unrealistic television” (p.1). Also, Ali Waller (2012), the writer of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon also criticized Modern Family, tweeting “If Modern Family is so 'modern' then why don't any of the women have jobs?” (p.1). Thus, though this TV sitcom attempts to challenge the mainstream culture of the United States and promote cultural diversity in family, marriage and society, it fails to achieve the goal because it still based on the traditional and conservative values of the US society.

All in all, based on the analysis above, some conclusion could be drawn as Modern Family has reinforced gender and racial stereotypes by highlighting the differentiation of gender roles addressing the genetic differences between the white and the people of colors. For example, Phil and Claire represent the most typical American family, and in such family, the gender roles are clearly differentiated. Gloria is depicted as a sexy woman, portraying her as sexually objectified physical specimen. The sexy and clumsy image of Gloria also indicates the gender stereotypes and racial discrimination. There is no doubt that Modern Family is a positive attempt to challenge the mainstream culture of the United States, aiming to promote the cultural diversity and equality of gender and racial groups. However, from episode 1 to 3 in season one of Modern Family, such goal was not effectively achieved. The main reason that causes the TV show failed to be “modern” is because its conventional character designs and its objectives to appeal to the public. Thus, for mass media, in order to make breakthroughs in contents, narratives and ideologies, they should innovate the character designs and the core values within the shows.

Reference:

Clatterbaugh, K. (1996). Contemporary Perspectives on Masculinity: Men, Women, and Politics in Modern Society. Colorado: Westview Press. p. 11.

Dill, K. E. and Thill, K. P. (2007). Video game characters and the socialization of gender roles: young people’s perceptions mirror sexist media depictions. Sex Roles, 57 (1), 851-864.

Haimoff, M. (2012). Not so Modern Family: Top sitcoms make for sexist, inaccurate television. CSMonitor. Retrieved from https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2012/0127/Not-so-Modern-Family-Top-sitcoms-make-for-sexist-inaccurate-television.

Khaleeli, H. (2017). Obama loves it, Trump called it racist: why Black-ish is TV's most divisive show. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/feb/25/series-creator-kenya-barris-on-abc-sitcom-black-ish.

Mason, C. L. (2016). Tinder and humanitarian hook-ups: the erotics of social media racism. Feminist Media Studies, 16 (1), pp. 822-837.

Toland, K. and Mueller, B. (2010). Advertising and Societies: Global Issues. New York: Peter Lang Publishing Inc. p. 110.

Waller, Ali. (2012). Modern Family: sexist or misunderstood? Stuff Entertainment. Retrieved from http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/blogs/on-the-box/7334127/Modern-Family-sexist-or-misunderstood.

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