Blog #3

Question #1 What type of sexist roles do you see in this clip? Are you surprised by these roles? Would this ever be considered a movie if it was a man (I don’t know how HE does it)? Does this media example embody what bell hooks is trying to prevent? What are other media examples that still hold on to sexist ideas? (hint, hint: This would be a good place to incorporate media into your blog post!)

The most obvious sexist role seen in this clip is that it is the woman's job to take care of the kids and the home, even if she is working. The scene that really upset me was when the man who had twice as many kids said that he doesn't understand how she can manage everything, simply because as the woman, she is the one who is supposed to take care of the children. Additionally, she is the one cleaning, baking, and worrying. They also portray women as especially emotional, as seen when she cried simply because she missed her son's first haircut. These sexist ideals in this trailer are the exact reason that I never went and saw the film. Sadly, I am not surprised by the roles portrayed in this film. Movies play off of stereotypes, and this is an obvious one.

If the main character was a man, the only way this movie would be considered is if the man was a single father, or a comedy playing off of the stereotypes. Otherwise, unfortunately, there is no way the movie would be considered. This film is a prime example of what bell hooks is trying to prevent!  

A couple other media examples I found are:

27 Dresses:

Footloose (2011):

My Big Fat Greek Wedding:

Question #2 What were your initial reactions to the commercial? Why is it not okay that her daughter is not in pink? Do you think they would ever make a similar commercial with a boy in more feminine clothing? Why?

I despise this commercial, and especially the mom character. That little girl embodies how I dressed as a child, and my mom didn't ridicule me for it. It should be okay for the girl to not wear pink, but society expects girls to like and wear the color pink. It's less likely that this commercial would be made with a boy wearing feminine clothing because girls and women can get away with wearing men's clothing in society than boys and men can. If this commercial was made with a boy wearing girl clothes, there would be an outcry and criticism. Tide would be boycotted.

Question #3 Name a children’s book that embodies the sexist notions that bell books discusses in this chapter. Why do you think the book has these sexist ideas? What future consequences do you think that these books have?

Snow White:

Women should not be passive. Women should not wait for a man to save them. Women should not be the one's staying at home and cleaning all day when the men go to work. This story I read as a child enforces what girls should not learn to be expected to do. Stories like these can create perceptions for both girls and boys that effects the expectations of gender roles as they grow.