Personal Code: fzg697

Rationale

This written task is linked to part 2 of The English A: Language and Literature course which

is Language and Mass communication. The primary text sources for my written task are

popular sitcoms1, such as ‘Friends’2 and ‘The Big Bang Theory’3. I will be addressing to the

issues of ‘Gender Stereotyping’ and ‘Racial Stereotyping’ that are portrayed in the sitcoms

through the use of different characters.

The text type I plan to write for this written task is a newspaper editorial critique based on the

popular sitcoms mentioned above, indirectly portraying the existing worldwide issue of Gender

and Racial Stereotyping. I plan to write the type of editorial critique which involves

interpretation and explanation of the cases portrayed in the sitcoms. The purpose of choosing

my text type is to influence and shape public opinion of these particular issues, i.e. Gender and

Racial Stereotyping and promote critical thinking of the corrective measures that must be taken

to tackle the same.

I plan to write my editorial primarily based on a combination of facts, i.e. the instances that

take place in the sitcoms which highlight the issue of Gender and Racial Stereotyping and my

opinion of the topic in decision. I also aim to make the editorial striking, making it

comprehensible by circumventing technical jargons and by adding a captivating title.

Word Count: 261

1
Situation Comedies
2
IMDb. "Friends." Imdb. Opyright © 1990-2017 IMDb.com, Inc., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2016.
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108778/>.
3
IMDb. "The Big Bang Theory (2007– ) Full Cast & Crew." Imdb. Copyright © 1990-2017 IMDb.com,
Inc., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2016. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898266/fullcredits/>.

1
 Personal Code: fzg697

Social Schisms in Humour…

“We all use stereotypes, all the time, without remember watching my favourite sitcoms

knowing it. We have met the enemy of again, I may have an addiction problem

equality, and the enemy is us. – Paul here, and suddenly it clicked that

McCartney 1998”4 ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’ and ‘The Big Bang Theory’

which turn these stereotypes into jokes,

Paul here is right; we humans are the prime
which we laugh at or are we forced to
cause that stereotypes exists. It is ingrained
laugh?
in us, passed down as legacy, reflecting in

our thoughts and actions. No one escapes it, Because of the over exposure and the

it is almost impossible. It begins before we pressure to be socially accepted, we have

are born with something simple as “Blue normalised the belittling or the “other-ing”

walls, if it’s a boy and pink if it’s a girl”, of anyone who sounds, looks or acts

and continues till we are old and gnarly “too different. Forget about people, who are

old to be thinking of a road trip or owning a different, we are harsh in our judgements

food truck…” Rich, poor, man, woman, for someone as normal as us. We observe

children, nations all have a set of and experience these irrationalities in every

preconceived notions about themselves or sphere of our lives. They have become such

each other. From television to radio stations an integral part of our lives that it is

to the Hallmark cards everything endorses impossible to filter it out. It is present and

stereotypes. In the age of web viewing, portrayed, either explicitly or implicitly

Netflix and streaming online the access and through various mediums like: daily life,

awareness of such stereotypes is endless. I

4
Prezi. "Stereotypes in the Media." Prezi. 2017 Prezi Inc., 3 Mar. 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2016.
<https://prezi.com/wbkdqta9c3ul/stereotypes-in-the-media/>.

2
 Personal Code: fzg697

the film industry, News agencies, Fashion commitment5. Now Monica maintains her

industry. “Angel in the House”6 demeanour but what

is interesting is that Chandler is shown as

The entertainment industry is a huge one,
someone who is commitment phobic and
with a wide audience spread across the
perhaps is coerced into marrying the one he
globe. Shows like ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’ and ‘The
loves, or else he loses her.5 But what makes
Big Bang Theory’, have a massive fan
this show an interesting study is while it
following and are loved and re-watched,
gives us that bottled, over used stereotypes;
multiple times, by all age groups through
on the other had it presents us with
out the world. The generalisations and
characters that are ready to break the
stereotypes in these shows are subtle and
mould. For example, Ross, Monica’s
gently portrayed in these westernised
brother, is entirely too interested in
sitcoms.
marriage5, something that he does quite
In ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’, there exists some
often. He is the sweet, sensitive guy that our
obvious gender stereotypes for example,
televisions and our elders tell us not to be.
Monica is portrayed as a character who
The show also challenges roles assigned to
enjoys domestic roles and loves to fulfil
the respective gender by presenting a male
domestic duties and fantasizes in and takes
nanny in the episode, ‘The One With The
pleasure in marriage and having a family
Male Nanny’5, but they did not let that idea
and raising children.5 And in opposition
develop, perhaps fearing a dip in the
you have Chandler, a male character, who
ratings. Nanny is typically considered to be
is very confused and scared of

5
Erickson, Nicole. "Friends: Representations of Academic.brooklyn.cuny. N.p., 2 Mar. 2011.
Race, Class, Gender and Web. 5 Dec. 2016.
Sexuality."Friendstvrepresentation.blogspot. <http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/mel
N.p., 3 May 2014. Web. 5 Dec. 2016. ani/novel_19c/thackeray/angel.html>.
<http://friendstvrepresentation.blogspot.in/>.
6 Thackeray, William Makepeace. "THE

ANGEL IN THE HOUSE."

3
 Personal Code: fzg697
a female’s job which is why Ross is
astonished by the fact that a man named
Sandy applied for it. Furthermore, the name
Sandy is more feminine and the character is
depicted to be very emotional and
‘Feminine’5. The social preconception of
rasing a child being a woman’s job is quite
succulently shown.
There is also extensive ‘Racial
Stereotyping’, in ‘The Big Bang Theory’.
The Indian character Raj, is shown to have
a typical Indian accent which has led to
major insinuations. He is least successful
with women and his sexuality is also
questioned; this shapes or presents how
westerners imagine Indians to be.7 ‘Land of
the snake charmers’, and ‘cow
worshippers’ and other such tags are
usually associated with us Indians. Raj is
7
Thestar. "Hollywood Puts a Thin Mask on
Racial Stereotyping." Thestar. Copyright
Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd. 1996 - 2017, 22
Sept. 2013. Web. 7 Dec. 2016.
<https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2
013/09/22/hollywood_puts_a_thin_mask_on_rac
ial_stereotyping.html>.
8
Feldhake, Joel. "Stereotypes in The Big Bang
Theory." Joelfeldhake.blogspot. Awesome Inc.
Template. Powered by Blogger., 23 Dec. 2010.
not only mocked for his accent, and the way
he’s dressed, his privileged life is
constantly mocked. His parents are
constantly intervening in his personal and
romantic life, trying to help him out, even
in the matters of finance.8 This does not sit
well with the westerners, for they leave the
nest and try to strive on their own in a world
where disappointments are rampant. So,
one can only imagine how annoying and
utterly unacceptable it is to ask parents for
help.
“When people rely on surface appearances
and false racial stereotypes, rather than in-
depth knowledge of others at the level of the
heart, mind and spirit, their ability to assess
and understand people accurately is
9
compromised – James A. Forbes.” We
always have a predetermined mind towards
Web. 7 Dec. 2016.
<http://joelfeldhake.blogspot.in/2010/12/stereoty
pes-in-big-bang-theory.html>.
9
AZ QUOTES. "James A. Forbes Quotes."
Azquotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2016.
<http://www.azquotes.com/author/16609-
James_A_Forbes>.
4
 Personal Code: fzg697

a particular race and their physical millennials for that. But awareness of such

appearance. If it’s a black, then we tend to profiling is very important. My purpose of

deceitfully discriminate against them in discussing this is to show that it is a global

every scope; whereas if it’s a white, we tend issue and that it needs to be addressed and

to exaggeratingly be favourable towards tackled immediately and efficaciously. It is

them. This is a fixed stereotype that exists then when equality will come into light

since generations across the world; from the which will create a more hospitable and

developed, western world to the less peaceful environment for the people who

developed one. previously were discriminated against, and

make societies as a whole, across the globe,

Gender and racial stereotyping are practices
more better off.
that have become global now, blame the

Word Count – 963

5
 Personal Code: fzg697

Works Cited

IMDb. "Friends." Imdb. Opyright © 1990-2017 IMDb.com, Inc., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2016.

<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108778/>.

IMDb. "The Big Bang Theory (2007– ) Full Cast & Crew." Imdb. Copyright © 1990-2017

IMDb.com, Inc., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2016. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898266/fullcredits/>.

Prezi. "Stereotypes in the Media." Prezi. 2017 Prezi Inc., 3 Mar. 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2016.

<https://prezi.com/wbkdqta9c3ul/stereotypes-in-the-media/>.

Erickson, Nicole. "Friends: Representations of Race, Class, Gender and

Sexuality."Friendstvrepresentation.blogspot. N.p., 3 May 2014. Web. 5 Dec. 2016.

<http://friendstvrepresentation.blogspot.in/>.

Thackeray, William Makepeace. "THE ANGEL IN THE HOUSE."

Academic.brooklyn.cuny. N.p., 2 Mar. 2011. Web. 5 Dec. 2016.

<http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_19c/thackeray/angel.html>.

6
 Personal Code: fzg697

Thestar. "Hollywood Puts a Thin Mask on Racial Stereotyping." Thestar. Copyright Toronto

Star Newspapers Ltd. 1996 - 2017, 22 Sept. 2013. Web. 7 Dec. 2016.

<https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2013/09/22/hollywood_puts_a_thin_mask_o

n_racial_stereotyping.html>.

Feldhake, Joel. "Stereotypes in The Big Bang Theory." Joelfeldhake.blogspot. Awesome Inc.

Template. Powered by Blogger., 23 Dec. 2010. Web. 7 Dec. 2016.

<http://joelfeldhake.blogspot.in/2010/12/stereotypes-in-big-bang-theory.html>.

AZ QUOTES. "James A. Forbes Quotes." Azquotes. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2016.

<http://www.azquotes.com/author/16609-James_A_Forbes>.