Comparison of Gender Roles in “Friends”
...ode we can argue that these gender roles are not just a fluke, but rather an apparent part of the sitcom. Each character has their own niche in the world of masculinity and femininity. Joey is the typical meat head persona; he makes very male oriented comments by using slang language and being rude, flaunts his sexual desires and hides his feminine attributes. In the first scene Joey is shown gossiping with the women in the office over who has a better work situation. Rachael has just been offered a job with Ralph Lauren clothing, and Joey a possible position on a local TV show. Each of them fights for the attention of those around them by boosting themselves. In the end of course Joey must lose this battle of wits because he is the typical “wise guy”, jock-like character. Furthermore, in a later scene Rachael is hiring an assistant for her new job with Ralph Lauren. The first person interviewed is Hilda, an older, professional working woman, with the necessary skills and experience for the job. The second is Tag, who is portrayed as a handsome and very attractive male. He lacks the experience and skills to be an assistant, yet by looks alone he is given the position as Rachael reveals her own feminine desires. The concept of a feminine desire itself is new to media, less then 20 years ago showing a women’s own sexual desire would have been considered taboo. Yet with the influence of media, such as “Friends” and other programs, the gender role of women has been ever so slightly manipulated. In each other these situations, with both Rachael and Joey, it is obvious that each is either male or female. By having these heavily perceived and reinforced ideals of gender there comes discrimination. These differences translate into inequality between males and females. In a very crucial scene in this episode of “Friends”, Monica, Chandler, and Ross are all engaged in an argument. In this argument each of them reveals secrets about one another that attempt to crush each others masculinity, and even the femininity of Monica. While trying to bring each other down in the face of the other they are not only embarrassing themselves, but furthermore bringing down their status as a gender In the next episode of “Friends” that is being critiqued the same behavior was once again reinforc...