Ditz

Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Outside the Bubble

"You scratch our backs, we'll scratch yours."

"Well Jules, the funny thing about my back is that it's located on my cock."



Suggestive lines such as these from the movie Superbad are supposed to be funny, right? Movies targeted at young audiences, or "boy movies," seem to suggest so with their rising popularity.

But what messages are these movies portraying about women and men?

In the above quote the female character, Jules, is shown as flirtatious and teasing. The male character, Seth, is shown as sexually crude. Audiences not only find this acceptable, but comedic as well.

Boy movies reinforce stereotypical images of women. Audiences of men and women go to see these movies and may not realize that the comedy film they are watching holds these messages. In a sense, these movies have destigmatized sexism by covering up negative aspects with humor.

A leader for the Friends of the Women's Resource Center, Elizabeth Chang said,

"Sexist jokes about women are not as frowned upon by the population at large. It's unfortunate, but it's hard for a woman to stand up for herself when she hears sexist jokes among a group of her guy friends. She will be considered a prude, someone who lacks a sense or humor, or a feminazi."

In these movies, women are often shown as objects of sex or sexual conquest. Rarely do women have roles that are heroic.

Co-leader of reforming of the Gender Equity club, Allison Riemer said,

"One main concern is that the movies are usually written by males so they hold the male perspective and continue to uphold certain standards that haven't changed. Another issue is the women in these movies aren't strong characters. In The 40-Year-Old Virgin, the woman with power is portrayed as being insane."

Although this character, Beth, is portrayed as a woman with power and dominance, she is shown as crazy and weird as she brings the main character, Andy, back to her apartment. There she demonstrates strange fetishes and sexual actions, such as using the showerhead in the bathtub as a device for sexual arousal. Her character is a woman with power, yet this power is translated into negative qualities like sluttinesss and promiscuity.

So are these movies sexist by portraying females as subordinate to males? Or are they portraying life how it really is?

Co-leader of reform for the Gender Equity club, Jacob Goldstein said, "These movies aren't that different from everyday life, they are just reinforcing what already exists. Chang added "At least in Superbad, it seems like boys can do no wrong when it comes to 'getting the girl,' because despite all their misconceptions about what women want, and all their social blunders, in the end, they end up with their targeted sexual interest. This also reinforces the idea that women expect men to not understand them, and therefore excuse their behaviors and accept them."

Perhaps what happens in these films is not too far off from what happens in real life, but have these films destigmatized sexism and made it okay to talk crudely about sex?

"The movies aren't explicit in what they show," Riemer said. "They are more conversation-based."

In fact, the reason why audiences of boy movies may not catch the sexism is because of its subtle portrayal. Instead of showing blatant actions of sexism, it is snuck into the characters' dialogue. It is hard for audiences to notice that women and men in films such as Superbad are being degraded when characters make quick, clever remarks. Although not as overt, this type of sexism still has the same negative effect on audiences, even if they may not realize it.

Yet females are not the only ones who are being shown negatively in these films. Although they are shown as lesser than the male characters, males are not necessarily portrayed positively, either.

"Men aren't really achieving anything in these movies," Riemer said. "They are not moving towards growing up. These movies portray men in an equally negative light."

The typical male role in these films is solely interested in drinking, partying, and sex. Male roles are also usually shown as unintelligent and with an air of machismo. According to Laura Hebert, a Diplomacy and World Affairs professor whose focus is on gender and human rights, this is due to the frequent male need to reinforce their "sexual success."

Men in these movies need to prove their manliness with this "sexual success". "Getting laid" raises a man's status in the view of other men. The more women a man sleeps with, the more macho they are.

Even though these factors may be negative, the way that boy movies portray male characters twists these traits to make them into positive characteristics rather than negative, again putting the males above the female roles, even if what they are doing is wrong.

"Most people don't see it as negative even though it is," Goldstein said. "[Men] almost aspire to be them."

Females also seem to go along with these movies, accepting the sexist views even though the movies are showing females in a negative light. It has become okay for females to laugh at sexist jokes at their own expense without even realizing it.

"'Boy movies show women what appeals to men," Chang said. "So by accepting boy movies, women are kind of gaining power by reinforcing male privilege and female stereotypes."

Perhaps by accepting boy movies, women are showing that they know what appeals to men, which puts them in a position of power. Or by showing that they can laugh and take sexist jokes at ease portrays a sense of comfort in self.

So why is all this funny? Are teenagers who are seeing these films aware of the negative stereotypes represented and simply choosing to ignore it for comedy's sake? Or are audiences unaware of the stereotypes that are being reinforced in these movies?

Boy movies are funny, and they can be a great way to take a break from the stress of school life. But one also has to stop and think-what messages are these films portraying? And what is so funny about men being portrayed as stupid and women being portrayed as sluts?

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools