Hegemonic Masculinity: "Friends"

One of the most popular and influential shows of the 90’s, Friends, had an immense and loyal following.  Staring in 1994, this show was an enormous part of my childhood, and each episode brought up diverse issues in a “light hearted” manner that reached millions.   Season three, episode four, “The One With The Metaphorical Tunnel,” discusses an issue Ross has with his son, Ben, playing with a Barbie doll.  When closely analyzing this specific episode, this interaction demonstrates the idea of hegemonic masculinity in the media, the social construction of gender, and the masculine anxiety in today’s society. 

As the scene begins, Ross’s ex wife, Carol, and her new wife, Susan, drop off their son.  When he first embraces Ben, Ross notices that he is tightly holding on to a Barbie doll and states, “What’s my boy doing with a Barbie.”  When his moms say that “he loves it” and that “he picked it out,” Ross instantly gets an uncomfortable look on his face.  This is an example of the anxiety that men feel to be perceived as masculine.  Michael Kimmel states, “…men fear being ridiculed as too feminine by other men and this fear perpetuates homophobic and exclusionary masculinity” (Kimmel, 1).   This fear has transformed into everything we do, and develops at a very young age.  Kimmel spoke of a study that asked boys, as young as six-years-old, who is the biggest “sissy” on the playground and the boys immediately point fingers at a certain boy (Kimmel, 1). 

This action that occurs at such a young age demonstrates the fact that gender is socially constructed, “…the vast majority of masculine and feminine traits are not determined by sex, but are learned through cultural practice” (Representing Identity, 330).  It is an aspect that we learn and acquire from our culture and when the media or television shows illustrate these characteristics that are predominately male or female, it just reiterates this notion. In fact, according to the article, Representing Identity, the media “…encourages viewers to adopt [these traits] as part of their own behavior and further reinforces dominant gender norms” (Representing Identity, 330).  Ross is showing this fear as he frantically tries to get his son to stop playing with the Barbie because he does not want him to develop “sissy” characteristics.  Fans of the show will recognize Ross’s character as a more sensitive type rather than a “manly man.”  This distinction can demonstrate how powerful this fear is that even a man who may not be perceived as masculine is frightened about the consequences of seeming feminine.    The obsession our society has with being perceived as a “manly” man is shown when Ross quickly tries to get Ben to play with a monster truck, GI Joe figurine, or a dinosaur, all toys with stereotypical masculinity traits.  Even with the way Ross speaks about this situation, “What’s my boy doing with a Barbie,” illustrates Ross concern with his child, his boy, not living up to society’s opinion of masculinity.

While this situation may have not changed or had a direct impact on our behaviors, the constant repetition of messages like these shape the way we think and feel about gender roles in our society.  It creates norms of these certain ideologies.   Television and the media take the role of a teacher as it guides the audience’s unconscious mind to adapt these stereotypes.  Confirming this statement, Elizabeth Fish Hatfield states, “…television can be seen either as an influence on, or reflection of, culture—the shared norms, values, and beliefs held by a society” (Hatfield 2010, 4).  As explained in our Television Criticism class lecture notes, television is a site of cultural representation (Lecture, 8/29).  It “…reflects different types of culture, and perceptions of different types of people” (Lecture, 8/29).  Television is a teacher of aspects that even go beyond ideologies (Lecture, 8/29).  It can, for example, teach us about certain lifestyles or cultures (Lectures, 8/29).  When a medium has been proven to have an effect on an audience by “teaching” us about an entire lifestyle, something as small as a generalized notion of behavior (masculinity) seems obvious.  It would be interesting to see if the trend in television were to change its display of masculinity, would the unfair perception of the public change with it?  

Overall, season three, episode four “The One With The Metaphorical Tunnel,” displays a repeated trend in modern television today.  As Ross’s concern grows when his son wants to play with a girly Barbie doll instead of the manly GI Joe figurine, the audience is subject to televisions illustration of hegemonic masculinity, the social construction of gender, as well as, the clear anxiety men feel about being perceived as feminine.  Televisions repetitions of these stereotypical ideologies are constantly shown to us as this medium assumes its role as a teacher of the modern society.   

Hatfield, Elizabeth Fish. "'What It Means To Be A Man': Examining Hegemonic Masculinity In Two And A Half Men E. F. Hatfield." Communication, Culture & Critique 3.4 (2010): 526-548. Communication & Mass Media Complete. Web. 26 Sept. 2013

Kimmel, Michael S. "Masculinity as Homophobia." Masculinity as Homophobia. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Sept. 2013. <faculty.ucc.edu/psysoc-stokes/Masculinity.pdf>.

Mittell, Jason. "Representing Identity." Television and American culture. New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, 2010. 329-251. Print.