Naturalized Stereotypes

This week, we talked about how people are stereotyped in certain ways in the media. It seems in multiple shows that the father/husband role is usually a buffoon (aka Homer Simpson). This role is usually someone with horrible eating habits, bad hygiene, low class, and an unhealthy weight. On the other hand, their wives are usually the exact opposite. The wife/mother is usually smart, beautiful, and THIN. Usually, the husband never realizes how good he has it. I think that because of shows that display these stereotypes, women will always be thought that they have to be perfect without any flaws. This kind of goes back to last week's readings and videos about how women are perfected in the media. It is funny and I guess good for me, that it seems that men are not held up to the same standards. I can think of multiple shows where this certain stereotype plays out (The Simpsons, The King of Queens, The Sopranos, According to Jim, Still Standing, etc....). Stereotypes will probably never change in the media because it is the way those in power want it to be. They want women to constantly think that they have to be perfect and thin so that they will continually buy products. They want men to be obsessed with sports, beer, and food so they will buy a big screen TV to watch the game or buy beer everyday. If shows did not have these stereotypes then people would have no one to relate to. Imagine if shows had people that no one could relate to or was so individualized. No one would probably watch it then. These stereotypes are so ingrained into what we think is normal that it is just what it is. It is natural and cannot be changed.