Blog 5

The impact of House on the culture of U.S. society can be seen through the feedback it prompts from viewers. Many of these opinions relate to gender and the media’s portrayal of ‘idealized’ women and female bodies. One particular group of comments on the IMDb message boards provides an example of the performance of gender discussed in lecture. This post questions Cuddy’s provocative dress on the show, provoking numerous responses. One, “I really hope she goes back to the skin tight skirts soon it’s part on [of] her persona” (Angelique7), provides insight into how women are expected to portray their gender, in essence by displaying their sexuality. This also depicts how women are defined by society and how media perpetuates and condones this. In addition, one participant commented “if you aren’t overtly sexy you aren’t a woman” (rockethound). This comment reveals an ideology often seen in media portrayals of women and how they are characterized. It also connects with the lectures on January 26th and 28th and February 11th which focused on answering “how is gender performed” (January 26, 2009) and “what is your body expected to do” (February 11, 2009). These lectures discussed how behaviors we deem as acceptable and characteristic of one gender or another are in reality taught to us and how various institutions affect these perspectives. The message board responses and topics indicate that the media is one such institution responsible for instilling these dominant ideals and views of women and men. Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey further support this impact and connection by describing that “dominant culture [commonly seen as including media] often reduces women to bodies, valuing us [women] only as sex objects” (121).

In addition, as Lorber points out, “human beings produce gender, behaving in ways they learned were appropriate for their gender status, or resisting or rebelling against these norms” (25). Many of the message comments and depictions from House indicate that Cuddy does both in terms of being “overtly sexy” (rockethound) according to U.S. ideals but yet is a female supervisor overseeing numerous employees, an ‘untraditional’ female role. Furthermore, the content of the message boards and the sheer number of participants and topics indicate the impact shows like House have on people’s time, thoughts, and attitudes.

Abad, Erika G. Washington State University, Pullman, WA. 26 Jan. 2009.

Abad, Erika G. Washington State University, Pullman, WA. 28 Jan. 2009.

Abad, Erika G. Washington State University, Pullman, WA. 11 Feb. 2009.

Angelique7. “Re: Cuddy’s Cleavage…………. …” Online Posting. 16 Feb. 2009. “’House M.D.’ (2004).” IMDb The Internet Database. 18 Feb. 2009 < http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412142/board/thread/130609065>.

catherineursula. “Cuddy’s Cleavage…………. …” Online Posting. 16 Feb. 2009. “’House M.D.’ (2004).” IMDb The Internet Database. 18 Feb. 2009 < http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412142/board/thread/130609065>.

Kirk, Gwyn and Margo Okazawa-Rey. “Women’s Bodies and Beauty Ideals. Women’s Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. Ed. Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey. 4th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2007. 121-120.

Lorber, Judith. “The Social Construction of Gender (1991).” Women’s Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. Ed. Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey. 4th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2007. 24-27.

House. FOX. Creator David Shore. 2004-2006.

rockethound. “Re: Cuddy’s Cleavage…………. …” Online Posting. 16 Feb. 2009. “’House M.D.’ (2004).” IMDb The Internet Database. 18 Feb. 2009 < http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412142/board/thread/130609065>.