Overall, House is strongly related to the concept of patriarchy as described in Allan Johnson’s piece “Patriarchy, the System”. House, like many television shows can be considered a means of socialization by which the system of patriarchy or “patriarchal culture” (Johnson 34) becomes fixed into Western society. Johnson points out “the main use of any culture is to promote symbols and ideas” (34). As such, TV shows like House and its dynamics and characters serve as those symbols and socializing components. For instance, Dr. Cameron is often portrayed as an empathetic member of the team, depicting the patriarchal concept “of female caring, cooperation, and subordination” (Johnson 34). This is specifically seen the episode “Acceptance” when Dr. Cameron becomes more emotionally involved with a cancer patient than anyone on the team. Additionally, her subordinate status is shown when she must acquire House’s permission for testing of the patient. Furthermore, in newer episodes female subordination is portrayed through the character Dr. Hadley, the only female on House’s current team. House produces such subordination by ascribing a dehumanizing numerical label to her.

Actions such as these support what Johnson explains as “patriarchy’s defining elements” (34) including “its male-dominated, male-identified, male-centered, and control-obsessed character” (34). The show exemplifies these in numerous ways. For instance, the majority of the medical team is male and is led by an arrogant male (House). Although the hospital supervisor (Cuddy) is female House constantly subverts her ‘power’, showing a lack of respect and “control-obsessed character” (Johnson 34). In addition, Dr. Cuddy is continuously depicted wearing tight and/or low cut clothing, as in the episode “TB or Not TB.” This also negates her supposed supervisory role, subtracting from the appearance of female power and supporting patriarchal “standards of feminine beauty” (Johnson 34).

In addition, House’s interactions with Dr. Cuddy, Dr. Cameron, and Dr. Hadley lend to “misogynist images of women” (Johnson 36). For example, in one episode House calls Dr. Cuddy a “media whore” (“TB or Not TB”) and makes reference to her make-up. House says such derogatory language so consistently and nonchalantly that it lends to desensitization. Therefore, “when we hear or express sexist jokes and other forms of misogyny, we may not recognize it” (Johnson 36). This combination of factors, stereotypes, and derogation lends to the socialization of patriarchy through the media. Thus House, like other media sources, can be seen to perpetuate and serve as a mechanism through which societies can pass on their characteristics/system of patriarchy. Johnson points out that “how we perceive people who occupy such positions and what we expect of them depend on cultural ideas” (36). House affects these perceptions and the meanings applied to these.

“Acceptance.” House: Season Two. Exec. Producers Marcy Kaplan and Steven Heth. FOX. DVD. Universal Studios, 2006.

Johnson, Allan G. “Patriarchy, the System: An It, Not a He, a Them, or an Us.” Women’s Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. Ed. Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa-Rey. 4th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2007. 28-37.

“TB or Not TB.” House: Season Two. Exec. Producers Marcy Kaplan and Steven Heth. FOX. DVD. Universal Studios, 2006.