House of Cards: A Broader Look at Institutionalized Gender

The past few years have seen an unbelievable growth in popularity for companies that offer instant streaming services for movies and television shows. Netflix, the behemoth of this industry, led the charge into the world of online streaming. Likewise, more recently, they have been the first of these companies to create their own original programming, independent of any television networks. Unsurprisingly, they have found huge success in the original programs by expanding into every genre. There have been smart, cult-comedies like the fourth season of Arrested Development, and there have been extended story-based dramas such as Orange is the New Black. Both have been wildly popular. However, of all its ventures, one stands out in its extreme success and growing following. House of Cards, created by Beau Willimon, is the American version of a popular British series of the same name. The dark, gritty, political-thriller drama follows the career path of a despicable anti-hero on a relentless quest for power. The show focuses on the damning exploits of Frank and Claire Underwood, played by Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. When House of Cards began in 2013, Frank Underwood was only a lowly House Majority Whip, his political ambitions dashed by an ungrateful former ally. The following two seasons documented his rise to the Presidency through deceit, blackmail, threats, manipulation, and even murder. The most recent third season released this past February, resulting even greater popularity for the show. This third season, however, has also seen a change in the tone of the show. By the finale of season two, Frank Underwood had become President of the United States, and with him, Claire had become First Lady. In the past they had been a decisive political unit, cold and calculating for the shared goal of increased power. Now, Frank has reached the height of his possible political power, and Claire is locked under him, in the figurehead position of First Lady. By illustrating gender roles more than ever in the setting of the White House, the third season of House of Cards illustrates their destructive nature and how they ultimately limit all those who perpetuate them.

The new limits Claire faces slowly confront her in the beginning of the season and then as she realizes their harsh reality she becomes increasingly trapped. In Episodes 29 and 30, Claire attempts to realize her ambitions of becoming the United States' Ambassador to the United Nations. Unfortunately, she is rejected by the Senate because of an "undignified outburst" at at Senate hearing and is therefore resigned to doing menial White House chores, such as picking the Easter eggs for the annual egg hunt. She is forced to plead to her husband to appoint her to the UN without the senates approval, which he can do under the broad powers of the president. He gives her this power, because they are a team. However, unlike in the past seasons, she cannot return the favor. She can offer him no specific help, and most of her initiatives as Ambassador fail. In the end she must give up her position as part of a deal negotiated by Frank and the Russian president. She has no say in the matter, and is left, once again, with no power.
Their relationship at this point is indicative of the male power structure that the couple finds themselves in as the figurehead of American society. Frank holds literally all of the power, and in order for Claire to get anything she must appeal. The only real help she offers Frank is when he is left completely exhausted on the floor of the Oval Office and she has sex to him to help him regain energy. At this point, though she is taking the initiative, Claire is only a sex object because she serves no purpose but to fulfill Frank sexually. This degrades her role even more, putting her into an extremely helpless position. Her hearing with Senate for her appointment as UN Ambassador also illustrates the structure of American society. She does not have specific experience in being an international ambassador, but she has proven an extremely effective, professional worker who always succeeds in helping people when she puts her mind to it. She is rejected for two reasons. One, there are political opponents in the Senate who oppose Frank and do not wish to see his wife succeed. This once again shows gender roles because the Senate members are defining Claire in terms of her husband., not as her own person. Once again, she is an object. Two, during a line of extremely hard questioning in which the interviewer is trying to provoke a response by misinterpreting her words, Claire has an outburst and accuses the interviewer of trying to provoke a response. Although she has just spoken truthfully, the Senator claims that she had a "hysterical outburst" and therefore can not be trusted to be UN Ambassador. This is classic portrayal of women as being hysterical, or emotional, or crazy when really they are just trying to stand up for themselves. Unsurprisingly, the public takes the Senator's side in rejection of Claire, showing that society still, to some extent, thinks women are generally less responsible  than men.
Even when she has the job, she does not have it long enough to make a meaningful impact, because the chauvinist Russian president requires her to step down from her position as part of a peace negotiation with the U.S. Claire is forced to accept, once again being forced to identify herself as a possession of Frank's, something harm him by taking it away, but in reality, having no value. Later in the season, Claire understands that she has become Frank's trophy, and that he is even knowingly trying to restrain her to her place as his possession by forcing her to campaign for him. She responds defiantly, finally giving herself agency by leaving him in the last moments of the season and throwing off the restrictions put on her. By leaving, though, she is also throwing away everything that they have worked for.
The third season of House of Cards does not work to reinforce gender roles on women but to criticize them. The Underwoods can only succeed as a team, as has been proved time and time again during this series. Now, they are separated by the oppressive gender roles forced on the two of them by American society, and they can only lose power from this point on. In conclusion, the gender roles forced on women in our modern day society are destructive not only to the women themselves, but also the whole society because we cannot thrive or even survive without an equal place for women.