Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Family Guy and Female equality

Cultural Analysis of Family Guy

The idea of women’s rights is very prominent in today's culture, and has gained more exposure with the current presidential election. Having one candidate who is known for being sexist against females, and the other candidate who is known to support rights for women, with the potential to be the first female president of the United States, has put women’s issues into the spotlight.

Family Guy (1999-present), is a satirical animated TV show made to make you question our current society. The husband and father, Peter Griffin, has become the overweight, lazy man of the house. He has a son and daughter, and a wife, Lois. There are many common stereotypes represented throughout Family Guy, most prominently the idea that women are made to be housewives and be servants to the husband. 

In season 13, episode 1 For Pete’s Sake!, Peter makes a comic that portrays the wife as the dishwasher and the vacuum cleaner. The local feminists dislike this, and protest the gender inequality and sexism of males. The Griffin family is forced to move from their hometown until the protesters abandon their quest. Sexism is exhibited throughout the entire series. Peter always makes Lois do even the simplest of tasks, such as having her turn on the TV for him when he is on the couch. Seeing this makes the viewer question some people’s views of women.

Society has almost always placed men before women, and it wasn’t until the late 19th century that we began to question this idea. Many people strove for women’s rights in the past, but the first big movement is arguably the Suffrage Movement. Rights for women have only grown since, but we should continue to remain aware of the treatment of women in today's society.

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