Gender Inequality and Friends

Running head: GENDER INEQUALITY AND FRIENDS
Gender Inequality and Friends
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1GENDER INEQUALITY AND FRIENDS
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Gender Stereotypes....................................................................................................................3
Power roles in relationships.......................................................................................................5
Masculine and Feminine Attributes in Friends..........................................................................7
Gender Inequality.......................................................................................................................8
Link to workplace issue.......................................................................................................11
Conclusion:..............................................................................................................................12
References:...............................................................................................................................14

2GENDER INEQUALITY AND FRIENDS
Thesis Statement: Gender inequality can be found in the television shows and it reflects
itself in everyday life of the people.
Introduction
Gender inequality is indicative of the perception that women along with men are not treated
on equal terms in the society. It is indicative of the unequal treatment that the individuals in
the society have to face owing to gender. Gender inequality rises on account of distinctions
which can be empirically grounded or they may be socially constructed. The relationship
between that of the gender stereotypes can be seen on media like that of television. The
television series “Friends” helps in portraying gender stereotypes as it lays emphasis on
interaction between that of three female characters along with that of the three male
characters. It helps in depicting the manner of living of the twenty year old people and how
they lived during that time. Plot pertaining to the sitcoms can help in the re-definition of the
normal and typical life of that of the Americans (Haines, Deaux&Lofaro, 2016)It can prove
to be an interesting study as a broad time can be analysed because the show aired over
television over a period of ten years. Interpretative method has been made use of in order to
arrive at the conclusion regarding whether “ Friends” depicts gender inequality. The episodes
spanning over ten seasons have been analysed in the course of our report that bear evidence
of gender discrimination (Lindsey, 2015)Gender Inequality can be perceived in the show “
Friends” and the girls have been portrayed as being the objects of male desire and the three
male characters view the woman like that of sex objects. The men in the sitcom are shown to
be sexually driven as was the notion regarding masculine gender at that point of time.There
was a notion that men are free to express their inner urges and they can do whatever they
want in the society. This has been expressed in the drama with the help of the three male
characters.The primary purpose of this report is to discuss about the concept of general male
along with that of female stereotypes. Man is shown to be practical who does not listen to that

3GENDER INEQUALITY AND FRIENDS
of the female gender. The organisational structure is dominated by that of the masculine
principles and “Friends” acts as a microcosm to that of the broader organisational structure.
Hierarchical organization bears witness to that of male dominance and the organisational
roles perpetrated on that of the men and the female is indicative of the differences existing in
the society.The report focusses on gender inequality in the television program “Friends” and
the way gender stereotypes have been portrayed in different episodes of the program. It
expounds on how the women are thought of to be like objects and the trends in relation to
portraying of gender in “Friends”. It also throws light on the link of the television program
with that of workplace and highlights their career wise progression.
Gender Stereotypes
Studies have shown that men along with women behave in a similar manner most of
the time but there are differences in the mental set up of people that helps the stereotypes to
grow. The stereotypes are emphasized with the help of media specially with the help of
television. Society plays a dominant role in picking up the trends prevailing in society and
thus a cycle is created (Bian, Leslie &Cimpian, 2017).The organisations provide different
opportunity to different members so that they can move into desirable roles. The
organisational structure affects the personal fortunes in relations to the members of the
society. The gender differences that exist within organizational behaviour is on account of the
structure as compared to the characteristics of men and that of women.It helps in the process
of consolidating the stereotypes of men and that of women. According to Goodall, images of
men along with women helps in advancing the ideals regarding what is desirable in that of
men along with women. Sitcoms like that of Friends helps in portraying everyday life in
relation to the typical Americans and causes the ideal image to change the reality of the