Sexual orientation and gender issues are pertinent globally, especially in the United States, where people have fought for their right to express themselves without public scrutiny or discrimination. These issues have gone mainstream and are portrayed in the media, especially in television shows and movies. A significant television show that portrays issues of gender is Shameless, a comedy-drama show that explores a dysfunctional family. This family is headed by an alcoholic patriarch, Frank Gallagher, who has six children living together in Chicago. The concept of gender occurs since Frank lacks proper parental skills and falls short of his responsibilities, which compels his older children to assume this role. The eldest daughter, Fiona Gallagher, becomes the parental figure for this family, despite her busy work schedule. Fiona works in several jobs to meet the family’s expenses while her siblings, Ian and Lip, help in paying electricity bills and school expenses. Gender and sexuality concepts also occur in this show, as Ian, who is underage, is portrayed as a gay person in a relationship with a married man. Indeed, Shameless represents females and males in numerous ways, with evidence of gender roles and norms revealing that following the old-fashioned way of sexuality needs to be abandoned and embrace freedom and diversity.
Male and Female Portrayal
The television show portrays males and females differently from societal norms and expectations. For instance, Shameless describes women as dominant figures in family setups as they work hard to provide for their families. Fiona is seen taking up the father role in the film, where she takes multiple jobs to cater to her family’s needs. This portrayal contradicts and challenges the social construct of gender roles since a female becomes the breadwinner for the family. Ideally, men hold economic power and control in their families, a societal expectation that promotes the patriarchist system of masculinity (Matheson et al., 2021; Matheson, 2020). Even though Fiona becomes the father figure, she still performs her traditional gender roles of a mother. Fiona takes care of the family chores and fulfills her siblings’ needs, which leaves her stressed and overworked. Conversely, Frank portrays a weak father who cannot take parental responsibilities due to his alcohol addiction and carefree life. He misuses the little money he makes into alcoholism. However, the film shows how males should take care of their family’s financial needs through the siblings, Ian and Lip, who perform jobs to help Fiona with the expenses despite being underage and also studying. Therefore, the film showcases issues of gender by portraying males and females contrary to what society expects them but also providing examples that align with social norms in its main characters.
Gender Roles, Norms, and Stereotypes
Shameless depicts gender roles and norms through its characters. As stated earlier, the film shows gender roles by contradicting societal expectations and norms. For example, the film showcases how women can become breadwinners in their families, which defies the expected roles of caring for the family and raising children. Fiona is a dominant figure in her family, who works several jobs to earn money to cater to her loved ones’ needs. However, she still performs her societal-expected role of a mother to her siblings. She is seen preparing them for school, waking up and preparing for the day, and cleaning the house before going to work. Conversely, Frank is depicted as a weak man incapable of caring for his family physically, emotionally, and financially. He is a drunkard who spends his money on alcohol, such that he fails to care for his personal hygiene and needs. This depiction defies the gender roles, expectations, and norms placed on males as breadwinners and protectors of their homes. Indeed, the film takes a different approach when showcasing gender roles and standards, with each gender often performing the other’s role.
Another significant concept of gender norms is the sexual objectification of women in Shameless. The film frames females as sexual objects for the sexual gratification of the males. For instance, when Fiona is seen serving two males some jumbo dogs, these men observe her as a sexual tool. One of the men states, “Hey, would you tap that ass?” This example confirms that there is sexual objectification in the film, which is seen as a societal norm, as the men behave this way freely. Part of sexual objectification is due to society according to men superiority over women, such that they feel justified and capable of dominating women (Mshweshwe, 2020; Ray & Parkhill, 2023). Another significant example in the film where women are portrayed as sex objects is the relationship between Karen Jackson and Lip Gallagher. Lip takes his brother Ian to Karen to perform fellatio when he discovers that he is gay, even when he is in a relationship with her. This example shows how it is normal for men to see women as sex objects and use them as they please for self-gratification. Lip uses Karen as a sex object, and she is ready to do anything to please him, reflecting how women have accepted this norm. Karen is passive and submissive since society has taught her to behave this way to attract and keep a man. The example stretches to Karen’s mother condoning this behavior when she supports and embraces her daughter’s objectification. Indeed, sexual objectification is widely explored in Shameless to showcase how society views it as a norm with significant support.
Gender Promotion
The film’s message regarding gender is that people should not be stuck in old-fashioned gender roles. Women can also perform economic activities for their families rather than being limited to caregiving at home. Although Fiona was forced to become the dominant figure in the family, she was still working before realizing that Frank was irresponsible. Moreover, the film creates awareness of sexual objectification among women. Men see women as sex tools to be used according to their will, which is a reality that the latter have come to accept and embrace. Both elements represent gender roles and sexuality as critical elements of society that define how people live and behave.
Conclusion
Shameless is a captivating comedy-drama that provides an alternative portrayal of gender roles and norms that resonates with the current times. The film shows the audience how gender roles have changed, as women perform what was regarded as male duties in historical times. However, women are still expected by society to fulfill their roles as caregivers in their homes in addition to taking on economic functions for the family. Men like Frank are no longer being dominant figures due to their masculinity but rely on other people, including women, to fulfill this role. Sexuality is a significant focus of this film, with issues of sexual orientation and objectification being addressed. Sexual objectification is another norm enshrined in females’ minds, where they believe that they should be dominated by men to keep them happy. Society expects women to submit to men irrespective of what is demanded from them, including activities for self-gratification. The film does a great job portraying these concepts by confirming the social construct of sexual objectification and challenging gender roles in society.
References
Matheson A. (2020). Health inequality as a large-scale outcome of complex social systems: Lessons for action on the sustainable development goals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), 2684. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17082684
Matheson, A., Kidd, J., & Came, H. (2021). Women, patriarchy and health inequalities: The urgent need to reorient our systems. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9), 4472. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094472
Mshweshwe L. (2020). Understanding domestic violence: Masculinity, culture, traditions. Heliyon, 6(10), e05334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05334
Ray, T. N., & Parkhill, M. R. (2023). Components of hostile masculinity and their associations with male-perpetrated sexual aggression toward women: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 24(2), 355–368. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380211030224
write