Discussing the impact of media on gender perceptions, this essay focuses on the film How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. In this movie, Andie bets that she can drive away a man by being needy, while Benjamin bets he can win any woman’s heart. These scenes convey misleading messages to young adult women about conforming to societal expectations. By analyzing these portrayals of gender, this essay explores how the media negatively influences gender messaging and its consequences for viewers.
Many women in the workforce are influenced by gendered ideologies, which results in their control. Andie Anderson, portrayed by Kate Hudson, faces undervaluation in her occupation. Andie works as a journalist at Composure, a magazine for women. However, she is compelled to write how-to articles on stereotypically feminine topics such as clothing and makeup. This is disheartening considering her educational background, as she completed graduate school. Rather than discussing more captivating subjects like politics, the magazine dismisses it since it does not align with women’s interests.
The text suggests that women are still oppressed in gaining opportunities to be respected in the job industry, even though they have the capabilities to write something powerful like politics. In their article “Sex Segregation in the U. S. Labor Force,” Christine Bose and Rachel Whaley point out that jobs are gendered and women are often forced into lower skilled jobs. Many women feel that these types of jobs do not allow them to utilize all their skills and they feel overeducated to receive these lower skilled jobs (Bose and Whaley 200).
The article and movie both suggest that women are unable to assert themselves and instead choose to yield when faced with limitations. In addition, the film penalizes those who defy traditional gender roles. An example of this can be observed through Andie’s behavior, as she tries to dissuade Benjamin, portrayed by Matthew McConaughey, from pursuing a relationship with her after only ten days of dating. To achieve this, she resorts to appearing excessively dependent and clingy. As a result, female viewers may interpret this as a critique of women’s actions, establishing a negative perception.
This message might discourage women from assertively expressing themselves in their relationships due to the concern of being labeled as “needy”. For example, Andie overdoes it by constantly calling Benjamin and leaving seventeen voicemails. This portrayal exaggerates women’s behaviors and discourages them from engaging in such actions. Women possess diverse personalities, and it is not fair for the film to generalize and restrict certain actions as unacceptable for all women. Instead of trying to conform to a standard mold, women should be celebrated for their unique personalities and imperfections.
Additionally, the film does not depict the notion that a woman’s appeal and allure stems from her inner qualities such as personality, intelligence, and hobbies, rather than solely relying on her physical attractiveness. This is evident in Andie’s deceptive behavior in order to achieve professional success, implying that women are discouraged from embracing their individuality. In truth, Andie’s genuine self is characterized by her wit, intellect, and passion for basketball; however, she deliberately conceals these attributes from others.
Andie’s message here is that relationships are built on misconceptions about the opposite sex and a lack of trust. Additionally, the film portrays women in positions of power as cruel, as seen through Andie’s boss and two female colleagues of Benjamin. Firstly, Andie’s boss exemplifies this stereotype as she is a ambitious woman who occupies a job role typically associated with men.
She is depicted as a merciless boss, devoid of empathy for her employees. This suggests that she places her career and ambition above everything else. It can be deduced that she feels compelled to behave in this manner to earn respect in the workplace. Interestingly, there were two women vying against Benjamin for an important diamond campaign. The malicious intentions of these two women become evident when they select Andie as the woman Benjamin must win over, despite being aware that Andie already has her own bet.
This scene suggests that women are unable to collaborate in order to achieve success. This delivers an incorrect message to the audience by reinforcing the idea that life is always a competition. Numerous women already experience oppression, and the fact that the two female characters do not support Andie’s success highlights how rare it is to witness women in leadership positions within society. Additionally, the concept represented by Composure magazine is highly derogatory towards women. Andie’s boss claims that the magazine focuses on beauty, scandalous rumors, plastic surgery, and dieting.
Composure magazine promotes the idea that women should prioritize pleasing others in their lives, highlighting the belief that a woman who does not conform to these gender expectations will be abandoned by her partner. Interestingly, female magazines consistently cover similar, generic topics that fail to reflect the evolving nature of women over time. In other words, these magazines remain antiquated in their content and perspectives.
Although women are increasingly educated and pursuing careers, the magazine primarily concentrates on superficial topics that attract many women but does not promote the exploration of new interests. The movie consistently portrays body image as a concern by assuming that all women are fixated on their appearance. For instance, Andie’s boss compliments her friend Michelle on her appearance following a breakup, despite the fact that Michelle admits to not eating since the breakup. Andie’s boss perceives this as a positive development.
This article contends that the film conveys a deceptive notion to society, especially young women, by presenting thinness as attractive. According to author Becky Thompson, women’s eating disorders are not exclusively motivated by a pursuit of thinness but can also originate from factors like poverty and abuse (Thompson 342). By neglecting to examine these underlying causes, the movie restricts the audience’s comprehension of the reasons behind many women’s struggles with eating disorders. These conditions, including bulimia and anorexia, are grave and potentially fatal; however, the film suggests that beauty hinges on being thin.
The movie promotes an unrealistic standard of diversity for women and body image, urging them all to pursue a perfect image. Yet, it overlooks the fact that not everyone can attain the same appearance in reality. Furthermore, the film explores stereotypes surrounding the definition of an ideal woman through Andie and Michelle’s contrasting characters. Michelle implies that if Andie were to adopt her behavior, it would be considered attractive to men.
It could be suggested that Michelle perceives Andie in a particular way due to her blonde hair and cute, bubbly personality, which many women would consider as traits of an ideal woman. This description of Andie is in contrast to Michelle, who has red hair and can be seen as an average-looking girl without any remarkable features. It can be assumed that Michelle is at a disadvantage because she was dumped by her partner after repeatedly calling him and expressing her love for him within just two days of dating.
Society’s portrayal of the ideal woman and its suggestion that women who do not meet these standards are inferior leads to negative self-perception. This misguided influence can result in serious consequences like depression. Instead of promoting self-acceptance, society compels women to confront their imperfections and feel inadequate. Furthermore, the film implies that a woman cannot achieve success without a partner.
Michelle’s visible distress after a short-lived breakup with a man exemplifies the stereotype that women struggle to maintain independence post-breakup. This belief should instead empower women to realize their ability to thrive without a partner. However, Andie’s friend’s actions reinforce the idea that women are reliant, insecure, and lack strength. Furthermore, Michelle’s decision to reconcile with her ex-boyfriend glamorizes the notion of returning to past relationships.
Although there is uncertainty about what happened in that relationship, Michelle’s choice to go back to it suggests the possibility of complications like abuse. This implies that women should ignore these issues because being in a relationship brings joy. Andie’s character also reinforces this idea as she only finds true happiness when she is with Benjamin, even after her article gets published. In the end, this movie conveys the message that despite women’s accomplishments, their inability to find a partner leaves them dissatisfied.
There are also stereotypical portrayals of males in the movie, where Benjamin, the man whom Andie is pursuing, attempts to embody hegemonic masculinity. These portrayals reinforce harmful ideas about men, such as the notion that they must achieve and dominate in order to be considered valuable. In the article “Masculinities and Globalization,” R.W. Connell argues that there are various forms of masculinity that are connected to a global gender hierarchy (Connell 91).
In this particular scene, Andie playfully gives a nickname to Benjamin’s private members, which he becomes upset about. Specifically, Benjamin takes offense to the name Princess Sophia, as he feels it doesn’t fit his desired masculine image. This reaction suggests that he is concerned about how others perceive him. This reaction is intriguing because society typically associates women with emotional expression rather than men. The concept of the male gaze, where men feel the need to appear more masculine in front of their peers, can be observed in the scene where Benjamin’s friend pressures him to reconcile with Andie after a heated argument nearly caused a breakup.
He was initially planning on releasing Andie, but the influence from other men and the original wager of making her fall in love with him implies the pressure to conform to masculine gender behavior. In conclusion, the movie How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days heavily portrays gender stereotypes. Key themes throughout the film that relate to feminist issues encompass body image, hegemonic masculinity, the male gaze, and the expectation for women to adhere to societal gender norms, which include dependence on a partner for happiness.
The text above suggests that all the themes mentioned convey negative messages to both young and older adult women. It implies that their success in life is contingent upon finding a partner and adhering to gender stereotypes.
Works Cited
Bose, Christine and Whaley, Rachel. “Sex Segregation in the U. S. Labor Force.” Feminist Frontiers, 9th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2011. Print.
Connell, R. W. “Masculinities and Globalization.” Feminist Frontiers, 9th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2011. Print.
Thompson, Becky.“A Way Outa No Way.” Feminist Frontiers, 9th ed.Boston: McGraw Hill, 2011.Print.
