Interconnection Between Post-Feminism And Masculinity In 'New Girl'

Interconnection between post-feminism and masculinity is certainly something which is highly discussed in today’s society. The controversial term postfeminism is used in a number of analytically distinct ways, variously referring to an epistemological shift marking a discontinuation with earlier feminist thought, a historical juncture occurring after the ‘height’ of second wave feminism, or a ‘backlash’ against feminism (Gill 249), whereas the outcome of this notion inevitably leads to an emergence of new masculinities. Fox’s situation comedy New Girls is an explicit source for gender studies with its male characters in New Girl that work to redefine what is masculine by portraying characters that do not completely fit the main characteristics of commonly accepted hegemonic masculinity, but those of postfeminist masculinities, whereby the use of contradicting gender roles are created for the comedy sake. This essay will argue an inevitable coexistence and common development of the notions of postfeminism and postfeminist
The first feature that implies a postfeminist nature of male characters can be understood by dint of portrayal of the female ones, whereas masculinity cannot be depicted without the feminine discourse. Postfeminism is rather a disputable notion that can be both understood and analysed through a postfeminist sensibility approach (Gill). Postfeminist sensibility is depicted by main concepts such as femininity as a bodily property which is, according to Gill, having a ‘sexy body’ is a major part of a women’s identity in regards to postfeminist Culture. This is illustrated by Schmidt’s cousin tension escalated after the emergence of ‘oh, just look at that, she is spectacular, wow’ Cece (5:28 – 5:34). The concept from sex object to desiring sexual subject is showed in the scene (6:42 – 7:06) by Jess’ over-attached desire to dress up her mother Joan as a part of her ‘family trap’ plan,