Women Rule...Men Drool?
Darla Langenhorst
Mr. Hermann
Comp 101
2 April 2013
Women Rule…Men Drool? Who says woman can’t wear the pants in the house? The King of Queens episode Cologne Ranger depicts idealistic female gender roles in today’s society by exhibiting a controlling wife who makes decisions for her spouse. Within her role she portrays an image of a typical modern day woman, seen today as a person who juggles household duties, financial and spousal decisions, as well as having a professional job outside of the home. Her husband attempts to portray his image as having full control and power within the marriage; however, it is apparent that the wife indeed controls everything. In today’s society image is everything and as we all know, it is usually the man who exhibits the characteristics the wife has in this episode. As the tide turns we are seeing more woman taking control of higher level careers by being leaders of America so it is not uncommon to see women making final decisions. Margaret Talbot uses Martha Stewart as an example of a symbolic figure of the traditional stereotypical woman by depicting in her show classic examples of homemaker duties. (245) Some of you may agree that women in our world should still strive to be caretakers of their family and home only, but I disagree and feel that on top of these duties we can strive outside the home to improve our society financially and ethically. This show takes place in Queens, New York in a two story basic home. Doug and Carrie are the main characters who struggle with spousal powers within their relationship. Both feel the need to control their marriage to keep it in order. This episode implies gender stereotypes of both man and woman and shows how the husband attempts to control his relationship as he wishes, but indeed fails. Doug portrays a pseudo strong stereotype but is truly submissive when it comes to his relationship and Carrie is a wife who has a strong, controlling and stubborn personality that
Mr. Hermann
Comp 101
2 April 2013
Women Rule…Men Drool? Who says woman can’t wear the pants in the house? The King of Queens episode Cologne Ranger depicts idealistic female gender roles in today’s society by exhibiting a controlling wife who makes decisions for her spouse. Within her role she portrays an image of a typical modern day woman, seen today as a person who juggles household duties, financial and spousal decisions, as well as having a professional job outside of the home. Her husband attempts to portray his image as having full control and power within the marriage; however, it is apparent that the wife indeed controls everything. In today’s society image is everything and as we all know, it is usually the man who exhibits the characteristics the wife has in this episode. As the tide turns we are seeing more woman taking control of higher level careers by being leaders of America so it is not uncommon to see women making final decisions. Margaret Talbot uses Martha Stewart as an example of a symbolic figure of the traditional stereotypical woman by depicting in her show classic examples of homemaker duties. (245) Some of you may agree that women in our world should still strive to be caretakers of their family and home only, but I disagree and feel that on top of these duties we can strive outside the home to improve our society financially and ethically. This show takes place in Queens, New York in a two story basic home. Doug and Carrie are the main characters who struggle with spousal powers within their relationship. Both feel the need to control their marriage to keep it in order. This episode implies gender stereotypes of both man and woman and shows how the husband attempts to control his relationship as he wishes, but indeed fails. Doug portrays a pseudo strong stereotype but is truly submissive when it comes to his relationship and Carrie is a wife who has a strong, controlling and stubborn personality that
Cited: Bordo, Susan. “Gentlemen or Beast? The Double Bind of Masculinity.” Reading Popular Culture: An Anthology for Writers. Ed. Micheal Keller. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt, 2007. 205-06. Print. Douglas, Susan. “Genies and Witches.” Reading Popular Culture: An Anthology for Writers. Ed. Micheal Keller. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt, 2007. 177. Print. Talbot, Margaret. “Les Tres Riches Heures de Martha Stewart.” Reading Popular Culture: An Anthology for Writers. Ed. Micheal Keller. Dubuque: Kendall Hunt, 2007. 245. Print.