How come men on TV are often depicted as over weight ignorant buffoons while women are portrayed as flawless?

Question

Flawless in every aspect that is. Why is this far fetched, out-of-touch with reality formula usually make for a successful show?

Answer 1

This is a WICKED article that addresses this problem.

http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2007/09/12/gender_tv/index_np.html

Read it.

Answer 2

The "people" that create television shows use whatever means they can to make the most money by getting the most laughs using stereotyped overweight ignorant buffoons for men.
" That ought to appeal to sexist types and the general idiot beer-drinking population because they can identify with them," they say to themselves, while for females they use as much female perfection and SEX as possible--to 'attract and entertain' the rest of the 'population' that thrives on little but sex content.

Intelligence is seriously lacking in the majority of television entertainment today. What a sad use for a marvelous communications medium.
This 'far-fetched out-of-touch with reality formula usually makes a show successful for the ABOVE reasons.

Answer 3

Who said we wanted to be depicted as flawless? We didn't ask for that and we don't want the pressure of the unrealistic expectations that those images create. So go tell the male television producers and advertising executives that we don't want to be portrayed as flawless, we want to be portrayed the way women really are.

You could also stop watching sitcoms that exaggerate gender roles and make "buffoons" of men. I know I'd prefer not to see the advertising that portrays unrealistic images of women, but that's a little more difficult to avoid.

Right Sdsds...or whatever your name is, women are watching sitcoms that cater to their egos; men are watching sporting events with the beer commercials and half time shows that cater to their egos. Don't let television executives keep you on such a short leash, we are all pawns in the game.

Answer 4

Yep. Sitcoms are not reality. They know feminists would have a fit if it were the other way around. The producers in Hollywood are either feminists, or men subjected to man-hating feminists.

But notice if you watch a talk show -- a TV program without actors -- notice that the MAJORITY of the "overweight" people are the women, and the men are usually thin and in shape. This actually represents reality (women being more likely to be overweight than men, plus naturally having a higher bodyfat percentage than men).

Sarah: You say "we" should go to the TV producer's to tell them about "flawless" images of women -- but isn't that feminism's job; to be concerned about the portrayal of women? You do it!

Answer 5

The shows you call are comedies and they play off the exaggerated male/female conflicts. i do not see it because the guy being dumb, purely likely immature, often times somewhat egocentric, and pissed off such as his understanding of ladies human beings and their marital courting. I heavily do not see this as unusual, as maximum adult adult males (and women human beings) can relate to it or the shows would not be such hits. oftentimes there's a reversal of roles too, with the female making the (sheepish) mistake. i wager you may evaluate this insulting as a lady, as they portray better halves as continuously questioning that they are top, it quite is, of route, a stereotypical assumption and generalization. between the more desirable troubling issues i have talked about is they portray the husband as sex-starved and the spouse as frigid. This bothers me more desirable, particularly in "Raymond". have you ever watched Will and beauty, or Dharma and Greg? And what about Seinfeld? i could say the greatest adult adult males in those shows were knowledgeable and efficient, yet, to be humorous, they did often times make blunders or irrelevant judgements. oftentimes though, they were those bailing out the female or different associates. And, remember the oldies like Andy Griffith and that i appreciate Lucy the position it changed into completely the guy portrayed because the wise and able one. one among my renowned new shows is "My call is Earl", the position he's determining karma and making up for his previous blunders. His ex-spouse is about the most stereotypical, immoral, alluring-bimbo blond you may desire to discover. Watch that one and smile. i'm particular that there are more desirable examples obtainable in case you seek for them. i'm not a wide television watcher, yet do capture most of the sitcoms from time to time.

Answer 6

And the sexism doesn't stop when the commercials come on, either. In ways subtle and gross, women come off smug, smirking, confident, competent; men as goofy, shrugging, clueless losers. I guess that's cuz women do most of the shopping for the products being advertised. Still and all: it's annoying. (Not a federal case or a national security crisis. Just annoying.)

Answer 7

This question comes up a lot and I always wonder why it matters. It's tv. It's suppossed to be stupid and funny. Stereotypes are funny. Especially the ones that aren't true and esprecially if they can make them true with a given character.

Real life people are boring. Sitcom people are funny (particularly because we can turn them off when they annoy us).

Answer 8

I think everyone has a problem with that. Why is it okay to allow the majority of men on TV to look basically normal and all the women have to have perfect bodies? Why not have them all really good looking or all average?

Answer 9

For self-esteem reasons. Men can take bashing more than women, and no one wants to look at unattractive women on TV. See how fast the ratings tank.

Answer 10

Because people are okay with looking at a male who is overweight and ignorant but nobody wants to see a dumb fat chick.

Well, a dumb chick is acceptable but fat is a no-no. Women on TV *must* be perfect.

Answer 11

Well, though I believe in what you say, Rio says something pertinent. Infact, that is sometimes some of these shows show really to what degree women can be selfish; wanting everything for themselves.