Gender Stereotypes In Mtv's Faking It

Merriam Webster defines someone who is “othered” as “one (who is) considered by members of a dominant group as alien, exotic, threatening, or inferior (as because of different racial, sexual, or cultural characteristics).” In today’s society, there are many groups that are othered because they are not thought of as normal; some examples are homosexuals and those of races other than caucasian descent. Among a few additional ones, these two “others” are distinguished and work to dishevel prejudices and common beliefs in the hit MTV series Faking It.
The plot of Faking It follows two best friends, Amy and Karma, who desperately desire to be popular though, as freshmen at a large, Texan high school, it is difficult to find a way to distinguish …show more content…
Farrah fits into the traditional, southern, dominant culture perfectly, and understanding this background information about Farrah allows her a rational reaction to Amy’s news: she asks Amy is she’s sure she’s really a lesbian and asks Amy to not embarrass her, as she still has a reputation to uphold. However, this is not where Amy’s complicated relationship with her mother ends. Farrah was single, but recently remarried a traditional southern man who has a beautiful daughter named Lauren. Amy and Lauren do not get along in the least. Lauren is beautiful, is Farrah’s ideal daughter, which only creates more tension between Farrah and Amy, but is also the definition of a mean, popular girl. However, in the second season, Lauren becomes less unpleasant when her secret is revealed: she is intersex, a person born without a specific gender. This part of her has caused her great insecurity and the desire to improve herself and be the best girl she possibly can be. Even her father was affected by this news. When he found out she was intersex when she was five, he started signing her up for pageants, the most feminine competitions available. This is one of the largest examples of othering in the show in that Lauren does not fall into the dominant and social norm. She was born without a specific gender, and while this is othering, because she is different, her portrayal is tastefully …show more content…
When this happens, Amy keeps her feelings hidden for a while in fear of being rejected by Karma. When Amy can no longer keep this secret, she tells Shane who helps her through her difficulties. Karma and Amy eventually “break up” in public and both begin to date other people: Karma dates the dreamboy of the school, Liam Booker, and Amy starts dating a punk-rock type girl named Reagan. By this time, Amy’s mother has accepted Amy’s lifestyle and is more loving, allowing the two to become