This paper examines the fictional character Buffy Summers from the critically acclaimed TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This paper provides a brief character description of Buffy Summers and her various behavioral, personality and physical attributes. The character of Buffy Summers is then examined in relation to 4 concepts covered in PSYC 366: sexism, gender schema, gender socialization and the heterosexual script. Next, various female stereotypes and gender roles are examined and applied to Buffy Summers. Lastly there is a discussion of how Buffy Summers’ character could be improved to more inclusively portray women. Buffy the Vampire Slayer stared a stereotypically pretty, white, blonde teenage girl who is a former cheerleader and prom queen. Buffy is one of a long line of chosen women, known as slayers, empowered with supernatural strength, weapons and fighting
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Gender schemas are specific to how we interpret environmental stimulus with a gendered lens, attributing certain stimuli as male and others as female (E. Sauber, personal communication, February 6, 2017). A general schema for middle class, stereotypically pretty, white teenage girls is that they are self-obsessed, irresponsible and weak. These traits are in direct opposition to Buffy as a person, as she constantly sacrifices for others, saves the world and is the strongest person around, leading to a disagreement between Buffy’s schema and self-concept. When faced with social events the disconnect between Buffy’s self-concept and her gender schema becomes salient, leading to lower self-esteem and depressive episodes. This problem is often solved through perspective taking which is a common tool used to help relax rigid gender schemas. Overall the effects of gender schemas on a person whose self-concept does not match the rigid schema is well documented in Buffy the Vampire
Gender schemas are specific to how we interpret environmental stimulus with a gendered lens, attributing certain stimuli as male and others as female (E. Sauber, personal communication, February 6, 2017). A general schema for middle class, stereotypically pretty, white teenage girls is that they are self-obsessed, irresponsible and weak. These traits are in direct opposition to Buffy as a person, as she constantly sacrifices for others, saves the world and is the strongest person around, leading to a disagreement between Buffy’s schema and self-concept. When faced with social events the disconnect between Buffy’s self-concept and her gender schema becomes salient, leading to lower self-esteem and depressive episodes. This problem is often solved through perspective taking which is a common tool used to help relax rigid gender schemas. Overall the effects of gender schemas on a person whose self-concept does not match the rigid schema is well documented in Buffy the Vampire