Gender Stereotypes: Gilmore Girls: Gender Stereotypes

Gilmore Girls: Gender stereotypes
Gilmore girls is an American TV show built on the basis of teen pregnancy with Lorelai and Emily assuming centre stage. Of significance in the show are the themes of feminism and role of women in the family. In this light Lorelai and Emily, her mother, are complete contrasts with each taking an opposite stand in the subject. Emily takes on the role of conservatist while Lorelai is a radical in the sense that she is not only initiative and a free thinker but also is open minded and ready to play all roles with regard to raising her daughter. Emily is portrayed as a stereotypical girl who conforms to the traditional roles of women in the society. Lorelai on the contrally defies the stereotypes and redefines …show more content…
Besides being a house wife, she remains at home and takes care of the place, while her husband, Richard, goes to work in order to provide for the family. Besides Emily raises her daughter, Lorelei, hoping against hopes that she would learn from her and follow suit. This however, does not materialize but instead becomes just but a beginning of a series of disappointments that Lorelai was to cause her family due to the inclination she takes throughout her life. Emily, in this regard poses as a stereotypical woman. In addition, she points out categorically to Lorelei in the Pilot episode that one is to get married upon conceiving, “when you get pregnant, you get married,” (Gilmore Girls, WB). Emily sees this as the only source of joy and happiness for the woman. Lorelai defies this by declining to get married to Christopher, her boyfriend. Her offer to buy Rory more uniforms and provide care displays her need to nurture her grand child and her daughter as well which is typical of traditional …show more content…
After turning down the proposition to get married by her affluent boyfriend, she disengages herself from her wealthy family and seeks to support and raise her daughter single handedly and even shuns support from her family. She defies all expectations from her family. In contrast to her mother, she is ambitious, independent and hardworking. In the pilot episode, she is seen to work up the ranks from being a maid at the Inn to becoming a manager and ultimately owning the place. In The Lorelei’s First Day at Chilton, she is seen to decline more assistance from Emily who is willing to acquire more uniforms, coats and even a car for her!
Lorelai is an open-minded feminist; she names her daughter after herself besides being in a patriarchal society, claiming that, "If men can do it... so can I!” (The Lorelei’s First Day at Chilton). This displays a firm stand not to be conformed to the societal norms of women’s role in the society and in the family setting. Besides, Calvin in his book, Gilmore Girls and the Politics of Identity, he argues that the decision of naming her daughter after herself challenges the ideals of ownership in the society more so if it is patriarchal. (Calvin, p