Introduction
Approaches to studies on the categories of sex, gender, sexuality and sexual orientation as well as the perceptions that society has had concerning it has displayed constant change throughout the pre-modern to the modern and currently the post-modern eras. Rothmann (2014:16-91) discusses five different models representing the way in which homosexuality was perceived in these eras namely the same-sex emotion model, the medical model, the ethnic model, the social constructionist model and lastly queer theory. Within this essay the social constructionist model will be used to examine how a heteronormative society, which in a sense can be considered as a dominant ideology, has created certain norms regarding sex, gender, sexuality …show more content…
This ideology contends that in most class societies there is a prevalent set of beliefs which serves the interests of the dominant class and is adopted by the subordinate classes preventing them from devising any effective resistance (Adas, 1990:396). Based on this theory dominant ideologies could not only dictate the prevalent set of beliefs about gender and sexuality but in a sense also the concept of the ideal way individuals should live their lives in order to be considered as successful. Could the notion of the “American dream” be considered as a dominant ideology? According to Hochschild (1996:15) the American dream consists of certain beliefs about achieving success which often include aspects such as having a prestigious job with a high income as well as economic security. This concept evokes the sense of infinite possibilities and limitless resources which millions of immigrants also strived for and as a result relocated to America to fulfil their version of this dream illustrating the immense influence that the American dream has had (Hochschild, 1996:15). Through the centuries the sense of the dominant ideology has been illustrated through the media, mostly through television (TV) series, where it has frequently been reinforced. During the mid-nineties when the nuclear family was the predominant family form television shows such as The Donna Reed Show (1958-1966) were …show more content…
Westport, Connecticut is a suburban town where people have “big houses and tiny butts; where every idiot has a boat and a labradoodle” (Dunn, 2016) and Katie along with the rest of her family are simply renters who moved to Westport because of their excellent public schools which have special programmes for their youngest daughter, Anna-Kat. The Ottos are merely a middle class family and in Westport “homeless people have better stuff than we do” (Dunn, 2016). Not only are they considered to be poor according to Westport standards but Katie is the “second fattest housewife in Westport” (Dunn, 2016). Westport represents the American dream and is filled with seemingly perfect wives and their perfect children. Oliver, Katie’s son, romanticises this concept of the American dream and is determined to one day achieve this lifestyle regardless of the social consequences he might endure because of it. In season 1 episode 18 Oliver creates a vision board to represent the way he wants his life to be but when Katie comes across it her first reaction is “Wow, what is going on here? Hot guys in suits? Ashton Kutcher? Abs, abs, abs? And hold on; arm around Cooper Bradley? Could Oliver be? No. Could he? Maybe? No. Maybe?” (Donovan & Herro, 2017). When Katie invites her two friends, Doris
Approaches to studies on the categories of sex, gender, sexuality and sexual orientation as well as the perceptions that society has had concerning it has displayed constant change throughout the pre-modern to the modern and currently the post-modern eras. Rothmann (2014:16-91) discusses five different models representing the way in which homosexuality was perceived in these eras namely the same-sex emotion model, the medical model, the ethnic model, the social constructionist model and lastly queer theory. Within this essay the social constructionist model will be used to examine how a heteronormative society, which in a sense can be considered as a dominant ideology, has created certain norms regarding sex, gender, sexuality …show more content…
This ideology contends that in most class societies there is a prevalent set of beliefs which serves the interests of the dominant class and is adopted by the subordinate classes preventing them from devising any effective resistance (Adas, 1990:396). Based on this theory dominant ideologies could not only dictate the prevalent set of beliefs about gender and sexuality but in a sense also the concept of the ideal way individuals should live their lives in order to be considered as successful. Could the notion of the “American dream” be considered as a dominant ideology? According to Hochschild (1996:15) the American dream consists of certain beliefs about achieving success which often include aspects such as having a prestigious job with a high income as well as economic security. This concept evokes the sense of infinite possibilities and limitless resources which millions of immigrants also strived for and as a result relocated to America to fulfil their version of this dream illustrating the immense influence that the American dream has had (Hochschild, 1996:15). Through the centuries the sense of the dominant ideology has been illustrated through the media, mostly through television (TV) series, where it has frequently been reinforced. During the mid-nineties when the nuclear family was the predominant family form television shows such as The Donna Reed Show (1958-1966) were …show more content…
Westport, Connecticut is a suburban town where people have “big houses and tiny butts; where every idiot has a boat and a labradoodle” (Dunn, 2016) and Katie along with the rest of her family are simply renters who moved to Westport because of their excellent public schools which have special programmes for their youngest daughter, Anna-Kat. The Ottos are merely a middle class family and in Westport “homeless people have better stuff than we do” (Dunn, 2016). Not only are they considered to be poor according to Westport standards but Katie is the “second fattest housewife in Westport” (Dunn, 2016). Westport represents the American dream and is filled with seemingly perfect wives and their perfect children. Oliver, Katie’s son, romanticises this concept of the American dream and is determined to one day achieve this lifestyle regardless of the social consequences he might endure because of it. In season 1 episode 18 Oliver creates a vision board to represent the way he wants his life to be but when Katie comes across it her first reaction is “Wow, what is going on here? Hot guys in suits? Ashton Kutcher? Abs, abs, abs? And hold on; arm around Cooper Bradley? Could Oliver be? No. Could he? Maybe? No. Maybe?” (Donovan & Herro, 2017). When Katie invites her two friends, Doris