The media I will be analyzing will be the movie, He’s Just Not That Into You.  The opening scene of this movie is a perfect example of gender roles, and how we start learning expected gender roles as children. In this scene, a young boy is teasing a young girl on the playground. The young girl becomes upset, and runs over to her mom crying. The young girl’s mother then comforts her by saying that the reason the young boy was so mean to her was because he liked her. The narrator then steps in, and explains that teaching young girls things such as “if a boy is mean to you, he likes you” will set them up for a lifetime of excusing being talked down to by men. 

This movie is interesting because there are many different characters and relationship dynamics in the film that have very contrasting perspectives and personalities. Below I will list each main character in couples, and how their characters partake in the common gender stereotypes given by the Sex Role Perpective, in each relationship dynamic that this film portrays. 

 

Ben and Janine 

-Janine is emotional about small things and quick to judge / fight with her husband.

-Ben cheats on Janine. He is not loyal, whereas Janine is very loyal to her husband.

-Janine wants kids and Ben doesn’t. 

 

Beth and Neil 

-Neil is non- committal most of the film. He doesn’t want to get married to Beth even though he loves her.

-Beth has to take care of her sick father all by herself. She is compassionate, a caregiver, and warm.

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Gigi and Alex

-Gigi comes off as desperate and “crazy” because she is a hopeless romantic. 

-Gigi is portrayed as extremely emotional. 

-Gigi is very naive and childlike when it comes to dating. 

-Alex swears that “not trying” and not caring is how to get girls to like you. This goes along with the masculine stereotypes that a man should be independent and not emotional. 

 

Anna and Connor

-this relationship is much different from the rest, and is almost like the gender roles are flipped. 

-Anna is non-commital, independent, and almost emotionless. She is the dominant role in this relationship that is portrayed.

-Connor is emotional, open hearted, affectionate towards Anna, and almost gullible because he keeps letting Anna play him.

 

Shared by: Ella Tristani
Image Credit: https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/hes-just-not-you