How Pop Culture Films Affect Gender Archetypes

Gender archetypes have long been present both in everyday life. As well as in the film and media industries. You’ve likely experienced gender archetypes either directly or indirectly. You know, the fact that males are generally the “alpha” the one that is masculine and in control and females are the beta. The feminine one that lacks a leadership role. Pop culture seeks to break down gender archetypes. And eliminate the identity constructing, dystopian views. In which men are masculine and women are feminine. But do you really know how pop culture films affect gender archetypes?

What are Gender Archetypes?

Gender archetypes represent the stereotypical roles or ideas that we have about different genders as they apply to various character archetypes in film.

For example, the “damsel in distress” is a gender archetype in which the role is typically a female, that is in need. And can’t do it for herself but which requires the support of a man.

This type of gender archetype was common for many years. And was widely accepted throughout the 1900s, but it’s the 2000s and norms are changing. 

Pop culture wants these stereotypical gender roles to be eliminated. The idea is to move away from “this is a man’s job or a man’s role” and “that is a woman’s job or a woman’s role.” Instead we shift focus to gender neutrality. And the premise that men and women are equal. 

Pop Culture & Gender Archetypes

The breaking down of gender archetypes has been a key element of popular culture and continues to come up frequently in everyday situations, events, and occurrences.

Pop culture movies and television have long had instances of gender archetypes that provide the stereotypical male masculinity and female femininity. Some seek to change or alter this, but it’s a slow going, hard to adjust to, will it ever change? Sort of process. 

How Pop Culture Films Affect Gender Archetypes

The role of film, especially since we are so influenced by the movies and videos that we see, to impact gender archetypes and more so stereotypes, cannot be overlooked.

Gender roles in pop culture are perpetuated by the stereotypical masculinity of men and femininity of women, but many films have sought to overcome this.

We see gender archetypes in almost every film, commercial, television show, and advertisement. In fact, many of the archetypes that are gender specific really just need to die off, once and for all — but will they ever?

Think about the following:

• The Damsel in Distress – the role of a helpless woman that needs to be rescued by a hero. You’ve seen her, but is any woman really this in need?
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• The Bumbling Dad – the hopelessly incompetent father that could do more but isn’t expected to. You’ve seen him, is any father really this incapable?
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• The Sexy Corpse – you’ve seen her, she’s half unclothed, dead in an alley. Does every crime scene really have to go this way?
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• The Overly Sassy Black Woman – You’ve seen her, she’s loud and emboldened, there to make you laugh. But this is NOT how every or many women of color necessarily are, nor is it how they should be portrayed.
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• The Evil Nasty Boss Woman – You’ve seen her, she comes into the scene to take charge, but everyone talks behind her back because she’s not nice. This is so untrue of female leaders.

All of these gender archetypes are so incredibly common in pop culture. And despite social rights, activism and a hard push away from gender stereotypes. It seems that films continue to have these (and many other) gender archetypes involved.

Perhaps it is because those writing the scripts are primarily NOT a minority? In fact, studies show that less than 14% of scriptwriters are people of color, and fewer than 11% are women. 

Positive Trends on the Rise

However, there are some instances in which pop culture has managed to influence gender archetypes in a positive way.

As in, by eliminating the typical stereotypical gender archetype in favor of something different. In fact, we see this in Ocean’s 8, where a group of strong women take the stage.

We’ve also seen some shifts in the level of masculinity archetypes taking stage in cooking shows on demand, specifically on Netflix.

We continue to see how pop culture films affect gender archetypes, both positively and negatively. These stereotypical roles for men and women continue to play out. And impact the way that our children, and others feel, about what is “acceptable” or “desirable” for a person.