The Cleveland Show

1. The gender stereotype of sexual subject/object is displayed during the first seconds of the clip when Cleveland's wife is getting ready. She is checking her makeup and fixing her dress, specifically, pushing up her breasts, to make sure she looks presentable. The stereotype that women are to be objects of lust for men is shown here through her dressing up and making sure she still looks good, sexy, beautiful, whatever word you want to use here. The stereotype of active/passive is shown when the women claim men are only good for one thing, opening jars. This represents that women are not strong like men and can't physically open jars because it requires more strength. The cupboard full of unopened jars shows the women's inability to open them making them passive, and needing the "active" strength of a man. Another stereotype that stuck out was the conversation Cleveland had with his blow up doll. This is the logical/emotional stereotype. I also consider it to be public/private. It is logical/emotional because Cleveland, as a man is controlling the conversation, making decisions like stating he won't have to choose between his friends and his wife and saying he will kill her if she tells on him. He is then purposely utilizing the gender stereotypes with his doll by making her emotional saying she will tell on him, and would rather die than be without him. The public and private stereotypes come into play here because Cleveland is the dominant one in this conversation being represented as strong and in control, while his doll is passive and weak. This is Cleveland's manifestation of what he thinks is the appropriate relationship between a male and female. It just so happens to fit in perfectly with the gender stereotypes the book discusses. The best example of gender stereotypes listed in the book is the scene in the club. This scene represents the sexual subject/object best. Cleveland's wife and her friend are at the club and are approached by a man who gets in between them and says "Oreo Alert!" He then smacks them on the butt. This is the quintessential use of sexual subject and object, It represents the male seeking out the woman and being pursuant of sexually conquering her. It also shows the women as sexual objects of the male's desire.

2. A possible example of another gender stereotype not discussed is the conversation between Cleveland's wife and her friend. Her friend is explaining how her and her husband are arguing over custody of the kids, and the punch line is that her husband still wants her to take them. Typically, the women want custody over the kids and the mother usually gets custody. Also, the argument is usually over who wants the kids. This example shows two stereotypes being displayed, one is the argument over custody. The second is the fact that neither parent, especially the mother, doesn't want them. The scene where the baby is practicing stacking the cups is another example of gender stereotyping. He claims he will never get out of the ghetto because his talents at cup stacking or whatever it's called are not good enough. This plays with the stereotype that a lot of young african american males utilize special talents to make a better life for themselves, and get themselves out of a bad neighborhood. Rappers always talk about how they saw a chance to improve their life with their musical talents. They wanted to et out of the ghetto and buy their mom a nice house somewhere. It is a very common subject in their lyrics. Talented athletes do the same thing so they can go to college and remove themselves from their situation. You always hear about how professional athletes credit their sport of choice for keeping them out of trouble and helping them succeed.

3. I think this whole scene ultimately is an example of gender reversals. It focuses primarily on Cleveland's wife sneaking around behind his back. She is lying about where she is going, coming home late, and finding "creative" ways to change the subject when confronted by Cleveland. The scene where Cleveland is out to dinner shows him being the emotional one whereas normally the women take this role. He is shocked and hurt by finding out his wife really didn't come over for tv night and lied about where she was. He then becomes emotional and insecure questioning where she was. The scene when she comes home drunk and he is waking up confronting her whereabouts demonstrates a role reversal. There is a example of female assertiveness that is not common throughout this text. The woman are empowered claiming they don't need men, they are the assertive ones. The best example of this is the two women sticking up for themselves while being hit on even going so far as to stab the man's hand and laughing about it. The overall theme was that Donna was in control, and Cleveland was the emotional one not sticking up for himself.