The first two concepts, traditional and post-modern femininity, will be discussed using this clip from the first episode of “The Girls Next Door.” This clip introduces the three girls individually and discusses the lifestyle that they have chosen at the Playboy Mansion.
First of all, this video brings up some interesting aspects regarding femininity. The outward appearance of the three girls is sort of a feminine ideal: blonde, thin (yet curvy), tan, and beautiful. Also, the fact that they don’t seem to work and depend on a man financially is a more traditional way for women to live.
However, the fact that even their everyday life is laden with nudity and sexuality is not traditionally considered feminine. However, it could be argued that modern femininity includes sexual freedom a la “Cosmopolitan.” Also, while Holly seems to be the most traditionally feminine “girlfriend” and is very focused on her relationship with Hugh Hefner, both Bridget and Kendra have personality traits that are not traditionally feminine. It would seem that Bridget (at one time in her life, anyway) was very career-driven. She earned a Master’s degree in communications. Kendra, on the other hand, is very athletic and even described in the video as a “tom-boy.”
What is interesting about these women is that despite the fact that they seem to be perfectly capable and intelligent, they choose a lifestyle which most people would consider degrading to women. While Hefner dates all three of them, it seems, on the show, that they can only date him. Since they even live in his house, it gives the impression that he has ownership over them.
However, recent tabloid magazines have reported that two of the “girlfriends” are dating or engaged to other men and will be leaving the Playboy Mansion. Perhaps the impression that Hefner treated these women as property is incorrect, and it is simply a different lifestyle than most are used to. As we discussed in class, feminism is about women having the right to choose, and this is simply the lifestyle that Hefner’s girlfriends chose.
When we discussed the third concept, ensemble casts, in class, the first image that popped into my head was the front cover of the first season DVD box set, shown here:
The number of male and female characters shown on the front is nearly equal (five men and four women), and they all fulfill pretty traditional gender roles. The cast members shown consist of two typical teenage girls, three typical teenage boys, and two married couples. The only character that is arguably not the “norm” is Kirsten Cohen. She is the main breadwinner for the Cohen family, and is a terrible cook. However, the main focal point of her role on the show is that of the “mother.”
The young people on season one of “The OC” are a good example of an ensemble cast because they provide an array of stereotypical characters. There is the jock, the nerd, the rough-around-the-edges kid, the ditzy girl, and the socialite. That isn’t to say that the characters are one-dimensional, but people who are familiar with the show would easily be able to pick out which characters I am referring to by the descriptions above.
