Today in class as we talked about masculinities on the OC, the role of women on the show came up. In the OC, and many other shows and movies like it, despite the portrayal of a woman being stong and powerful (whether negatively or positvely), they are always dependent on a man. One movie that came to mind immediately was "10 Things I Hate About You" with Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger, based on Shakespeare's "Taming Of The Shrew". In the movie, Julia Stiles' character, Kat, scares away guys. She has strong ideals and morals, and she in the movie she is portrayed in a feminist light; she thinks that women aren't given enough power. But, despite all her self-confidence and life goals, her hard demeanor is softened by the affections of a man. Her whole life, Kat has been about breaking the stereotype. But, her life is incomplete without a man by her side. In the end of the movie, Kat ends up with a guy, and those around her seem to be happy for her. But, has Kat compromised all her values just so she can conform to society's standards for happiness and a complete life? I think that many movies and TV shows with "happy" endings like this can both simultaneously build up the role of women in society, and break it down.
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