Mass media commonly portrays long-held assumptions about female and male stereotypes. A gender role can be described as the behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs that a particular culture associates with the roles of men and women. These gender roles lead to common stereotypes, performance expectations, and a gender binary. The Big Bang Theory, a sitcom on CBS, consistently have their characters play out common stereotypes about gender. The Big Bang Theory shows examples of common stereotypes of men trying to fit the ideal masculinity, the fact that men are the rescuers while women are the victims, and the constant use of sexist language. The Big Bang Theory male characters try to define themselves as the ideal man. According to the article “Punking…show more content… The bullies fit your stereotypical description of being physically demanding. (Phillips 2015) Zac is one of the bullies brought onto the show and he is well over 6 feet tall and muscular. Before he even talks he fits the stereotype of a bully. (Phillips 2015) The bullying takes place at a Halloween party and its fitting that his costume involves him being shirtless so everyone can see how toned he is. Leonard and Zac get into a verbal fight so Zac lifts Leonard in the air while one of his friends comes over to give him a wedgey. (Lorre 2015) These two men also fit the ideal masculinity as described in the article. (Phillips 2015) In this example its physical dominance instead of intellectual dominance that is the catalyst. Also, this example fits the stereotype of the bullying being done in a group fashion. (Phillips 2015) The popular crowd against the nerds. Ideal masculinity can be identified in this media text through intellectual superiority or physical dominance. Men showing and letting people know their dominance is a common gender stereotype portrayed in this show. (Phillips 2015) The ideal masculinity as described in the article fit with what these men are trying to achieve in their everyday…show more content… It turns out that she is more interested in sex than science. In a scene Elizabeth sets up a role-playing situation. “You [Howard] are a deliveryman. You’ve brought soup but, uh-oh, Raj and I don’t have enough money to pay you. So we’ll have to come to some other kind of arrangement.” (McIntosh 2012) Leonard arrives and Elizabeth says, “What’s going on is you and Howard are my moving men, and Raj is my new landlord. And I don’t have enough money to pay any of you.” (McIntosh 2012) Leonard and Howard step outside, and Raj locks them out, turns, and asks her, “So you say you can’t pay your rent?” Elizabeth places her fingers on her lips and shakes her head “no” while looking up at him in a seductive way. During this episode Elizabeth never talks about Science only sex. Sheldon finds out abut her activity and makes comments about his superiority over her because females can’t be smarter than him. (Brooks 2015) All they can do is cater to the needs of
