Written Analysis 2

Family movies often involve both rituals and stereotypes.  Typically the women/females are portrayed in “traditional” female roles, i.e. cleaning, cooking, child-rearing, etc., even though they may also have a career outside the home and men are often portrayed as the main bread winner/head of the household.  Many family oriented rituals are also included such as weddings, baby showers, family dinners and holiday celebrations.

            Stereotypical roles can be seen in the annual holiday classic, It’s A Wonderful Life.  I have a ritual of watching this movie as I set up the Christmas tree every year.  Jimmy Stewart portrays a man who is the eldest of his family.  He sacrifices his dreams for love and assuming responsibility of the family business as his brother goes off to war.  He is a good man who strives to do good things, the “right” things by others without a thought to himself.  Of course there is an evil competitor who strives to undermine him and just as he is feeling overwhelmed, a guardian angel appears to remind him how empty his life might have been had he made different choices.  His wife, Mary, is shown as being loving, supportive and taking care of the home and children.  She appears to suffer no depression, of course, as she is fulfilled in her role.  One is also led to believe that you should count your blessings and continue to have faith because you shall reap the rewards of sacrifice and good deeds.  The movie ends with all those he individuals he helped pitching in to help him and saving him and his family in their hour of need by repaying his kindness and helping him to defeat his nemesis with their monetary gifts on Christmas, the most sacred of holidays.

            Truly little has changed in the expectations of roles of gender in society.  Women are still portrayed as being expected to be the caregivers at home and in the relationships in spite of the fact many also hold jobs outside the home.  Men are still often portrayed as the head of the household and the patriarchs of the family with limited household responsibilities and limited expectations in regard to child-rearing.  Dads help their sons out with sports but daughters are taken care of by their mothers for the most part.  Holidays are pretty much celebrated as they have always been with  the mothers doing the cooking, cleaning and preparation and the fathers carving the Christmas ham or Thanksgiving turkey.  There are exceptions, but at this point in time they are few in number and need to continue to be improved on.