Family Matters

 The TV show Family Matters is one of the most famous TV shows of the 1990s. The main star of the show Steve Urkel became one of the most beloved figure in the households of people all over the world. He made millions of people laugh every time he was on the screen but we have to ask what is it exactly that they were laughing at. 

    A big part of the reason people were laughing at Steve Urkel is because he did not fit the stereotype of what a masculine man should be as dictated by society. Steve Urkel was depicted as being extremely nerdy. He was a genius who was able to create a bunch of different inventions but was also very clumsy and uncoordinated. He was also very in touch with his emotions and had no problem expressing them.  The girl he had a crush on did not view as attractive at and would often talk down on him for being the way he was. He eventually became so tired of being disregarded for not being being cool or masculine in the traditional sense that he invented a potion that would change and make him more cool and masculine in the traditional sense. Once he took this potion he instantly became cooler and more attractive. He no longer was the nerdy kid he instantly became this super suave character. The same exact who used to find him repulsive and make fun of him instantly became extremely attracted to him along many of the women on the show he would come across. All this part of the show did was further promote the stereotype of what masculinity should be and that the only way women will be attracted to is if you fit that mold. 

    Another character of the show to be discussed was Eddie Winslow. He played the token dumb jock on the show. The dumb jock trope is one that has been a a part of tv shows and movies for decade. The trope depicts a high schooler who is a star athlete at their school as being dumb and unintellectual. Although he does not have very much to offer on the intellect side of things because he a great athlete which one of the biggest traits associated with masculinity he is still portrayed as being popular and a ladies man. When you compare how is treated in contrast to Steve Urkel who is very intellectual it just further shows you have they want masculinity to be viewed and treated. They want to promote keep promoting masculinity as being more about being physically dominant, womanizing, without having too much to offer emotionally  or intellectually as opposed to actually promoting as masculinity as being something off substance.


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