Deconstructing the adorkable misogyny from feminist perspective of the comedy series the big bang theory season 1

Deconstructing the adorkable misogyny from feminist perspective of the comedy series the big bang theory season 1

Rationale

Misogyny has existed throughout human’s history Ancient Greeks identified misogyny as an illness and it can be found within sacred texts of religions, mythologies, and Western philosophy as well as Eastern philosophy (Clack, 1999) Many misogynistic concepts have been documented in the works of several western philosophers (Smith,1983)

Misogyny has risen over time and is now considered a widespread problem which may result in both physical and psychological violence (Flood, 2019) The consequences of misogyny can range from harassment to violence, affecting women's safety, well-being, and overall quality of life These harmful behaviors and attitudes have been subject to criticism and attempts to address them in various ways, including raising awareness about the harassment women face and analyzing misogynistic interpretations on social platforms

However, one aspect of misogyny that often goes unnoticed and is not given the attention it deserves is its presence within the entertainment field While other forms of misogyny are recognized and criticized, misogyny in entertainment is often downplayed or dismissed due to its portrayal through endearing characters and concealed beneath the guise of humor and harmless jokes This normalization of misogyny in entertainment not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes but also desensitizes audiences to its negative effects

Hence, there is a pressing need for further studies and examination of misogyny within the entertainment field By focusing on this aspect, researchers can shed light on the subtle and insidious ways in which misogyny is perpetuated, dissecting the underlying messages conveyed through various forms of media, including films, television shows, and online content This exploration provides a

2 deeper understanding of the influence of entertainment on societal attitudes and norms, and how it contributes to the perpetuation of misogyny

Furthermore, investigating misogyny in the entertainment field can aid in raising awareness and fostering meaningful discussions about the harmful effects of such content It can serve as a catalyst for positive change, encouraging content creators, producers, and consumers to critically evaluate the messages they consume and create Additionally, it can empower individuals to challenge and dismantle the prevailing stereotypes and tropes that contribute to the normalization of misogyny within the entertainment industry

"The Big Bang Theory" is a popular American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady that aired from 2007 to 2019 The series follows the lives of a group of socially awkward but brilliant scientists, primarily focusing on physicists Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper, as well as their friends and colleagues The series has faced criticism for its portrayal of gender dynamics and female characters, with some viewers and critics arguing that it perpetuates misogynistic stereotypes and reinforces gender norms

It is quite obvious that sitcoms like "The Big Bang Theory" often employ humor and exaggeration as storytelling devices, which may lead to a portrayal of reality that is distorted for comedic effect Recognizing this aspect of the genre, this study acknowledges that the depiction of gender dynamics and stereotypes within the show may not entirely mirror real-life experiences However, it is essential to analyze how these portrayals contribute to broader cultural understandings of gender roles and norms

The series also aired during a time of significant shifts in gender dynamics and representations in popular media While it garnered praise for featuring a female character, Penny, as a central figure alongside the male scientists, it also faced criticism for its portrayal of gender stereotypes and the treatment of female characters Contextual discussions around gender representation and inclusivity in media were prevalent during the show, serving as a focal point for debates surrounding the depiction of women in traditionally male-dominated spaces

Aim and objectives

This study seeks to analyze and deconstruct the prejudice against women portrayed in the popular TV series "The Big Bang Theory." The study aims to shed light on the power dynamics embedded in the discourses presented in "The Big Bang Theory." By investigating the language, narratives, and interactions within the show, the research explores how these discourses contribute to the normalization of misogyny Understanding the influence and consequences of these discourses is crucial in unraveling the broader implications for societal attitudes and perceptions The misogyny from the adorkable characters is examined from the perspective of feminism

To achieve this aim, the study seeks to achieve two objectives Firstly, it will identify and categorize the specific misogynistic behaviors exhibited by the show's protagonists, often characterized as endearingly awkward or

Secondly, the thesis examines the socio-cultural contexts within the show that contribute to normalizing this misogyny By analyzing factors like gender stereotypes and the portrayal of geek culture, this research explores how the show's environment shapes the characters' behavior and potentially reinforces harmful gender attitudes for the audience.

Research questions

This study attempts to answer the following questions:

Question 1: What types of misogynistic behavior did the adorkable protagonists construct in the sitcom “The big bang theory”?

Question 2: What socio-cultural contexts shape and normalise misogyny in the discourses of the protagonists?

In order to deconstruct the "adorkable" figures and show that they dislike women, the study identifies specific types of misogynistic behavior performed by the protagonists This is why question 1 was raised, to reveal the hidden misogyny behind their charming personalities

Through examining these socio-cultural contexts, the study seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how larger societal norms and attitudes contribute to the portrayal and acceptance of misogynistic discourse in popular media By addressing research question 2, the study aims to contribute to ongoing discussions surrounding gender representation and equality in television narratives.

Scope of the research

The study focuses on the misogyny presented by actors who are considered nerdy in an endearing and lovable way These characters are not necessarily male protagonists but can be the female leads as well since misogyny must not be criticized when coming solely from a man The adorkable feature of the protagonists is one of the key factors since it helps the characters to produce misogyny masked with humor Furthermore, the problem is studied from feminist perspective to enhance the seriousness of prejudice against women.

Significance of the study

This research on adorkable misogyny in the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory reveals that misogyny is one of the most pervasive social problems and can be implemented by any group of people It describes how misogyny is masked as a tool to get laugh and lightened when coming from adorkable people which might help linguistics learners and researchers identify the problem in any discourse

The researcher also expects that this research will be beneficial and provide information to help future researchers to understand deeper about the concept of misogyny and hopes that they can conduct other studies on misogyny by analyzing it from different points of view.

Methodology

The first step in having a valid and reliable research project is to decide on an approach which is suitable for the research problems and questions Qualitative research emphasises the detailed description of data (Basit, 2003), with the purpose of understanding real social interactions, people’s perceptions and responses, natural processes, or complicated or sensitive topics (Hennink et al, 2020) In comparison, quantitative research focuses on the use of statistics in “making systematic comparisons in order to account for the variance in some phenomenon” (Silverman, 2017) As

5 suggested by Silverman, the qualitative approach is best suited for studies which aim at answering the “what” and “how” questions, while the quantitative one should be used for “why” For these reasons, this study adopts a qualitative approach using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as it aims to gain a more in-depth understanding of adorkable misogyny and the impact of it By utilizing a feminist lens within the CDA framework, the analysis can further illuminate the effect of misogynistic behaviors.

Structure of the thesis

The study consists of five chapters as follow:

Presents the rationale, scope, aim and objectives, significance, general methodology, and design of the study

This part comprises explanation of principal terminologies that direct the data collecting process and theoretical framework structure by reviewing related researches to the study

This chapter includes a multi-faceted analytical framework drawing on several key theoretical approaches

Chapter Four: Findings and discussion

This chapter summarizes the key findings and offers some conclusions that can be made based on the findings of the study It touches upon the implications, and limitations as well as suggests future research

The final section recapitulates the key findings of the study It discusses the limitations as well as suggests some recommendations for future research

The chapter starts with the pervasiveness of misogyny, then zooms in on "The big bang theory's" gender portrayal critique It outlines the research: deconstructing hidden misogyny using feminist Critical Discourse Analysis and also presents specific questions about the show's misogyny and its normalization

This chapter discusses the existing literature on misogyny, gender representation in media, and Critical Discourse Analysis The first section is an explanation of the term “Adorkable” while the second part is about misogyny and sexism The third part is about feminist CDA which includes an overview on CDA and feminist perspective adopting CDA.

Adorkable character

“Adorkable” is a blend word combining “adorable” with “dork,” a slang term meaning socially inept to describe the central characters (McIntyre, 2014) It is typically used to refer to individuals who exhibit nerdy or socially awkward traits but in an endearing and cute way The term became popularized and is often used to describe characters in TV shows, movies, or books who are quirky, socially awkward, or intellectually inclined but have a certain charm and appeal

Adorkable characters are often passionate about their hobbies or interests, whether it's comic books, video games, science fiction, or obscure trivia Their enthusiasm is infectious, drawing others into their world and fostering deep connections with those around them

Despite their quirks and occasional missteps, adorkable characters possess a kind heart and unwavering loyalty to their friends and loved ones They may struggle with self-confidence or fitting in, but they embrace their uniqueness and encourage others to do the same

Some iconic examples of adorkable characters in popular culture include Jess Day from "New Girl," Liz Lemon from "30 Rock," and Napoleon Dynamite from the film of the same name These characters resonate with audiences because they embody the awkward yet lovable qualities that make them relatable and endearing The adorkable misogynists in “The big bang theory” are portrayed as both comically pitiful and lovable characters The male characters are mostly responsible for the film's misogynistic actions The four geeky, nerdy coworkers on the program are

7 created to be really endearing Throughout the season, even brief moments of genuine compassion, empathy, and kindness are shown This endearing, non-threatening framing is intended to mask the more harmful aspects Big Bang Theory's four main characters presented their own type of adorkable misogyny.

Misogyny

Misogyny is defined as "hatred of women" and as "hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women" It is a social attitude of hatred for females simply because they are females (Johnson, 2000) Misogyny, according to Johnson, "is a major aspect of sexist prejudice and ideology, and as such, is a crucial basis for the subjugation of women in male-dominated cultures." Misogyny may take various forms, ranging from jokes to pornography to violence to the self-disrespect that women are taught to have for their own bodies Misogyny exists in and is performed by women against other women, however it is more frequent among males Misogyny is a belief system or ideology that has followed patriarchal, or male-dominated civilizations for thousands of years and continues to keep women in submissive roles with restricted access to control and decision-making

The US-based philosopher Kate Manne has recently called for a new understanding of misogyny In her book Down Girl The Logic of Misogyny (Manne,2017), Kate Manne presents a fresh perspective on misogyny Instead of viewing misogyny as a personal psychological condition, Manne argues that it should be understood from the standpoint of the women or girls who endure its effects She posits that misogyny is not simply individual prejudice, but rather a systemic force designed to maintain patriarchal structures

There is a difference between misogyny and sexism Misogyny is directed at women who violate or challenge the patriarchal order While sexism distinguishes between men and women, Manne explains, misogyny “differentiates between good women and bad ones,” and typically punishes the latter Moreover, misogyny is often aimed at women who misogynists believe represent a group or type of women whose actions or beliefs threaten the patriarchal order

Manne argues that patriarchy gives men certain privileges One of the most important is the right to care, services, love, pleasure, attention, deference, respect, etc from women When certain women refuse to serve men’s needs for care, men, who feel entitled to these services, feel anger and resentment, and often engage in misogynistic behaviors.

Feminist CDA

CDA

Critical discourse analysis, or CDA for short, appeared in the 1970s It differs from other discourse analysis since it views discourse as a social practice and attempts to expose power relations and ideologies conveyed in conversation CDA aims to understand and explain how and for what purpose language is employed CDA is applied to various domains, including politics, media, education, and organizational communication Researchers using CDA may analyze political speeches, news articles, advertisements, educational materials, and other forms of discourse to reveal the underlying power dynamics and ideological biases present in these texts According to Fairclough (2010), CDA model consists of three discourse dimensions together with the type of analysis as follow: a The object of analysis is the first of these three dimensions It includes verbal, visual or verbal and visual texts (text analysis: description) b The processes by means of which the object is produced and received (processing analysis: interpretation) c The socio-historical contexts in which these processes take place (processing analysis: explanation)

Figure 1: Fairclough’s dimension of discourse analysis

Fairclough (2010) claims that each discursive event has three facets or dimensions: a spoken or written text (Description), an instance of discursive practice involving the production and interpretation of text (Interpretation), and a part of social practice (Explanation) Whereby here the analysis refers to the social, historical and cultural contexts

The descriptive level is always the initial step of analysing a text According to Fairclough (2010), “description is the stage which is concerned with formal properties of text” It concerns linguistic features of the text (form), which are the descriptive dimension for the sake of clarification and understanding It tackles the selection of vocabulary and grammar as well Vocabulary means the word choice and the grammar is the grammatical features Fairclough (2010) states that “during the process of CDA it is of a great importance for researchers to explore and explain the hidden ideologies” To sum up, it is to analyse how linguistic items are constructed together to constitute a text

Discursive practice (interpretation) is the relationship between discourse and its production and consumption should be interpreted at this level According to Fairclough, “interpretation is concerned with seeing the text as a product of the process of production, and as a resource in the process of interpretation” Therefore, the attention should be given to speech and intertextuality This stage corresponds to discourse practice (Fairclough, 1992) Furthermore, it deals with the relationship between the discursive process of production, interpretation, and the text

At this stage, the analysis should be referred to the historical, social, and cultural contexts, in order to reveal its hidden ideologies and understand its language As stated by Fairclough “explanation is concerned with the relationship between interaction and social determination of the process of production and interpretation, and their social effect” This dimension corresponds to sociocultural practice

(Fairclough, 1992) In fact, explanation deals with the relationship between the process (production and interpretation) and the social conditioning It is the relationship between discourse and sociocultural reality

Fairclough conceptualises his three dimensional analytical framework for analysis of any texts and discourses

Text: is the descriptive and the first level of analysis, it links the linguistic analysis in terms of grammar, vocabulary, semantics, phonology and cohesion above the sentence level (Sheyholislami, 2001)

Discourse practice: is the relationship of production, distribution (audience) and interpretation of texts Therefore, it is the comparison of a group of similar texts, in order to identify the notion of intertextuality as a result (Fairclough, 1992)

Sociocultural practice: it focuses on discourse and the social As Fairclough claims that “it is concerned with the relationship between discourse practice and context with the social determination of processes of production and interpretation, and their social effects” To sum up, the interaction with the real world shapes the quality of the collected texts, with the linguistic properties of these texts dependent on the social structures

For the features above, CDA is a significant approach for describing the adorkable trait of the leads in “The big bang theory” and indicating women discrimination via such process In addition, the element of power would be taken into consideration to shed light on the effect of the humor and seems to be a harmless joke about women.

Feminist perspective in CDA

Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is a specific branch of Critical Discourse Analysis that focuses on analyzing language and discourse from a feminist perspective It combines the principles and methodologies of CDA with feminist theories and insights to examine how language and discourse contribute to the construction and maintenance of gender inequalities and power relations

Feminist critical discourse analysis (FCDA) digs into how ideas about gender and power, often seen as normal, are actually created, maintained, challenged, and sometimes subtly adjusted in everyday communication across different groups It's not just about picking apart texts and conversations for its own sake FCDA recognizes that these communication patterns have real-world effects (both positive and negative) on people's lives in specific communities (Lazar, 2007) A feminist CDA perspective is obviously interdisciplinary in nature FCDA doesn't belong to a single field of study It bridges the gap between feminist studies (exploring gender and power) and critical language/discourse studies (analyzing how language is used) FCDA incorporates concepts and theories from feminist studies to understand how language reflects and reinforces gender power dynamics FCDA doesn't just borrow from these disciplines It also offers valuable insights to both By analyzing how language constructs gender, FCDA helps feminist studies understand these dynamics better At the same time, FCDA demonstrates the importance of considering gender issues in critical language/discourse studies It brings feminist insights to how we study language and communication, while also showing how analyzing language can help explore issues of gender and power in feminist studies

As feminist CDA seeks to investigate the complex discursive workings of gender-based asymmetries in patriarchal ideological systems and their resulting material consequences It defines gender as a social category which intersects other axes of social identities but which works in a more pervasive way than other systems of oppression Some key aspects of Feminist CDA include:

Feminist CDA recognizes the intersection of gender and power and analyzes how language and discourse are used to uphold and reinforce gender-based power structures It examines how discourse positions women and men differently and how gendered power relations are constructed and maintained a Representation and Stereotyping

Feminist CDA examines how language contributes to the representation and portrayal of women and men in different contexts It focuses on identifying and

12 critiquing gender stereotypes, objectification, and the marginalization of women in media, literature, advertising, and other forms of discourse b Agency and Resistance

Feminist CDA explores how women navigate and resist oppressive discourses and power structures It pays attention to women's agency and empowerment through language, their strategies of resistance, and their attempts to challenge and subvert dominant gender ideologies c Intersectionality

Feminist CDA recognizes the importance of intersectionality, which acknowledges that gender intersects with other social categories such as race, class, sexuality, and ethnicity It examines how multiple dimensions of identity interact and shape discourse, and how intersecting forms of oppression are reproduced or resisted through language

Even though the consideration of patriarchy as an ideological structure is already embedded in CDA, it is important to add the feminist specificity of this approach, in order to stress the influence that feminist studies have had in recognising gender as a fundamental element of social identities In addition, the overt social goal of the feminist CDA is in line with the critique of the misogynistic discourse under analysis in this thesis and is useful for unveiling the effects of gender-based discrimination and to propose alternative ways to overcome such asymmetries in societies.

Lexical relation

Synonyms

When several different words all express (approximately) the same meaning, we have a case of synonymy (Fellbaum,2015) Synonyms are words with similar meanings There are arguably no absolute synonyms - words with identical meanings in all contexts

13 in English (or in any natural language) While absolute synonyms are rare, near- synonyms are more prevalent A more workable notion of synonymy is Cruse’s (1986)

‘cognitive’ synonymy which applies to distinct word forms that denote that same concept and are interchangeable in some, but not all contexts Cognitive synonymy could also include denotational differences in register (e.g slang vs formal) or dialectal variations (e.g US vs British English) Synonymy presents a speaker or writer with choices for expressing a given concept These words share core semantic features but differ in connotation, register, or usage.

Antonyms

Antonyms represent words with opposite meanings They can be classified as complementary (mutually exclusive), gradable (existing on a scale), or converse (expressing reciprocal relationships) Antonyms contribute to lexical cohesion and can be employed strategically for emphasis or contrast.

Hyponyms

The relation that arguably interlinks most of the noun lexicon is the superordinate - subordinate relation (also called hyperonymy, hyponymy) Hyponymy is a hierarchical semantic relationship where the meaning of one word (hyponym) is included within the meaning of another (hypernym) Hyponymy generates hierarchies, or ‘trees’, in either direction, from general to specific or from specific to general concepts The hyponymy relation is transitive: if an armchair is a kind of chair, and if a chair is a kind of furniture, then an armchair is a kind of furniture

Euphemism

A euphemism is a polite or indirect expression used to replace a word or phrase that might be considered offensive, unpleasant, or taboo These substitutions can range from humorous alternatives to bland, inoffensive terms Common areas where euphemisms are employed include discussions about bodily functions, sex, illness, death, violence, and disabilities.

Metaphor

Metaphors are figures of speech that equate dissimilar concepts They involve a mapping of attributes from one domain (source) to another (target) Metaphors shape perception, cognition, and communication, and can be employed to persuade, evoke emotions, or construct worldviews Lakoff and Johnson (1980) argue in Metaphors We Live By that these linguistic figures permeate our everyday lives, influencing not just language but also thought and behavior A metaphor is essentially a comparison that equates two dissimilar things based on shared characteristics.

Related studies

There has been a significant increase in research focusing on misogyny in online spaces and social media platforms The rise of social media has provided a powerful and accessible platform for individuals to express their views, but it has also facilitated the spread of misogynistic attitudes and behaviors

Farrell et al (2019) focused on the spread of misogynistic ideas within online communities By examining Reddit forums, their research centered on analyzing how hateful rhetoric, specifically misogyny, was disseminated and amplified within these online platforms A key methodological aspect of their study involved the development and application of hate speech lexicons These lexicons served as a foundational tool for identifying and quantifying misogynistic language within Reddit posts By employing this approach, Farrell et al were able to map the distribution and prevalence of misogynistic discourse across different subreddits

The detection of misogyny in microblogging platforms has also been a subject of interest García-Díaz et al (2021) addressed the challenge of identifying misogynistic content in Spanish tweets García-Díaz et al combined sentiment analysis and social computing techniques The study contributes to the development of effective methods for detecting misogynistic language in social media

Misogyny annotation often requires more than a binary present/absent label

In addition to the method used for this article, the author also looks at research with different ways of categorising misogynistic behaviours For instance, “An annotated corpus for sexism detection in French tweets” by Chiril et al (2020) uses three

15 categories to classify misogyny in French The categories are: direct sexist content (explicit and overt forms of sexism, such as insults, threats, or objectification directly addressed to women), descriptive sexist content (tweets that describe women in stereotypical or derogatory terms, reinforcing harmful gender roles and biases) and reporting sexist content (tweets that report or denounce sexist behavior or experiences, offering a valuable perspective on the prevalence and impact of misogyny) By establishing a nuanced classification system, the work highlights the importance of considering the diverse manifestations of sexism in order to develop comprehensive strategies for combating this form of discrimination

In addition, Parikh et al (2019) in their work “Semi-supervised Multi-task Learning for Multi-label Fine-grained Sexism Classification” take a multi-label approach to categorizing posts from the "Everyday Sexism Project," identifying up to 23 categories of sexism, including body shaming, gaslighting, and mansplaining A team of human annotators likely labeled each post with one or more relevant categories This process involved rigorous training and guidelines to ensure consistency

Despite extensive research on online misogyny, academic studies specifically dedicated to misogyny in film are relatively scarce However, several authors have extensively explored this topic in various contexts, including media and film

Laura Mulvey, a renowned feminist film theorist, introduced the concept of the "male gaze" in her influential essay "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema"

(1975) She explores how cinema perpetuates the objectification and sexualization of women, reinforcing patriarchal power structures Most scriptwriters in Hollywood are men Mulvey argued that traditional Hollywood cinema is structured around a heterosexual male perspective, objectifying and sexualizing women for the pleasure of the male spectator

Mulvey's methodology involved a psychoanalytic approach She analyzed how classical Hollywood films position the viewer as a heterosexual male, offering narcissistic pleasure through the representation of women as passive objects of desire

This objectification is reinforced through various cinematic techniques, such as camera angles, lighting, and narrative structure

Bell Hooks, a feminist author, cultural critic, and social activist, analyzes the intersection of misogyny, racism, and classism in her book "Reel to Real: Race, Sex, and Class at the Movies" (2009) By examining films through a critical lens, Hooks exposes the ways in which cinema reinforces and perpetuates oppressive systems Hooks employs a multifaceted approach to her analysis by paying close attention to narrative structure, character development, and visual representation She also provides in-depth analysis of specific films and broader cinematic trends, linking them to larger societal issues Bell Hooks’ research revealed the pervasive influence of intersecting systems of oppression on the cinematic representation of women She demonstrated how films often perpetuate harmful stereotypes about women, particularly Black women, by reinforcing misogyny and racism Moreover, her work highlighted the underrepresentation of women of color and the limited range of roles available to them

Unlike the above researchers, Mary Celeste Kearney, a scholar specializing in feminist media studies, explores the representation of girls and young women in media Mary Celeste Kearney's Girls Make Media offers a critical examination of the representation of girls and young women in media, while also exploring the potential of media as a tool for empowerment She examines a wide range of media texts, such as television shows, films, and music, to analyze how girls and young women are portrayed In addition, she applies feminist theories and perspectives to understand the gendered construction of media messages Kearney’s research reveals that media often reinforces narrow and stereotypical representations of girls and young women However, she also identifies emerging trends of girls and young women using media to challenge these representations and create their own narratives Her work highlights the potential of media to be a platform for feminist activism and social change.

Research gap

A critical gap exists in film studies regarding the analysis of misogyny, particularly its subtle manifestations While scholars like Mulvey, hooks, and Kearney have explored gender representation and stereotypes, a more nuanced approach is needed to identify misogyny embedded within seemingly harmless narratives This is crucial because often, the most pervasive forms of misogyny are not blatant hostility, but veiled through character portrayals and dialogue

These subtle tactics can be highly damaging Tropes like the "dorky" or

"endearingly naive" male character can normalize sexist attitudes by downplaying female intelligence and agency Similarly, a protagonist's seemingly harmless, yet condescending remarks towards female characters can be a form of misogyny These portrayals, though subtle, reinforce the status quo and perpetuate the marginalization of women within films

Further research is necessary to analyse these nuanced portrayals By critically examining these subtle tactics, we can expose the underlying messages that perpetuate misogyny in film and its broader cultural impact

This chapter builds the foundation for analyzing "The Big Bang Theory." It explores existing research on misogyny and how the media portrays gender Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is introduced as the main research method, with an emphasis on Feminist CDA (FCDA) to dissect the show's construction of gender The chapter argues that CDA and FCDA are the ideal tools to expose potential misogyny hidden within the show's seemingly harmless facade

This chapter outlines the approach for selecting and filtering data sources for the study, explains the study design, and presents the methods and data used It also details the data analysis techniques applied in the investigation.

Research questions reinstated

Through the background of the study above, this paper is intended to answer these two following questions:

Question 1: What types of misogyny behavior did the adorkable protagonists construct in the sitcom “The Big bang theory”?

Question 2: What socio-cultural contexts shape and normalise misogyny in the discourses of the protagonists?

Research approach and methods

This research employs a qualitative methodology in order to answer the first question Qualitative method allows researchers to look deeply into the nuances of language and communication within the movie By focusing on detailed descriptions and interpretations of dialogue, linguistic patterns, and linguistic choices, qualitative analysis can provide rich insights into the linguistic elements

It also enables researchers to understand the context and cultural significance of language used in films By examining the social-cultural contexts surrounding the film, researchers can better comprehend how language reflects and influences broader societal norms and values

Examining misogyny in film requires a critical lens that exposes how movies solidify and normalize gender inequality Bell Hooks' collection, Reel to Real, exemplifies this approach Her analysis aligns with Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (FCDA), a framework that builds upon the foundation of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) CDA acknowledges power structures like patriarchy However, it doesn't necessarily prioritize gender as a central shaping force FCDA bridges this gap by incorporating insights from feminist theory FCDA goes beyond simply

19 identifying sexist language It emphasizes how deeply gender shapes our identities and experiences within society This approach explores how language itself constructs and reinforces these gender inequalities In addition, FCDA goes deeper, uncovering the underlying power structures that normalize misogyny in films It reveals how films contribute to a larger system of gender inequality, exposing the mechanisms that perpetuate these harmful portrayals Examining film dialogue, character portrayals, and even camera angles can reveal how films reinforce patriarchal ideologies

By applying FCDA, this analysis can move beyond surface-level critiques It aims to dismantle these structures by exposing the mechanisms that normalize misogyny This approach can inspire social change and encourage the creation of more inclusive films that challenge these deeply ingrained stereotypes.

Data source

This research digs into the world of "The Big Bang Theory" through the lens of its characters' spoken language The data for this analysis consists of spoken discourse: individual words, phrases, clauses, and complete utterances: extracted from contextual dialogues spoken by the show's main characters in Season 1

To gather this rich dataset, the researcher turned to readily available online transcripts Seventeen episodes from Season 1 were meticulously chosen for analysis This particular season holds significance as it serves as the series' introduction It's within these initial episodes that the personalities and characteristics of the protagonists are established in vivid detail This focus on the introductory season ensures the data reflects the foundational dynamics and relationships between the characters

The chosen episodes provided a substantial wellspring of dialogue, offering a comprehensive picture of how the characters interact verbally To guarantee the data's accuracy and completeness, the researcher went beyond simply utilizing the transcripts Utterances from all characters within the chosen episodes were meticulously analyzed Furthermore, the transcripts themselves were downloaded

20 from a trusted online source (bigbangtrans.wordpress.com) However, the researcher didn't stop there Each utterance was cross-checked against the actual episodes to confirm the transcripts' fidelity to the spoken dialogue This rigorous two-step approach ensured the data used in this research accurately reflects the language used by the characters within the specific context of Season 1.

Data collection procedure

The transcripts were used as textual sources by the researcher in this study The transcripts are the materials that the researcher required to examine the dialogue of the characters Bigbangtrans.wordpress.com is the source that the transcripts would be taken from The research questions posed by the researcher are ultimately answered by reviewing these utterances

The researcher took certain steps to collect the data

Step 1: Use transcripts from The Big Bang Theory to gather data: download Season 1 transcripts from the internet

Step 2: Double-checked the transcripts' accuracy by rewatching the whole season and ensuring that every line is matched

Step 3: Choose the transcripts' lines by determining which one carries misogyny ideology.

Data analysis

Analytical process

To uncover the research questions, the analysis will follow a three-step process: Identifying Misogyny: In the first step, the author identifies specific instances of misogynistic behavior This involves looking for language that belittle, demean, or control female characters

Categorizing Language Use: Once identified, these misogynistic behaviors will be categorized according to the lexical relations

Examining Social Impact: Finally, potential social impact of these misogynistic portrayals is revealed This involves exploring how the use of language in the sitcoms might express, establish, and legitimize social inequalities or specific ideologies related to gender

Analytical framework

This research leverages the valuable framework developed by Anzovino et al

(2018) to analyze misogyny within the sitcom context Their work offers a nuanced approach, classifying misogyny into five distinct subcategories: Discredit, Harassment & Threats of Violence, Derailing, Stereotype & Objectification, and Dominance This framework goes beyond simply identifying misogyny; it also distinguishes between active and passive forms of abuse directed at the target Interestingly, research suggests that these categories can be applied effectively across different languages, although the quantitative distribution of these labels may vary For instance, studies have shown a stronger presence of Dominance in Spanish, Stereotype & Objectification in Italian, and Discredit in English This cross-linguistic variation highlights the importance of building accurate terminology for labeling misogyny, a crucial step towards automatic detection methods

By adopting Anzovino et al.'s (2018) categorizations, this research establishes a robust taxonomy for annotating misogyny in sitcoms This framework allows for a more granular analysis of how language is used to portray and potentially reinforce gender stereotypes We can then examine whether these portrayals fall under any of

22 the identified misogyny categories and explore their potential contribution to perpetuating traditional gender roles within the comedic context of sitcoms

The annotation process for this research requires labeling the lines as one of five misogynistic categories: discredit, derailing, dominance, stereotyping & objectification and sexual harassment It should be noted that, the standard misogynistic categories that are usually adopted in the misogyny datasets provided for Indo-European languages (Fersini et al., 2018b,a; Anzovino et al., 2018 Along with the definition of misogynistic behaviors in (Poland,2016), misogynistic language can be classified into several categories such as discredit, dominance, derailing, sexual harassment, stereotyping and objectification and threat of violence:

1 Discredit: slurring over women with no other larger intention

2 Stereotype and Objectification: to make women subordinated or description of women’s physical appeal and/or comparisons to narrow standards

3 Sexual Harassment: describe actions such as sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and sexual nature harassment

4 Dominance: to preserve male control, protect male interests and to exclude women from conversation

5 Derailing: to justify abuse, reject male responsibility, and attempt to disrupt the conversation in order to refocus it

Examples of misogynistic behaviours shown in the collected data are reported in Table 1

Slurring over women with no other larger intention

Sheldon: You know, I apologise for my earlier outburst, who needs Halo when we can be regaled with the delightfully folksy tale of the whore of Omaha?

Sheldon: A little messy? The Mandelbrot set of complex numbers is

23 describing women’s physical appeal and/or comparing them to narrow standards a little messy, this is chaos Excuse me, explain to me an organisational system where a tray of flatware on a couch is valid I’m just inferring that this is a couch, because the evidence suggests the coffee table’s having a tiny garage sale

Harassment describe actions such as sexual advances, re- quests for sexual favors, and sexual nature harassment

Leonard: And you were right about my motives, I was hoping to establish a relationship with Penny that might have some day led to sex

Preserving male control, protecting male interests, and excluding women from conversation

Raj: I am Shiva the destroyer, I will have the woman!

Justifying abuse, rejecting male responsibility, and attempting to disrupt conversation to refocus it

Leonard: Um, here’s the thing (Reads from note.) Penny Just as Oppenheimer came to regret his contributions to the first atomic bomb, so too I regret my participation in what was, at the very least, an error in judgement The hallmark of the great human experiment is the willingness to recognise one’s mistakes Some mistakes, such as Madame Curie’s discovery of Radium turned out to have great scientific potential even though

24 she would later die a slow, painful death from radiation poisoning Another example, from the field of ebola research…

Table 1 Examples of misogynistic behaviours

The annotation task was assigned to two annotators, one is the author herself and a colleague specialized in Applied Linguistics to make sure that it is complete and accurately identified in order to increase the validity of the analysis’s results Having all the annotation rules setup, the annotators started to label the scripts as one of the five misogynistic language categories When exploring the annotations obtained for the whole dataset, we faced these cases:

- Unanimous agreement: the three annotators annotated a line with the same label

- Conflicts: each annotator annotated a line differently Few lines can belong to more than one misogyny category, but the annotators chose the most dominant one in terms of effect on the audience

When identifying and categorizing misogynistic behavior, the author strongly relies on the meanings of words and how they relate to each other such as synonyms, hyponyms, and antonyms These relations were ideologically determined, and in fact meaning relations can often be regarded as relative to particular ideologies; either the ideology embedded in a discourse type, or the ideology being generated in a text. Synonymy as we have seen is the case where words have the same meaning It is difficult to find many instances of absolute synonyms, so in reality one is looking for relations of near synonymy between words Hyponymy entails the inclusion of one word's meaning within that of another Antonymy denotes semantic opposition, wherein the meaning of one term conflicts with that of another In addition, euphemism and metaphor are also taken into consideration in this process Examples of misogynistic behaviors annotated by lexicon choice are reported in Table 2

Category Lexical type Term/ Expression Conductor

Euphemism Lack of experience Sheldon

Dominance Synonym I will have the woman

Table 2 Examples of misogynistic behaviors annotated by lexicon choice

Sheldon's use of "ordinary" is a classic example of euphemism By labeling the female characters as "ordinary," he subtly implies that they are uninteresting and lacking in intellectual depth This linguistic choice reinforces the power imbalance and devaluation of women often present in patriarchal structures In addition, euphemisms like "lack of experience" are indeed powerful tools for perpetuating harmful stereotypes about women By using these phrases, the media can subtly undermine female characters without explicitly resorting to misogyny These euphemisms not only reinforce negative stereotypes but also contribute to a broader cultural climate where women's abilities are questioned and undervalued

Furthermore, terms like "whore" are often used in ways that could be considered synonymous with sexual harassment This is because these slurs are used to degrade and humiliate women based on their perceived sexual behavior or promiscuity The phrase "I will have the woman" is a near synonym for dominance as it explicitly conveys a sense of ownership and control over a woman This possessive language implies a power dynamic where the speaker asserts superiority and authority, reducing a woman to an object rather than an autonomous individual Such a statement strongly suggests a mindset of domination

Moreover, “regret” can be seen as an antonym of derailment in the sense that it implies a genuine sense of disappointment The expression of regret by Leonard is strategically placed before his distraction tactic While admitting to wrongdoing, Leonard positions his mistake within a broader context of human fallibility, implying that his actions were not as significant or harmful as they might appear

This research digs into the construction of misogyny within sitcoms, employing Bailey Poland's framework and Sharma’ view (2013) on the socio-cultural context affecting and normalising misogyny Four key factors are identified to contribute to the prevalence of misogyny: a Patriarchal System

Patriarchy celebrates masculinities that dominate women and this influences men’s behavior towards women (Chiril,2020) Traditional gender roles and power dynamics embedded within a patriarchal society can influence the portrayal of women in sitcoms Misogyny appears to thrive in historical patriarchy settings and can be said to be as a result of the moral manifestation of sexist ideology It appears misogyny is internalized in the customs and social mores that define culture; thus these social beliefs and regulations normalize it Given the arguments and definitions discussed with reference to misogyny, it can be argued that misogynists often think they are taking the moral high ground by preserving a status quo that feels right to them They want to be socially and morally superior to the women they target Thus, it can be argued that most misogynistic behavior is about hostility towards women who violate patriarchal norms and expectations, those who are not serving male interests in the ways they are expected to

Scene: The living room Raj and Howard are on the floor, fighting

Raj: I am Shiva the destroyer, I will have the woman!

Howard: I’m warning you; I was judo champion at math camp

Raj struggles with basic interactions with women, let alone claiming ownership over them His fear of women makes it unlikely he'd see himself as someone who could just "have" a woman By adopting the persona of a powerful

27 destroyer god (Shiva), Raj might be escaping his social anxieties and insecurities The scene is meant to be humorous, highlighting the contrast between Raj's true personality and the character he pretends to be It shows that even shy or awkward men can be influenced by societal norms that portray men as dominant and women as objects of desire Playful fighting between two protagonists can be a way to express these internalized messages in a non-threatening way It might be a way to grapple with societal expectations without fully embodying them b Media Representation

Types of misogyny behavior constructed by the adorkable protagonists

Discredit: slurring over women with no other larger intention

Behavior of discredit is shown throughout 11 lines of the season The lexicon of scripts is classified according to Fairclough (2001) in his textual analysis (synonyms, antonyms, hyponyms, euphemistic expressions and metaphors)

Lexical type Term/ Expression Conductor

Discredit behavior is detected in half of the number of episodes in season 1 The main protagonist responsible for this behavior is Sheldon while Raj makes a minor contribution In episode 4 where Sheldon loses his job and went to a supermarket with Penny, he was somehow fascinated by Penny’s daily simple chores

“ordinary” and “colourless” are the two euphemistic expressions that Sheldon uses to describe the boring life of the female character The higher level of slurring includes

“whore”, “irrational”, “hypocrite” and “Fat girl” In the same line, Sheldon deploys euphemistic expressions using “CAT scan” and “tumor” when talking about Penny’s inability to sing might be due to some kind of brain dysfunction “wall” is the simile expression implying that Penny is stubborn and could not understand what the male protagonist is saying.

Stereotype and Objectification: to make women subordinated or

In this phase, the vocabulary is analysed relying on Fairclough’s textual analysis model, particularly its lexical aspects: synonyms, hyponyms, euphemistic expressions and contradiction that reflect attitudes in the scripts:

Lexical type Term/ Expression Conductor

Euphemism Chooses a suitable mate Leonard

Hyponym Rouses by a crying baby Sheldon

Euphemism Lack of experience Sheldon

Hyponym Kind of pretty Howard

Euphemism Low self-esteem Howard

Euphemism Not that intelligent Sheldon

Contradiction Attractive and skilled Sheldon

Table 6 Behavior of Stereotype and Objectification

As can be seen in the table, most lexical relation indicates misogynistic behavior of Stereotype and Objectification is hyponym Stereotypes of women includes taking care of house chores and taking care of children, doing laundry, singing lullabies, choosing a suitable mate, child bearing, rousing by a crying baby, having certain personalities (chatty, complex, cheating, low self-esteem, chaos, complex) Multiple research reports across decades have shown that exposure to sexist stereotypes in media such as consistently portraying women as irrational and hyper emotional or only casting people of color as a variety of stereotypes (the nerdy Asian, the strong black woman, the hot headed Latina or stupid blonde) Stereotypes related to the personality of a woman also exist in euphemistic expressions “not that intelligent” and “lack of experience” Using the same lexical relation, “kind of pretty” and “little chubby” are used to put a negative comment on women’s physical appearance The expression “Attractive and skilled” shows a contradiction since a woman cannot be good-looking and play video games so well at the same time, according to Sheldon Howard shows that he knows all about women when saying “I know the type” and this expression is categorized as synonyms

Sexual Harassment: describe actions such as sexual advances, requests

Lexical type Term/ Expression Conductor

Hyponym Take her clothes off Sheldon

Hyponym Led to sex Leonard

Hyponym Strip naked and dance Leonard

Hyponym Examine my brief Howard

Antonym Punished by her Howard

Hyponym Throw herself at you Howard

Metaphor Shake it, that-a rupee maker Raj

Table 7 Behavior of Sexual Harassment

All four protagonist take part in conducting sexual harassment These acts are not random or thoughtless, either; sexist abuse is a deliberate choice, and it is used to establish men as superior while at the same time reinforcing gender stereotypes harassers use “sexual objectification and gender stereotyping to make women feel unwelcome, subordinated, or altogether excluded” in an attempt to limit or end women’s participation in online conversations This misogynistic behavior is mainly

34 detected by verbs that are considered hyponyms for sexual advance Expressions like

“decontamination shower” and “sex book” are directly spoken to the female characters The remaining ones refer to sexual desire of the male actors to women but in an indirect way (conversations between men) Synonym of the theme includes

“sexual harassment” while the antonyms are “sexual availability” and “punish by her” Formal expression is noted when Sheldon gives a theoretical comment on the love life of his friend (Sexual congress) However, he tends to use informal language by calling Leslie “booty call” instead of girlfriend when he is in a bad mood A metaphorical expression noted in Raj’s line is that when he got drunk at a party, he told a female participant to shake her breasts and referred to her body part as “a rupee maker”.

Dominance: to preserve male control, protect male interests and to

Lexical type Term/ Expression Conductor

Synonym Men at work Howard

Synonym You are my lady Raj

Synonym Go through me Sheldon

Synonym I will have the woman Raj

Metaphor superior genetic mutation Sheldon

Synonym Decider of who you mate with

Dominant behavior is not a very common way to show misogynistic features of the male protagonists in the first season of the sitcom Six out of seven lines carry this behavior are deployed by the use of near synonyms Sheldon mostly shows his domination upon his sister Missy He declares that he is more intelligent and uses the metaphor of “superior genetic mutation” to ask her to listen to him For the same

35 reason, Sheldon should be Missy’s “decider of who you mate with” and if she does not agree, she has to “go through me” Sheldon only uses this tactic on Penny once when he aggressively told her to give details about the potential of getting sick and infecting him (think woman) The expressions “you are my lady” and “I will have the woman” indicate the possession of Raj on women Howard makes a contribution in this category with the line “men at work” indicates that job related to machine and building is something belongs to men and women’s help is insufficient.

Derailing: to justify abuse, reject male responsibility, and attempt to

Lexical type Term/ Expression Conductor

Hyponym get through high school Sheldon

Derailing involves interrupting conversations, particularly those involving women, with the intention of steering the discussion towards topics more comfortable or aligned with the speaker's preferences This often happens when someone starts asking tangentially related questions or diverting the discussion away from complex ideas being discussed by women Hence, the lexical relation indicating derailing act are hyponyms with the behavior In the first episode, Penny shares that she lived with a jerk for four years and compared that time to be as long as her high school years Sheldon does not show any sympathy or any interest in the topic so he steers the conversation toward a more familiar topic to him by sounding surprised when it took Penny 4 years to “get through high school”

In another scene, Sheldon wants to persuade Missy to store her eggs and let him find a suitable sperm donor in order to get a smart kid like him He believes that Missy-his twin sister who share similar DNA can produce a “Seldon 2.0” does not want to sound oppressive This is why he uses “everybody wins” to indicate that if

Missy follows his plan, it will benefit her as well and drives her from the thought that Sheldon is doing this for himself

Derailing essentially imposes unpaid educational and labor demands on women, persistently challenges participants' comprehension of their own conversation, and attempts to shift focus towards a different topic or the individual derailing the conversation Another case when Sheldon disrupts the conversation is when he and Leonard got caught sneaking into Penny house to clean due to Sheldon’s obsession about things to be clean and organized Penny was so furious and said that it was creepy to go into a person’s house while they are sleeping Then Sheldon caught the chance and drove the topic to Penny’s sleep problem It indicates that Sheldon does not only see his act as inappropriate but also tries to get away with his fault by focusing on a female’s health condition In the same episode, Leonard also employs a derailing strategy when apologizing to Penny He uses an antonym of derailing such as "mistake" or "regret," and seems to draw focus on his fault However, they are accompanied by examples of great inventions stemming from mistakes so as to create an attempt to deflect attention away from his own wrongdoing This tactic serves to minimize the significance of his actions and shift the focus onto the potential positive outcomes of making mistakes By framing his apology in this manner, Leonard attempts to downplay the impact of his behavior on Penny and avoid taking full responsibility for his actions This manipulation of language and narrative reflects a common strategy used to evade accountability and mitigate the consequences of one's actions.

Socio-cultural contexts shape and normalize misogyny in the discourses of the

Patriarchal system

Societies structured around patriarchal norms and values often perpetuate misogyny by reinforcing male dominance and female subordination in social, political, and economic spheres

In terms of society, In the film, male characters are influenced by a patriarchal society where men predominantly hold positions of power within the social structure,

37 concurrently serving as figures of authority over women, and assets This is evidenced by the following details:

Leonard: Okay, uh… oh, consider this With your father gone, it is your responsibility to make sure that Missy chooses a suitable mate

Sheldon: I hadn’t considered that We do share DNA

Sheldon: So there is the possibility, however remote, that resting in her loins is the potential for another individual as remarkable as myself

Leonard: Exactly And, you owe it to yourself and to posterity to protect the genetic integrity of your sister’s future offspring

Sheldon: You’re right If someone wants to get at Missy’s fallopian tubes, they’ll have to go through me

In this scene, Leonard seeks to win Sheldon's favor in order to increase his chances of dating Missy However, instead of courting Missy directly to gain her affection, Leonard opts to approach her twin brother Leonard's rationale revolves around the belief that the father figure holds the ultimate authority and responsibility in ensuring his daughter selects a suitable husband Consequently, if the father is absent, this role and duty would presumably be transferred to another male figure within the family Missy is perceived as a possession without agency over her own body, as illustrated when Sheldon remarks:

“If someone wants to get at Missy’s fallopian tubes, they’ll have to go through me” Additionally, the role of women in childbirth is also diminished as male characters believe that superior genetic material from men ensures the intelligence of offspring Power over women is further highlighted through the dialogue of the character Raj in the following two scenes:

Scene: The living room Raj and Howard are on the floor, fighting

Raj: I am Shiva the destroyer, I will have the woman!

Howard: I’m warning you, I was judo champion at math camp

Lalita: And I am not your lady

Howard: And you have no wrath

Raj: You are my lady Our parents said so We are for all intents and purposes one hundred percent hooked up

Given Raj's character as an Indian origin individual portrayed as a bookish guy who is afraid of interacting with women and unable to converse with them normally, he wouldn't be seen as actively misogynistic When he exhibits behaviors of entitlement, viewing women as objects to possess ("I will have the woman") or enforcing arranged marriages ("You are my lady Our parents said so"), these actions would likely be softened and portrayed as humorous remarks, even though in reality, they should be taken seriously

Sheldon also demonstrates support for a patriarchal system and believes that women should only serve as homemakers rather than being valued equally He maintains the belief that they cannot achieve similar accomplishments to men

Leslie: Wait, you’re going up against Sheldon Cooper?

Leslie: That arrogant, misogynistic East-Texas doorknob that told me I should abandon my work with high energy particles for laundry and child bearing?

According to Leslie's account, Sheldon is a staunch misogynist Despite being a scientist with a high level of intelligence, Sheldon believes that women should only engage in tasks that do not require much mental effort This belief is heavily influenced by his upbringing, as Sheldon grew up in an environment where the role of the father was highly emphasized Sheldon's mother was a homemaker, solely responsible for household chores and childcare In contrast, Sheldon's father was the primary breadwinner and had a more dominant presence Sheldon's disregard for women's abilities is further evidenced in the scene:

Leonard: You know what, I’m being ridiculous But who cares what Penny thinks? Lesley is a terrific girl, she’s attractive, we like each other, she’s extremely intelligent

Sheldon: She’s not that intelligent

Leonard: She fixed your equation

Leonard: You don’t believe in luck

Sheldon: I don’t have to believe in it for her to be lucky

The gender bias in Sheldon is clearly and unabashedly demonstrated in this situation As a scientist, Sheldon relies solely on theory and rigorous arguments, rather than an inexplicable factor like luck However, his attitude changes when a woman proves him wrong and corrects him in his own field of expertise This shift in attitude highlights Sheldon's underlying bias against women, as he initially dismisses their contributions and expertise It reveals a deep-seated belief in male superiority and a reluctance to accept the authority and competence of women, even when confronted with evidence to the contrary Sheldon's reaction underscores the pervasive nature of gender discrimination in academic and professional settings, where women often face skepticism and resistance to their ideas and achievements This portrayal serves as a poignant commentary on the challenges women continue to encounter in male-dominated fields, despite their qualifications and capabilities.

Media Representation

In addition to the realms of finance, the entertainment industry remains heavily skewed towards male dominance, both on-screen, in the writing process, and behind the scenes Research conducted by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media revealed that a vast majority of directors (93%) and writers (83%) are men The Big Bang Theory is created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom served as executive producers and head writers on the series, along with Steven Molaro and they tend to prioritize male characters and cast predominantly male actors The show's initial seasons prominently feature male main characters, including Sheldon Cooper, Leonard Hofstadter, and Howard Wolowitz, who are introduced from the outset as central figures Their characters are afforded substantial screen time and dialogue, allowing for greater depth of character development and storyline exploration

Conversely, female main characters are comparatively underrepresented in the early seasons, with Penny being the sole prominent female character while the remaining female main characters gradually introduced in subsequent parts

During interviews, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady also demonstrated a misogynistic view by their intention of portraying Penny as "kind of rough She's dangerous in a way and wasn't very nice to the guys." This depiction received backlash from the audience, leading to a reconstruction of her character to become much more charmed by the guys and kind to them, as opposed to a woman who would take advantage of them Despite how her image is constructed, she is still relegated to supporting roles or is characterized as peripheral to the central male protagonist The underrepresentation of women in the film industry, both in front of and behind the camera, can result in limited perspectives and contribute to the perpetuation of misogynistic behaviors and discourses Additionally, women are frequently subjected to sexual objectification in the realm of entertainment, with disparaging remarks about their physical appearance and intelligence being pervasive across various forms of media

Media representations and narratives have a significant influence on shaping societal perceptions of gender roles and relationships Although the media cannot be solely held accountable for the emergence of sexist attitudes and other negative phenomena, the portrayal of casual sexism and racism in media contributes to shaping viewers' perceptions of the world These portrayals become integrated into viewers' perspectives, contributing to the normalization and perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and biases Consequently, the media plays a pivotal role in shaping societal norms and values regarding gender, race, and other social identities However, it is crucial to acknowledge that media is just one aspect among many that influence attitudes and beliefs Therefore, efforts to combat misogyny must address systemic issues beyond media representation alone.

Education and Socialisation

Education and socialization play significant roles in shaping and normalizing misogyny in the media From an early age, individuals are exposed to societal

41 norms, gender stereotypes, and power dynamics that perpetuate the unequal treatment of women

Early socialization processes, including education, family dynamics, and peer interactions, play a crucial role in shaping individuals' attitudes towards gender Misogynistic beliefs and behaviors may be learned and internalized through socialization processes that reinforce traditional gender norms and stereotypes

Missy: Okay Shelly, sit down Now I’ve lived my whole life dealing with the fact that my twin brother is, as Mom puts it, one of God’s special little people

Sheldon: I always thought I was more like a cuckoo bird You know, a superior creature whose egg is placed in the nest of ordinary birds Of course, the newly hatched cuckoo eats all the food, leaving the ordinary siblings to starve to death Luckily for you, that’s where the metaphor ended

From a young age, Sheldon was praised and held in higher regard by his mother She referred to him as "God's special little people," but did not use similarly praising language for Sheldon's twin sister The metaphorical expression of identifying himself with a cuckoo bird implies a sense of superiority and entitlement, positioning oneself above one's siblings, much like cuckoo birds that consume all the food in the nest and leave their siblings to starve This upbringing and symbolism contribute to the development of Sheldon's belief in his own supremacy and his right to assert dominance over his siblings

Through socialization, children are taught the expected behavior, roles and space for both male and females Gendered roles and expectations are instilled in family members as part of the formative years and manifest through different means

It appears that tolerance and acceptance of gender differences is frowned upon and gender differences are magnified and used as a tool to oppress the perceived weaker group Over time, this oppression and violence targeted at the weaker gender becomes normalized and accepted as part of everyday life Often it is language and behaviors that denigrates one sex over the other and makes light of violent acts and trivializes

42 aggression which leads to the normalization and acceptance of sexist humor and consequently sexist violence Besides language that glorifies sexism and sexist violence, the normalization of sexist humor also involves acts and experiences that are allowed to take shape and establish themselves over time and are permitted to determine daily life This reveals how the family as a structure is embedded with violence targeted at women who are considered to be the ‘weaker’ sex as espoused by structural violence theory

Parents who prioritize their son can inadvertently foster misogynistic attitudes in children When parents excessively focus on one child, particularly their son, while overlooking or downplaying the achievements of daughters, it reinforces gender stereotypes and contributes to the perception of male superiority This unequal treatment sends a message to children that success and recognition are more readily attainable and valued for boys than for girls, perpetuating a culture of gender inequality and reinforcing harmful notions of male privilege Moreover, such parental behavior can instill in children the belief that women are inherently less capable or deserving of praise and recognition, further perpetuating gender bias and contributing to the normalization of misogyny

Leonard: You are going to march yourself over there right now and apologise (Sheldon laughs.) What’s funny?

Sheldon: Wooh, boy, you are all over the place this morning (Knocks on Penny’s door.) I have a masters and two PhD’s, I should not have to do this.

Economic factor

Economic disparities and unequal access to resources can contribute to the normalization of misogyny by perpetuating gender-based inequalities and power imbalances Economic dependency and financial insecurity may reinforce traditional gender roles and limit women's autonomy and agency within society

In the first part of the series, Penny faces a lot of gender discrimination She's portrayed as beautiful but without a dream job or financial stability She doesn't really talk much about her job with the male characters, and when she does, it's usually with a bored and sarcastic tone

Leonard: They’re not going anywhere (Closes door, staying in hallway.) So, you’re coming home from work That’s great How was work

Penny: Well, you know, it’s the Cheesecake Factory People order cheesecake, and I bring it to them

Leonard: So, you sort of act as a carbohydrate delivery system

Penny: Yeah, call it whatever you want, I get minimum wage Yeah, anyways, I was wondering if you could help me out with something, I was…

According to Bailey, the widespread use of "like", “well” or "you know" as conversational fillers, despite being common across all demographic groups, is often associated with a stereotype of the "Valley Girl," a portrayal that suggests a lack of seriousness However, research indicates that individuals who incorporate such fillers into their speech tend to demonstrate thoughtfulness and conscientiousness in conversation Despite this evidence, the stereotype persists, highlighting a disconnect between perception and reality in how language patterns are interpreted and valued in society Furthermore, while the main male character in this situation may use euphemistic expressions to enhance the value of Penny's work, the somewhat patronizing manner in which it is employed backfires and also reflects Leonard's belief that Penny's job is truly of low value and not respected

Contrary to the stereotype that men generally earn higher incomes, the male characters in this sitcom are not financially well-off Apart from Howard, they’re all

“postdocs” who have non-tenured teaching positions and pretty much live from grant to grant At one point Sheldon said that if he could afford to live alone, he would have:

“if I could afford the rent, I’d ask you to leave Leonard's financial situation is no better When he won an auction for a $800 time machine, he lacked the funds to purchase it and had to rely on contributions from the other characters to cover the cost

Sheldon: I wonder why no-one else bid, this is a classic piece of sci-fi movie memorabilia

Leonard: Yeah, I know, I still can’t afford it

Howard: Why don’t we share it? We’ll each put in two hundred bucks and we’ll take turns having it in our homes

Howard, for his part, although a talented engineer, works for JPL, which means he’s not getting a competitive salary either The construction of male characters with esteemed yet financially unrewarding occupations in this context serves to normalize and mitigate the depiction of Penny as a character with extremely low income The portrayal of male characters with similar economic circumstances contributes to a normalization of Penny's low-income status, thereby potentially reducing negative audience reactions to the show Nevertheless, it still imposes the stereotype of a woman with grand aspirations but relegated to a menial job, such as waitressing, with minimal income

Furthermore, despite their lack of economic privilege, male characters display little concern or distress regarding their financial situation

Leonard: He offered me a fair price for the whole collection

Sheldon: What’s the number, I’ll match it

Raj: I’ll match it, plus a thousand rupees

Sheldon: What’s the exchange rate?

Raj: None of your business Take it or leave it

Howard (on phone): Mom, my bar-mizvah bonds, how much do I got? Thanks I can go twenty-six hundred dollars and two trees in Israel

This discrepancy underscores a gendered narrative bias, wherein male characters are depicted as less affected by financial constraints or societal expectations compared to their female counterparts This portrayal perpetuates traditional gender roles and expectations, reinforcing the notion that men are less impacted by economic adversity and have greater agency in shaping their own destinies

Overall, the juxtaposition of male and female characters' economic circumstances in The Big Bang Theory reflects and perpetuates gender disparities

45 and societal biases prevalent in contemporary media portrayals While male characters may face economic challenges, they are often depicted with greater agency and resilience, while female characters like Penny are relegated to roles that limit their economic prospects and reinforce traditional gender norms

In conclusion, this study has identified and analyzed various forms of misogynistic behavior exhibited by the protagonists of "The Big Bang Theory," shedding light on the pervasive nature of gender discrimination in media discourse

The analysis revealed five distinct types of misogynistic behavior: discredit, stereotype and objectification, sexual harassment, dominance, and derailing Through meticulous examination of dialogues and interactions within the sitcom, instances of misogyny were identified and categorized according to their linguistic characteristics and underlying implications These findings underscore the complex interplay between language, culture, and power dynamics in perpetuating gender inequality and shaping societal attitudes towards women

Furthermore, the socio-cultural contexts surrounding the discourses of the protagonists were explored, revealing the ways in which patriarchal systems, media representation, education, socialization, and economic factors contribute to the normalization and reinforcement of misogynistic attitudes and behaviors From entrenched gender roles and power imbalances to subtle forms of discrimination embedded in language and social interactions, the study illuminated the multifaceted nature of misogyny and its deep-rooted presence in societal structures and norms

This chapter summarizes the key findings and offers some conclusions that can be made based on the findings of the study It touches upon the implications, and limitations as well as suggests future research.

A summary of key findings

The main objective of this study was to analyze and deconstruct the prejudice against women portrayed in the popular TV series "The Big Bang Theory." The study employed Poland's framework and Fairclough's principle of meaning relations to identify and analyse misogynistic behaviors enacted by the male protagonists

Addressing the question of what types of misogynistic behaviours, the

"adorkable" protagonists in "The Big Bang Theory" exhibit, five distinct misogynistic behaviors were identified throughout Season 1 These behaviors were not employed with equal frequency, and their usage varied across the season As a result of these behaviors, female characters in the sitcom, and women in general, are portrayed as beautiful but intellectually inferior Their lifestyles are depicted as messy and disorganized The male protagonists, on the other hand, are presented as intelligent but socially awkward, gaining the audience's sympathy through their seemingly innocent and hesitant demeanor Stereotype and Objectification are the most prevalent forms of misogyny, while Derailing is the least common The misogynistic elements in Season

1 are subtly disguised and difficult to categorize, necessitating the application of Fairclough's model to identify these behaviors Meaning relations (synonymy, hyponymy, antonymy) between words are employed to enhance the accuracy of classifying misogynistic behaviors Euphemism is adopted with respect to the expressive values of words for relational reasons It is used to subtly express misogyny and impose upon women in a covert manner This subtle use of language also implicitly conveys male power over women (both in society and within the family)

Addressing the question (What socio-cultural contexts shape and normalise misogyny in the discourses of the protagonists?), this study explores how the show normalizes sexism through various socio-cultural contexts Firstly, the show reinforces a patriarchal system Male characters, particularly Sheldon, exhibit a sense of entitlement and dominance over women Sheldon's upbringing, where his mother praised his intelligence but disregarded his sister's, exemplifies this This dynamic perpetuates the stereotype of women as intellectually inferior and relegated to domestic roles, as Sheldon suggests when criticizing Leslie for pursuing science instead of childcare

Secondly, the show suffers from a lack of female representation Women are largely absent in the early seasons and relegated to supporting roles throughout Penny, the lone prominent female character, often serves as the object of male desire rather than a well-developed character with her own aspirations This lack of balanced representation contributes to the normalization of misogyny by implying that male characters and their perspectives deserve greater focus

Thirdly, early socialization experiences are shown to shape gender roles Sheldon's sense of superiority is fueled by his mother's treatment, reinforcing the idea that men are inherently more capable This normalizes the downplaying of women's achievements and creates a breeding ground for misogynistic attitudes

Finally, the show downplays the economic challenges faced by women While Penny struggles financially as a waitress, the male characters, despite their own lack of wealth, seem less burdened This portrayal trivializes the economic realities for women and reinforces the stereotype of women as financially dependent on men.

Implications

The findings of this study have several implications for both academia and society at large Firstly, they shed light on the pervasive nature of misogyny in popular media and its potential impact on shaping societal attitudes towards gender

By analyzing the portrayal of misogyny in "The Big Bang Theory," this study highlights the ways in which the media can reinforce patriarchal norms, perpetuate

48 gender stereotypes, and normalize harmful behaviors Awareness of these dynamics can empower viewers to critically engage with media representations of gender and challenge problematic narratives

Secondly, the study underscores the importance of media literacy and critical media consumption Educating audiences about the underlying messages and power dynamics present in popular media can help individuals develop a more discerning eye towards media portrayals of gender By fostering media literacy skills, individuals can become more adept at recognizing and deconstructing harmful stereotypes and biases, ultimately contributing to more inclusive and equitable media representations

Furthermore, the findings of this study have implications for content creators and media producers It highlights the responsibility of creators to critically examine the messages and values embedded within their content and consider the potential impact on audience perceptions and attitudes By striving to create more diverse, nuanced, and inclusive representations of gender, content creators can contribute to positive social change and challenge entrenched systems of oppression.

Limitation

This analysis of The Big Bang Theory's portrayal of misogyny offers valuable insights into the show's underlying messages about gender However, it's important to acknowledge some limitations in the scope of the study By focusing solely on the first season, the analysis captures a snapshot of the show's initial approach to gender dynamics Examining later seasons could provide a more comprehensive picture Character development can be a slow burn, and it's possible that the writers introduced subtle shifts in the characters' attitudes or behaviors towards women over time Additionally, the narrative itself might evolve to explore themes of gender equality or challenge traditional gender roles in a more nuanced way A broader analysis that encompasses multiple seasons could reveal these potential changes and allow for a more comprehensive understanding of how the show's portrayal of misogyny unfolds over time

This study focused on the textual content of The Big Bang Theory, analyzing the portrayal of misogyny within the show's narrative and dialogue However, a crucial element missing from this analysis is the perspective of the audience How viewers perceive and interpret the show's portrayal of gender is a vital piece of the puzzle

Including audience reception in future studies could be achieved through various methods Surveys could be designed to gauge viewers' awareness of the show's gender dynamics and their personal reactions to the portrayal of misogyny Focus groups would provide a platform for viewers to discuss their interpretations of the show's themes and characters in a more open-ended setting By incorporating audience reception data, researchers could gain valuable insights into whether viewers passively accept the show's portrayal or actively critique it This information would be crucial for understanding the show's overall impact on societal perceptions of gender Additionally, audience reception data could reveal potential blind spots in the textual analysis For example, the show's writers might intend for certain jokes or character interactions to be humorous, but viewers could interpret them as perpetuating harmful stereotypes By analyzing audience reception alongside the textual content, researchers could gain a more holistic understanding of how The Big Bang Theory constructs and communicates its messages about gender

This study primarily focused on misogynistic behaviors exhibited by male characters However, during the research process, it became evident that female characters occasionally made remarks that could be interpreted as misogynistic This highlights the complexity of gender dynamics and the need for a more nuanced approach to analyzing misogyny Future research could delve deeper into the spectrum of misogyny, exploring how it manifests not only in overt behaviors by male characters but also in the subtle remarks or internalized biases of both male and female characters This would provide a more comprehensive understanding of how misogyny permeates social interactions

Recommendation

In terms of future research, this study suggests several avenues for further investigation Firstly, longitudinal studies could examine how the portrayal of misogyny evolves over time within "The Big Bang Theory" and other popular media franchises By analyzing multiple seasons or episodes, researchers can gain insights into any shifts or developments in the representation of gender dynamics

Additionally, studies incorporating audience reception data could provide valuable insights into how viewers interpret and respond to media portrayals of gender

By exploring audience perceptions, researchers can gain a more nuanced understanding of the impact of media representations on individual attitudes and beliefs

Finally, future research could explore the intersectionality of gender with other social identities, such as race, class, and sexuality, within media representations By examining how multiple axes of identity intersect and interact within media narratives, researchers can gain insights into the complex ways in which power and privilege operate within society This intersectional approach can help to uncover and challenge the multiple forms of oppression and discrimination present within media representations of gender.

Concluding remark

In conclusion, this study has illuminated the multifaceted nature of misogyny as portrayed within the context of "The Big Bang Theory." Through a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) lens, we have discerned how gendered power dynamics are perpetuated and normalized through linguistic and visual semiotics embedded within the show's narrative framework The findings underscore the significance of media texts as reflective of, and influential upon, broader socio-cultural norms and ideologies pertaining to gender

Central to this investigation is the recognition that misogyny transcends individual agency, operating as a systemic issue deeply ingrained within societal structures By dissecting the discursive strategies employed within "The Big Bang

Theory," the author has shed light on the subtle yet pervasive ways in which misogyny manifests, often under the guise of humor This nuanced understanding underscores the importance of adopting a critical stance towards media representations, interrogating the underlying power dynamics and ideological underpinnings that inform and shape our perceptions of gender

Looking ahead, this study underscores the need for continued scholarly inquiry into the portrayal of gender within media texts, particularly within the realm of television sitcoms Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of media literacy education in equipping audiences with the critical tools necessary to deconstruct and challenge hegemonic representations of gender within popular culture

In sum, this study contributes to ongoing discourses surrounding gender representation in media, highlighting the imperative of critically engaging with media texts to discern and dismantle the normalized structures of inequality therein By fostering a more nuanced understanding of the discursive construction of gender within popular culture, we can endeavor towards fostering a media landscape that is more inclusive, equitable, and reflective of diverse lived experiences

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Sheldon: This is great Look at me, out in the real world of ordinary people, just living their ordinary, colourless, workaday lives

Sheldon: No, thank you And thank you, ordinary person Hey, you want to hear an interesting thing about tomatoes whore

Raj: I thought she was the whore of Omaha?

Sheldon: You know, I apologise for my earlier outburst, who needs Halo when we can be regaled with the delightfully folksy tale of the whore of Omaha?

Leonard: Oh, I don’t think she’s a whore

Penny: No, yeah she’s definitely a whore I mean, she has absolutely no standards, this one time, she was at… where’s Howard? wall Scene: Sheldon’s apartment, Penny is asking to play video games with the guys on another day

Penny: Look, why don’t I play with you guys tomorrow?

Sheldon: Tonight is Halo night, it’s like talking to a wall

Penny: Alright, now Sheldon, you and I are about to have a problem irrational Scene: Sheldon’s apartment, Penny is asking to play video games with the guys on another day

Sheldon: Tonight is Halo night, it’s like talking to a wall

Penny: Alright, now Sheldon, you and I are about to have a problem Leonard: Sheldon, remember, we role-played this

Sheldon: Yes, but you didn’t portray her as completely irrational fat Scene: The restaurant, Raj is having set up date

Raj: I can’t believe I’m sitting here next to little Lalita Gupta

Raj: Little Lalita That’s kind of fun to say Little Lalita, Little Lalita, Little Lalita, you should try it

Raj: You have lost so much weight! That must have been difficult for you because you were so, so fat! Do you remember?

Raj: Of course you do Who could forget being that fat? cat scan Scene: Hall, Leonard and Sheldon are talking about Penny’s bad singing

Leonard: And what would I have said afterwards?

Sheldon: I would suggest something to the effect of, singing is neither an appropriate vocation nor avocation for you, and if you disagree, I’d recommend you have a CAT scan, to look for a tumour pressing on the cognitive processing centre of your brain

Leonard: I couldn’t say that, I would have to say, you were terrific and

I can’t wait to hear you sing again

Leonard: It’s the social protocol, it’s what you do when you have a friend who’s proud of something they really suck at tumour Scene: Hall, Leonard and Sheldon are talking about Penny’s bad singing

Leonard: And what would I have said afterwards?

Sheldon: I would suggest something to the effect of, singing is neither an appropriate vocation nor avocation for you, and if you disagree, I’d recommend you have a CAT scan, to look for a tumour pressing on the cognitive processing centre of your brain

Leonard: I couldn’t say that, I would have to say, you were terrific and

I can’t wait to hear you sing again

Leonard: It’s the social protocol, it’s what you do when you have a friend who’s proud of something they really suck at hypocrite Scene: Hall, Sheldon is being angry at Penny because she makes Leonard think that the nerds’ hobby is nonsense

Howard: Okay man, be cool, we’re all friends here

Penny (coming out of her flat): What the hell’s going on?

56 grown-up Scene: Hall, Sheldon is being angry at Penny because she makes Leonard think that the nerds’ hobby is nonsense Penny: What?

Sheldon: Little Miss “grown ups don’t play with toys” If I were to go into that apartment right now, would I find Beanie Babies? Are you not an accumulator of Care Bears and My Little Ponies? And who is that Japanese feline I see frolicking on your shorts? Hello,Hello Kitty!

Penny: Okay, okay look, if this is about yesterday, Leonard, I am really sorry about what I said, I was just a bit upset

Stereotype and Objectification: to make women subordinated or description of women’s physical appeal and/or comparisons to narrow standards

Scene: At work, Howard and Leonard are asking Leslie to join in a team to compete with Sheldon

Leslie: Wait, you’re going up against Sheldon Cooper?

Leslie: That arrogant, misogynistic East-Texas doorknob that told me I should abandon my work with high energy particles for laundry and child bearing?

Scene: At Sheldon’s apartment, Leonard is trying to convince Sheldon to get a chance to date his sister

Leonard: Because she’s your sister

Sheldon: I don’t understand Yes, we shared a uterus for nine months, but since then we’ve pretty much gone our own separate ways

Leonard: Okay, uh… oh, consider this With your father gone, it is your responsibility to make sure that Missy chooses a suitable mate

Sheldon: I hadn’t considered that We do share DNA

Scene: At Penny’s apartment, Leonard and Sheldon sneaked in and saw her messy place

Sheldon: No, it hurt… (looking around) Great Caesar’s Ghost, look at this place?

Leonard: So Penny’s a little messy

Sheldon: A little messy? The Mandelbrot set of complex numbers is a little messy, this is chaos Excuse me, explain to me an organisational system where a tray of flatware on a couch is valid I’m just inferring that this is a couch, because the evidence suggests the coffee table’s having a tiny garage sale

Scene: At Penny’s apartment, Leonard and Sheldon sneaked in and saw her messy place

Sheldon: You might want to speak in a lower register

Sheldon: Evolution has made women sensitive to high pitched noises while they sleep, so that they’ll be roused by a crying baby If you want to avoid waking her, speak in a lower register

Scene: At the hall, Penny is talking to Raj about Leonard and Sheldon sneaked into her apartment

Penny: You know, where I come from, someone comes into your house at night, you shoot, okay? And you don’t shoot to wound I mean, alright, my sister shot her husband, but it was an accident, they were drunk What was

Raj (internally): She’s so chatty Maybe my parents are right Maybe I’d be better off with an Indian girl We’d have the same cultural background, and my wife would sing to my children the same lullabies my mother sang to me

Penny: It’s obvious that they meant well, but I’m just, I’m having a really rough time, like I said, I broke up with my boyfriend, and it’s just freaking me out

Scene: At Sheldon’s apartment Penny and the guys are playing video games

Leonard: It’s the only way we can play teams