When looking at the different gender roles that were represented in the prime-time television show “This is Us” there were many instances throughout the show where the female characters were depicted in what I defined as traditional female roles (Fogelman, 2016). Particularly, I noticed this to be the case for Rebecca Pearson’s character. Rebecca, who is the wife of Jack Pearson and mother to her three children, is one of the main female characters in the show. Rebecca was often shown running the household duties and chores. This often included her in the kitchen making different meals for her family, packing lunches, tending to the children, cleaning, and doing the laundry, while her husband went off to work. Kate and Beth, who are also two …show more content…
In the show she to was often shown in the kitchen, cooking, cleaning, entertaining and hosting guest, as well as tending to her children. Although, Beth was depicted as the housewife, she also had a career outside of the home. Kate’s portrayals of traditional gender roles are little more subtle and less often, but she also is the only one in the show who isn’t married with children, and this can possibly contribute to the reason she is not depicted this way as often throughout the show.
One aspect that I had to consider while watching and analyzing the show is the era in which I was introduced to each of the characters. “This is Us” chronicles the Pearson family across the decades beginning in the 1980’s when jack and Rebecca became young parents to present day when their children are all grown up and in their thirties (NBC, 2018). This aspect actually gives it that past and present day feel. Therefore, while Rebecca is heavily characterized as a traditional female wife and mother it became important for me recognize and distinguish her character in reference to the era in which she was being depicted in. In trying to understand …show more content…
I wasn’t really expecting for this to appear, but it definitely was an interesting dynamic to consider. Kate, throughout the show seems to be exclusively defined by her weight (Fogelman, 2016). In fact, Kate’s first scene in the show was a defining moment for her character, because she was shown opening up the fridge to a bunch of sticky notes that state things like “Throw This Crap Out”, “Don’t You Dare Eat This Cake Before Your Party”, and “Kate love Kate” (Fogelman, 2016:Season 1 Episode 1). In my opinion, that is a very clichéd way to introduce a character that is obviously struggling with weight issues. Even at a young age, Kate experiences body shaming because she was heavier then the other little girls similar to her age. While at the public pool, she was isolated out of the in-group of young ladies because of the way she looks in a bikini (Season 1 Episode 4, 2016). Kate in season 1 episode 10 was shown as a young girl comparing the size of her clothes size to her mothers. In this scene, you could tell by her facial expressions that she didn’t like the fact that she wore and extra large, while her mother wore a size small. Throughout the show Kate was constantly shown either internalizing or verbally comparing herself to her thin and beautiful mother (Fogelman, 2016). The only