While listening to all of the Glee soundtracks on my run yesterday, I was thinking about the show. I was struck by how there have been a somewhat high number of scenes in the boys' locker room. Then I tried to think of any scenes in the girls' locker room. Nope, none. What does this say about gender in the Gleeverse? Are only men allowed
to be healthy, fit, and strong? You can't tell me that the Cheerios
don't work out. We have seen Rachel on an elliptical in her own room,
but never with others. We've seen Quinn in physical therapy, but that's
about it. I mean, even Artie and Leprechaun are in these locker room moments. These skinny or dough-y guys are seen the locker room or gym, but no women?
Don't get me wrong, I am gleeful that there aren't gratuitous scenes of these girls changing in the locker room while having a conversation, but I do wonder what this pattern is telling the viewers about what's appropriate for girls and boys to do.
As I considered this (while still running), I realized that there are a lot of scenes in girls' bathrooms. Like, a lot. Including several songs. I don't remember any songs in the boys' locker room, except Sam singing to himself in the shower. Of course the writers want private areas for some of their conversations or songs, but is it necessary to have them be gender-segregated? The library is a pretty good place for a private conversation, too. A high school student in a library seems much more realistic than Leprechaun in the gym.
What I see in this pattern of gender-segregated locations is that women are supposed to stare at themselves in the mirror, trying to perfect their hair and make-up, while men are supposed to be buff. For all of the groundbreaking that Glee does, this is a disappointing pattern.
There have been a couple of scenes in the girls locker room--the last one was the flashback scene during the song where all of the girls are thinking to the moment they first saw their SOs. Santana first saw Brittany in the locker room. You are mostly right about a lack of scenes in comparison to the boys, though. Thing is, that's pretty accurate to real life. Yes, the Cheerios have to stay fit but they are much more likely to do so by running or some other solitary activity. Most girls, sadly, will not lift weights (as we have seen the guys do) or do bag work because upper arm definition/strength is seen as anti-feminine.
ReplyDeleteAlso, girls DO spend much more time in bathrooms compared to boys. Esp in high schools. I spend a lot of time on high school campuses for work and let me tell you that boys are in and out (and not chatting) while girls are acting like they are at the MAC counter at the mall. Not all girls, of course, but there is a clear pattern and difference. I see your point AND get your annoyance but it's pretty accurate.
That said...it would make more sense to have some scenes with the Cheerios changing/chatting, BUT we've never met the others, so you can't really have them talking and stuff when only THREE of them are known by name/face.
Yes, it might be more accurate.
DeleteBut why can't we have scenes with Brittaney and Santana running on the track together? I guess my point is that the guys are shown working out, and the girls are shown putting on make up. It might be accurate, but it still gave me pause.
I think it's more about the character's interests. Finn, Puck, Sam, and sometimes Artie hang out in the locker room because they all play football together. Rachel, Quinn, and Mercedes primp and preen because they are vain divas (Kurt would be in the girl's locker room if he could). We don't see Brittany and Santana running track because they aren't on the track team, but we do see their athletically demanding Cheerios routines. I see it as showing the characters where they would naturally hang rather than adhering to gender roles. Rory and Joe aren't shown in the locker room because they aren't jocks. And Sugar, Mercedes, and Tina working out? Not unless it's a dance rehearsal. Hey, aren't you at least glad Brittany and Santana aren't softball players?
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