Gender Representations in Romantic Comedies

Gender Representation plays a big part in Romantic Comedies since stereo typically they revolve around a female character and the films tend to be female centric. Due to Romantic Comedies being targeted at females over the years the types of films that have been made have changed but still stick to the codes and conventions of the genre. There are many female characters in romantic comedies that are similar in the way they are presented to the audience, however different.

Holly Golightly- Breakfast at Tiffiny's (1961)

One of the most famous characters in film history and played by well known Hollywood actress Audrey Hepburn, Holly became an household names in the early 60's. Holly is represented as a free and independent woman in society which at the time was new as women's role in society was usually to stay home and take care of the house and the children. However 60's was a change of a many things for women. Many called it a decade of liberation of women. Holly living up to those expectations as a young and attractive women who lived by her own rules. Holly was not a stereotypical representation of a woman in romantic comedies who tend to be 'damsel in distresses' or in 'love' with a man who doesn't acknowledge them that way.

Sally Albright-When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Another bright and witty character represented as a strong feminist and thinks she knows what men should do and shouldn't. However throughout the end of the film she becomes the 'damsel in distress' and feels no man will love her after breaking up with her fiance. She ends up calling Harry for a leaning shoulder to cry on, showing she is reliant on a man after all to help her through her problems.

Vivian Ward- Pretty Woman (1990)

Julia Roberts become an household name after this film, however her portrayal as Vivian is still something that comes as an unconventionality in the romantic comedy genre. Due to the fact this maybe is the only romantic comedy that showed the female as some what in a negative light since she played a prostitute. Her dependency on men comes through the fact it is her job that she does due to the situation she puts herself in which is explained in the film. It may challenge the gender stereotype with Vivian roaming the streets at night to earn an living shows she's much more strong and brave than the audience initially perceive her to be. However the films ending conforms to the societal stereotype of a 'happily-ever-after' ending of the two main characters settling down, therefore Vivian is not exactly seen as a challenge of the female representation in Romantic Comedies but just seen as 'unconventional'.

Bridget Jones- Bridget Jones Diary (2001)

Bridget Jones is probably the most annoying character you can come across in this genre. She is represented as independent and a career orientated woman. However her drawbacks would most probably be that she constantly talks about the lack of a 'man' in her life which can sometimes get really strenuous for the audience to watch. Understandable she is in her mid 30's but getting involved with the wrong men and than crying her heart out with not getting things right in her life sounds like a child not getting they're favorite toy for their birthday. This to me is a wrong representation of woman in the genre. To this date this film has either become a mockery for film critics and audiences alike or they have praised Renee Zellwegar's performance what ever be it this film still either stands to irrtate audiences or watch when they probaly feel extremely down.

Romantic Comedy films have since become sterotypically like that following the trend of women being reliant on the man for something even though they are shown as 'independent'.

Men in Romantic Comedies are seen as the prey to the females 'predetory' advances which always some how seem to end up wrong in contemporary rom-com's. However many rom-com's represent the male protagonists who are opposite the female lead to be careless about women and their hearts. They are shown to be womanizing, players who use women to satisfy themselves than leave as soon as they become 'bored'.

An example of this is Hugh Grants character Daniel Cleaver who is an unforgiving womanizer and never takes a relationship (if that what it could be called) seriously and cheats on Bridget with another work colleague.

Homosexual characters are hardly ever shown in romantic comedies and if they are they are portrayed as a joke or side kick which genrally brings comic action to the films. They usually if at all are hardly ever portrayed on screen or don't have that much screen presence. They hardly ever show affection on screen where as the hetrosexual couples do, the difference highly evident. There are only certain films that I can list as examples due to limited films made on this topic.

Here are certain examples:-

Must Love Dogs is a 2005 romantic comedy film, which involves a side homosexual relationship which is mentioned breifly and not focused on as a side story showing that this is just breifly hinted at.



I Love You Philip Morris is probably one the only romantic comedy film to portray a homosexual relationship between to protagnists as the main storyline of the film. The film shows Jim Carrey's character fall in love with Ewan McGregor's character and the different events that follow them throughout the film making them seperate and reconcial throughout the film. However it only had a limited release grossing around $20 million.

 The Broken Hearts Club: a romantic comedy, is a 2000 romantic comedy film, which deals with  issues throughout the film all surrounding homosexual relationships. The film focus's on universal themes of romance, acceptance and family as opposed to serious issues like AIDS, coming out and sex which are more controversial and sterotypical topics that are covered in LGBT films. The film got a limited release and only ended up grossing $2,019,121.
Overall homosexual characters are hardly portrayed in romantic comedy films due to public acceptance and them finding it's a bit too post mordern to be shown in films in the 21st century today. If films are released they get limited releases therefore not finding a wider audience to view the films. They are mainly treated as independent films.

Posted by Bansari Raval