Download - Paper 2 - Experience of Performance
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Alley Kammer
Comm 223 Langan Experience Paper #2
Gender Roles on The Mindy Project
At a first glance, the show The Mindy Project, completely violates the norms surrounding
media today. These stereotypes, which dictate the types of actors and actresses that should be
presented in a television show, say the likelihood of either a minority or female figure being the
star of a show are very slim. However, the main character of this particular show, Mindy Lahiri,
is a female, Indian OB/GYN who is also a senior partner at the firm in which she works in New
York City. While this show strays from the norms of having a female lead, many other
stereotypes showing how males and females behave hold true throughout the episodes.
In one particular episode in season 2, entitled Bro Club for Dudes, Mindy is
challenged by the newest doctor, Peter, in the practice of Shulman's Women's Health Associates.
The episode begins as Mindy is trapped in the middle of the Wings n Stings Nerf gun game
night that Peter has recently instated. She is held hostage by Peter who kills two of his
opponents, fellow doctors, Danny Castellano and Jeremy Reed. Mindy protests their game night
because she had an idea for the office to participate in a birthday video, but it was rejected. In her
case, she was told that it was because the office is a work place, but when they wanted to have
their event, suddenly it was alright. This simple scene that opens this episode is a prime example
of how the stereotype of mens empowerment over women is portrayed in the media and in
particular this episode of The Mindy Project. As a woman, Mindys idea is seen as silly, and as
an interference with work place activities. There is no consideration in making her plan a reality,
but there is much support from the men in the office for Peters game night idea. The scene
continues as Morgan, nurse, pops out of the plant and kills Peter, becoming the ultimate
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champion of the game. Whats ironic is that Morgan is a male nurse in the office. This character
in the show breaks the typical stereotype of men in that the role of the nurse is typically fulfilled
by women, such as those who play the other nurses in the office. It is interesting, however, that
he is the only nurse that has a friendship outside of work with the doctors at Shulmans. Though
he is a nurse, and of lesser socioeconomic degree in the work place, his gender breaks the barrier
that is in place for the other female nurses wanting to befriend their colleagues. This scene ends
as Peter fires a Nerf dart at Mindys chest twice and makes a reference to the size of her chest. It
is interesting because there was never any discussion of sexual harassment pertaining to his
actions. Because they were having bro night and Mindy was ruining it, it was not deemed
inappropriate by the other men. As a senior partner in the practice, Mindy is Peters superior, but
because he is a man, he is able to make such a joke without penalty whereas she is left to make
light of the situation.
Mindy is upset by the affinity the other men, who are also her friends, suddenly seem to
have for the new employee. She is more so upset that she does not also have this good
relationship with him, and the fact that he immediately declines her ideas, such as the one for
putting a gazebo on the terrace by their office. She immediately goes to Danny, her trusted
confidante in the office, to figure out how to befriend Peter. He suggests taking him out to lunch.
Mindy, in this portion of the episode, is portrayed as the extreme of the stereotypical female in
her dress, her interests, and her speech patterns. Mindy decides to take Peter to tea time at the
USA Girl Caf and proceeds to tell him about how her mother brought her there when she got
her first period. Mindy, while the most central character of the show, is portrayed as a girly girl
who is slightly self-absorbed, and a bit air-headed. Her speech and interests in pop-culture
portray that of non-serious, uneducated woman, whereas her title says otherwise. It is as if the
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writers needed to downplay the power and authority she carried as the star of the show, and as an
Indian doctor, by making her a typical, comical woman. When her lunch effort does not work
to win Peters friendship, Danny suggests Mindy take an interest in something he likes, which
happens to be an Amateur MMA fight. Mindy compromises by going to the event, in turn losing
her date for the evening, so that she can show Peter she is making an effort to be his friend.
When Mindy arrives, her girly nature is emphasized as she instantly looks out of place and tries
to order girly drinks for the men when all they have at the event is beer. The only other woman
in the building is the one holding the round number and she is barely dressed, showing the
objectification of women in such a setting. Later on in the evening, Mindy mentions Peters ex-
girlfriends new fianc during his pep talk and suddenly he is no longer prepared to fight. When
Peter is getting pummeled, Mindy finds a way to make it into the ring to try to talk him out of
fighting. An interesting exchange occurs between Peter and Mindy in which she says he should
quit fighting because it would be better than ending up dead or paralyzed. However, Peter
replies, Not for a dude, its not Okay, [quitting] is totally better, but not for a dude, because
he didnt want to be seen as a wuss by the other men. Peter is eventually thrown out of the ring
by his opponent, but his first comment to Mindy is not about how badly he is hurt, but whether
or not anyone saw him cry. This is also an extreme of masculinity, that he would rather die than
give up and be seen as feminine, but it is one that is often portrayed in the media today.
At the end of the episode the doctors are all out on the terrace once again and it is
revealed that Mindy decided to take down her gazebo and put up a basketball court and barbeque
grill as was initially requested by Peter. While a generous act on Mindys behalf, it again
portrays the stereotype that as a woman in the office, in order to be affirmed by her peers, she felt
the necessity to comply with the wishes of the men in the group to be accepted. Though it is
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stereotypical, it does work and wins her further approval from Peter and the other men.
The Mindy project initially appears to be a show that would defy many gender norms on
television with its incorporation of a female Indian doctor as the main character. However, with
further analysis of one particular episode, it can be seen that while this breaks the stereotype, so
much of the show still follows the norms and what the media knows they can sell to an audience.