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

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

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

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.