Mean Girls is not
only a large part of pop culture, even to this day, but it also is an
interesting look at how we view and interact with certain members of society.
When Cady Heron is first introduced to The Plastics she suddenly learns what a
girl “should be” according to the girls. They are consumed with their appearance
and value their sex appeal. While Mean
Girls does a nice job of pointing out these stereotypes of women the movie
doesn’t really do much to challenge or address them. The movie resolves with a
notion that in order to be cool you have to be like the plastics. While The Plastics
might think they are following the rules of feminism they are really just
reinforcing the roles that society has set up for women and girls.
I agree with your post completely, society tends to set social standards and people think that they have to conform to fit in and that's what this movie is demonstrating. Good post:)
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post as well! We see this in other forms of society too, like social media and other movies. While Mean Girls wants to deconstruct the idea of the "perfect high school girl" they are building up the characteristics of that stereotype at the same time. The producers are showing what you have to look like and act like to be that perfect high school girl, or at least the girl that everyone likes. It doesn't send a great message to younger audiences watching and assuming that Mean Girls is an accurate representation of high school.
ReplyDeleteThis was spot on! I think society puts woman in a box and while Mean Girls made an attempt to step out of the box (or at least I think that was the plan) new stereotypes were built in a different light. All of "The Plastics" seemed tough but were just confident in their appearance and sexuality. I think that Lindsey Lohan's character at first tried to challenge these stereotypes but was coincidentally caught up with her appearance and "image."
ReplyDeleteI do think you were very spot on in your description, and that the film sexualises women and makes young women think that they have to act and dress in a certain manner. Katie was a straight A student and thats what should have been praised through out the movie, not her looks or how she acts in a public situation.
ReplyDeleteI buy your analysts on this as they show on women are viewed in general to be a very prestigious dolled up girl. Especially in High School that the puberty standards settle in and that women need to be displayed a certain way which is very wrong.
ReplyDeleteHi Natalia!
ReplyDeleteYou could also take this film into cultural analysis as well. The way Catie Heron was raised in Africa is very different from the way the other girls were being raised in America. That also plays a huge factor into how the females in both countries are to portray themselves and their sexual appeal.
Hi Natalia!
ReplyDeleteYou could also take this film into cultural analysis as well. The way Catie Heron was raised in Africa is very different from the way the other girls were being raised in America. That also plays a huge factor into how the females in both countries are to portray themselves and their sexual appeal.