Modern Family and Stereotypes

Modern Family is my favorite television show.  My family is actually one of those that sits around on Wednesday nights and watches each episode together.  Growing up in a more liberal family, I can relate to many of the circumstances shown in the television comedy.  The “oblivious” dad that tries to act cool, the gay relatives, and the brother you want to smack on the head because he is so innocent but lacks all kinds of street smarts.  Martin and Nakayama note that Modern Family might not “represent quintessential U.S. American values and lifestyles.”  However, I think this show, and I’m sure many families can attest to this statement, was definitely created for the current “modern” family.  While I do enjoy the television show, there are some notable stereotypes including ones regarding teenagers, Latinas, and gay couples.

In Modern Family, the oldest daughter, Haley is played as being rebellious, dumb, and boy crazy.  I feel that this is played in various television shows.  Haley is clearly the “dumb blonde” type character.  The other relatives get nervous about having her babysit, and even when they let her, she breaks rules like letting her boyfriend in or spends more time texting than paying attention. 

  Coming to the realization that people from other countries might tune in to this show, I am actually concerned that they might perceive every teenage girl to be shallow, disobedient, and lacking proper street smarts.

Gloria is one of my favorite characters, but I can also see how her stereotype is very overt.  She is played as a trophy wife, somewhat of a gold digger, and lacks the ability to speak proper English. 

  While the actor who plays Gloria is basically acting as her Columbian mother did, many Latinas and others around might dislike this stereotype (The Week 2012).  She has an endless closet, hires a nanny although she is a stay-at-home mother, and shouts loud enough to make her older husband even deafer.  I find it cute and funny, but I could see it being over the top as well.

The biggest stereotype, according to myself, is that of the gay uncles.  I feel that their relationship is a bit much, although I find it endearing.  Cameron is the more feminine couple; enjoying photo shoots with his daughter, wears various cuffed patterns, and gets more emotional than I do.  The two also share a love for theatre, and constantly quote movies and musicals, often arguing about Meryl Streep and if she has the ability to play any character.  The two are currently planning a wedding and are debating over the color palette more than any “straight couple” according to the wedding planner.  Their group of friends is very flamboyant as well, and this adds to the stereotypical gay man. 

There has been some resistance regarding Modern Family stereotypes, however.  A Facebook group was created to promote the allowance of having Cameron and Mitch kiss on screen, which hadn’t been done yet and many were questioning why (Weebly 2012).  The television show did include a kiss in one episode after that resistance, and Cameron and Mitch explained they don’t like to express PDA. 

  Other aspects that resist the traditional stereotypes in Modern Family include the fact that Cameron, one of the gay uncles, used to play football, Gloria is very cunning and tricky, and Haley is slowly becoming quite the young lady who really does take care of her siblings. 

Despite the stereotypes noted, I still love Modern Family and hope most people do, too.  I do understand that some aspects are overdone and might not be culturally correct, but I do think there are a lot of great values a viewer can learn from the show as well about love, acceptance, communication, and family. 

Martin, J.N. & Nakayama, T.K.  (2013).  Intercultural Communication in Contexts (6^th ed.)  New York, N.Y. : McGraw Hill. 

The Week Staff.  (2012).  5 surprising Modern Family controversies.  The Week.  Retrieved from http://theweek.com/article/index/223868/5-surprising-modern-family-controversies

Weebly Blogger.  (2012).  Gay stereotypes in Modern Family.  Weebly.  Retrieved from http://analysisofmodernfamily.weebly.com/challenging-sterotypes.html