New Girl: The 23rd (Season 1, Episode 9)

New Girl

Premise: Jess moves into an apartment with three guys after a painful breakup.

-Right off the bat, gender is a clear part of the show's focus. Much of the humor in New Girl (Jess) comes from the awkwardness of the girl-living-with-three-guys situation. In general, gender is actually a very prevalent theme in the show. It exaggerates and laughs at stereotypical gender roles throughout the entire show. The humor, especially relating to gender, is not at all subtle which makes the show funny.

The balance of the sexes is usually skewed toward the male side and it is a new and contemporary show.

Scene: Jess is driving the three guys home from the mall and she takes them through Candy Cane Lane. "At night, the whole street lights up with Christmas lights and it's sooo beautiful." The guys all laugh and make fun of her, like they are too cool for Christmas, and like describing something as sooo beautiful is designated only for women.

-Jess and Paul's relationship turbulence:

Paul tells Jess that he loves her, but she says "thank you" in return. Nick, one of Jess' roomates, lets it slip to Paul that she doesn't love him. Then, in classic guy fashion, tries to run away from Paul to avoid explaining himself. He, like most men, hate the emotional heart-to-heart. Nick sticks around though, even hugging Paul to comfort him. Jess arrives on the scene and Nick desperately tries to escape but is stuck listening to the two struggling lovebirds hash things out. Nick yells for help: "THIS IS MY NIGHTMARE!!!!!"

-Gender situation with Shmidt:

Shmidt is often mocked for his feminine tendencies; he is very particular about his appearance and works hard to maintain his exterior.

Line:"I had figure-skating lessons till I was 13 when my mom sobered up and realized I was a boy."

Shmidt has a big crush on CeCe, Jess' friend and a beautiful actress. He stops by while she is working (a before and after commercial for a diet pill in which she is wearing a little black bikini) to give her a bottle of perfume. He chose the scents specifically for her and has a drawn-out explanation for each component. It all seems too thoughtful for a gift from a guy. Then, CeCe's smokin' hot  but very rude boyfriend Kyle interrupts, immediately assuming Shmidt is the hairstylist because he does have very done-up hair and looks particularly feminine. This guy is tough and macho looking, dressed all in black. While Shmidt is talking to CeCe, Kyle smirks at Shmidt in that "I'm so much better than you" sort of way, which he thinks because of that macho-guy vs. feminine guy stereotype.

 Shmidt also the only man that works in an office full of women. He is consequently forced to dress up as "sexy Santa" and has the women sit in his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas all night long. He wears a pretty degrading outfit: a Santa hat, a white fuzzy collar, and tight, red short-shorts. While he doesn't like the task, he pretends to for a significant portion of the episode. Fact is, he is pushed around a lot at the office, even bullied. The women, especially Kim take advantage of him. Kim is always making rude reminders that start to sort of de-humanize Shmidt.

Also, CeCe starts to see the quality and true caring in Shmidt and decides to wear the nasty smelling perfume he made for her. The nice guy may triumph overthe macho jerk?!

So CeCe tells Shmidt that he shouldn't let Kim control him like that. Empowered, Shmidt goes to tell Kim that he works harder than anyone in the office and deserves both a promotion and some respect. Kim tells Shmidt that she can't believe it took him 5 years to say that. Shmidt makes a degrading comment to Kim, she gets offended, and Shmidt says "I get it. You can dish it out but you can't take it." Kim says, "I like it" in a moment of softness, referring to Shmidt's newfound empowerment. As a woman, Kim likes men who are stronger than her. That is, in fact, the stereotype.



Having seen most episodes of New Girl, I am so surprised that I missed its emphasis on gender. The show plays up existing sterotypes and relies on dramatized gender roles for its humor. The show does not come off as offensive, however, because the humor is not meant to be thoughtful, but inherent. I did not notice the gender-related humor, though I laughed at it, because it is so inherent and natural that I don't have to think about it. Shmidt's character is always laughed at (both by the characters and by the viewers) because of his femine tendencies, but I certainly don't have to think about why I am laughing. This show is a perfect example of just how ingrained gender stereotypes are in society.