This term paper examines how gender roles are represented in the post-apocalyptic television series The Walking Dead by analysing two opposite female characters, Andrea and Lori. After briefly summarising how the concept of gender developed historically, it clarifies important terms and aspects which concern gender roles, masculinity and femininity and stereotypes about gender.
Accordingly, the author argues that Andrea represents an almost masculine character while Lori depicts a stereotypical, feminine character. In order to prove this, she analyses the named characters in detail by using significant film sequences.
Furthermore, the paper shows how the depiction of female gender roles in the series is connected with the fact that it is a post-apocalyptic series. For this purpose, it argues that female gender roles change to more masculine ones in a post-apocalyptic environment.
The American horror drama television series “The Walking Dead” is based on the same-titled comic book series by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic world which is helplessly exposed to humans who turned into flesh-eating zombies and cannot be controlled by the state in any way. The series tells the story of a group of people from Atlanta who survived the zombie apocalypse and aim to find a safe place to stay without being attacked by the “walkers”, as the zombified humans are called in the series.
The first episode opens up with the police officer and main character Rick Grimes who awakens from a coma in a hospital. He is unaware of the zombie apocalypse and wants to leave the abandoned building but on his way home he already sees some “walkers”. Slowly he realises what happened and instantly wants to find his wife Lori and his son Carl. After a tough way through zombie-dominated places he actually finds his family who is accompanied by other survivors. Rick becomes the leader of this group and from that point onwards they fight together against the zombies and try to manage their new life. As the series progresses numerous characters fail in the fight against the “walkers” but also in the new-ordered social constructs.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Concept of Gender
3. Andrea: A Representative of Masculinity and Male Gender Roles
4. Lori: A Representative of Femininity and Female Gender Roles
5. Do Gender Roles Change in a Post-Apocalyptic World?
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the representation of gender roles within the post-apocalyptic television series The Walking Dead. By conducting a comparative analysis of the female characters Andrea and Lori, the study explores how these individuals embody or challenge traditional gender norms, ultimately arguing that the survivalist environment of the apocalypse necessitates a shift toward more masculine traits for women.
- Historical and theoretical development of gender concepts
- Analysis of Andrea as a representative of masculine traits and leadership
- Examination of Lori as a representative of traditional feminine roles
- Impact of post-apocalyptic environments on established gender constructs
- The intersection of survival, social order, and individual identity
Excerpt from the Book
3. Andrea: A Representative of Masculinity and Male Gender Roles
Andrea is first introduced to the series in the episode “Guts” of season one when Rick and Glenn enter a department store. She immediately points a gun at Rick, pushes him and insults him saying “Son of a bitch I kill you!” (The Walking Dead1 season 1, episode 2) because he previously attracted walkers unintentionally who are therefore surround the store. Andreas’s aggressive and threatening behaviour towards Rick represents typical traits which are associated with masculinity: aggressiveness and strength (Davis et al. 359). Although she doesn’t know Rick at all, she is brave enough to instantly express her feelings about his recklessness and does not calm down until Jacqui and Morales talk insistently to her. After Andrea has put down her weapon, she starts crying and says “We’re dead, all of us” (TWD season 1, episode 2). This reaction is contrastive to her previous behaviour: first she threatens Rick in an aggressive manner and therefore appears to be strong, but then she starts crying and is being pessimistic about the survival of the group what expresses weakness, a feminine character trait (Davis et al. 359). Later in this episode Andrea apologises to Rick for pointing the gun at him but also says that it was not unjustified what shows that she adheres to her behaviour. Subsequently Rick tells her to take the safety off the gun next time. So it becomes clear that Andrea at this point of the series does not know how to use a gun and therefore has to take Rick’s advice. It can be summarised that in this first scene in which Andrea is introduced, her behaviour is rather androgynous because she represents masculine as well as feminine traits.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the premise of The Walking Dead and sets the scope for examining gender roles through the characters of Andrea and Lori.
2. The Concept of Gender: Provides a theoretical overview of gender studies, ranging from biological perspectives to social constructivism and the 'doing-gender' paradigm.
3. Andrea: A Representative of Masculinity and Male Gender Roles: Analyzes how Andrea's character development and behavior throughout the series align with masculine traits like strength and leadership.
4. Lori: A Representative of Femininity and Female Gender Roles: Examines Lori's adherence to traditional feminine stereotypes, including her role as a mother, caretaker, and her reliance on male protection.
5. Do Gender Roles Change in a Post-Apocalyptic World?: Discusses the persistence of pre-apocalyptic gender norms despite the radical change in environment and the need for new social structures.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, confirming that Andrea and Lori serve as binary examples of how individuals either embrace or reject traditional gender expectations under pressure.
Keywords
The Walking Dead, Gender Roles, Masculinity, Femininity, Post-Apocalyptic, Andrea, Lori, Gender Stereotypes, Social Construct, Leadership, Survival, Androgyny, Feminist Movement, Gender Norms, Identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines how gender roles are represented and perceived within the post-apocalyptic setting of the television series The Walking Dead.
Which theoretical frameworks are applied to the study of gender?
The author references psychoanalysis, functionalist sociology, the 'doing-gender' paradigm, and structuralist views to explain how gender is constructed and performed.
What is the central thesis regarding the characters Andrea and Lori?
The paper argues that Andrea represents masculine traits and asserts independence, while Lori adheres to traditional, stereotypical feminine roles such as motherhood and domesticity.
Does the author believe gender roles change in an apocalypse?
The author argues that while many survivors attempt to rebuild old social structures, the threat of an apocalyptic environment necessitates a move toward more masculine traits for women to survive.
Which methodologies are used to conduct this research?
The study uses qualitative analysis of specific film sequences from The Walking Dead compared against established sociological literature on gender and masculinity/femininity.
What are the key terms defining the analysis?
Core terms include masculinity, femininity, gender stereotypes, androgyny, and social constructs.
How does Andrea's behavior evolve after her sister's death?
Following the loss of her sister, Andrea recovers from a state of depression and becomes increasingly confident, adopting roles traditionally reserved for men, such as protection and combat.
Why is Lori portrayed as a representative of feminine weakness?
Lori is identified as feminine because she prioritizes domestic chores, shows emotional irrationality during crises, and relies heavily on male figures for protection and stability.
What role does the 'androgynous approach' play in the analysis?
The author utilizes the concept of androgyny to explain the integration of both feminine and masculine traits, highlighting how certain characters move beyond binary gender expectations.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Katharina Zeiger (Autor:in), 2013, Gender Roles in the TV Series "The Walking Dead". What is the Impact of the Post-Apocalyptic Setting?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/458181
