Modern Family Continues Old Stereotypes

The 2018 episode of Modern Family titled, “He Said, She Said” shows the busy and chaotic lives of Jay Pritchett and his children’s families. The episode chronicles the trouble between Mitchell, Jay’s son and Cam, Jay’s son-in-law and Mitchell’s partner. Throughout the episode many gay stereotypes are visible and wrongly portrays gay men as feminine and hypersensitive.

One of the main issues presented in the twenty-two minute episode is the issue surrounding Cam and his family. He finds out from his sister that things are not as they had seemed and his father was living with another woman for a period of time in Cam’s adolescence. After hearing this news, Cam is taken aback and starts to freak out. Mitchell suggests that Cam sees his therapist, but Cam is completely against the idea and instead believes that he is ‘too strong’ to go to therapy. Mitch then continues to share about how helpful his therapy sessions are. Since many look down upon seeking therapy as weak and unmanly, Mitchell attending therapy gives the impression that he is lacking masculinity which feeds into the greater stereotype of femininity of gay males.

Amidst all this chaos, Cam and Mitchell are throwing a birthday party for their daughter, Lily. The party, fitting for young girl, is beauty-themed complete with a makeover completed by none other than Cam. As Cam flamboyantly styles the girls’ hair, he says sassy, theatrical responses and his fair share of “Get It, Girls,” further portraying his femininity which only serves to add to gay stereotypes as a whole.

In the final scene of the episode, Cam finally caves and goes to therapy with Mitchell to work out his family issues. Within a minute of arriving, Cam spills his entire family troubles and bares it all to the therapist. After showing this hypersensitive side, Cam is praised by the therapist because of his ability to work through his own problems. Mitchell, on the other hand, becomes upset that he has been attending these weekly sessions for years and has barely made a dent in his problems. He then becomes upset while his therapist consoles his and assures him that she still has an open hour to spend talking with him. With this show portraying gay men as over sensitive and fragile beings, gay men as a whole are stereotyped, which leaves a negative view upon the community.

All in all, this piece of media is invalid. Its stereotyping and wrong displays of homosexuality are truly fictional. The show may be a comedic sitcom, but ultimately, gives wrong interpretations. This leaves our society with false stereotypes, which only adds to the current issues in our society and political climate concerning LGBT communities.

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