Women's Media Nation | Social, political, and cultural issues relating to women

The Power of TV – Glee uses Madonna to Address Sexism

posted by Women & Hollywood
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 4:51pm CDT

I’m an admitted big Gleek. Last night’s show featuring the music of Madonna was by far the best episode of the series yet. I thought it was brilliant how they used Madonna and her place in the culture as a female leader and icon to talk about everyday sexist issues that high school kids (and the rest of us) deal with.

The guys didn’t want to perform songs by Madonna cause you know, she’s a chick, but Mr. Schuester tried to make them see the bigger picture about the messages behind Madonna’s music — power and the ability to love and trust yourself. And the ending with all the Glee club guys singing What it Feels Like for a Girl. Brilliant. The whole episode kind of felt like a feminist fantasy.

I know that no high school kid would do this but how great would it be for guys to ask themselves, “Do you know what it feels like in this world for a girl?”

Puck: I am not down with this. I like being a dude.

Finn: That’s because it is easy to be a dude.

Yes, guys it is so easy to be a dude. It’s great to occasionally have a show that can say it so well and not you feel like you are beating someone over the head with a stick.

Jane Lynch was so spectacular as the Madonna worshiper that if she doesn’t win an Emmy I will personally let out a gigantic wail that will be heard across Brooklyn.

The girls and women are dealing with boy trouble, virginity and sexuality as well as their power in the world.

Here are some choice lines that I had to share:

From Quinn to Mr. Schuester:

Women still make 70 cents to every dollar that a man does for doing the same job. That attitude starts in high school.

It sure does. What a line and to top it off it was actually uttered on equal pay day. Ryan Murphy if you knew that I am so beyond impressed that I will actually forgive you for Nip/Tuck.

Sue Sylvester to Mercedes and Kurt (when talking about her hair):

I grew up with a handi-capable sister. My parents were famous Nazi hunters so they weren’t around a lot. I had to bring her up on my own. I didn’t have a lot of time or money to keep up with all the latest looks but on my 6th birthday True Blue was released an album that would later sell over 30 million copies and my sister and I took it upon ourselves to bleach my hair with whatever chemicals we could find around the house ammonia, napalm. My hair has been so damaged I’ve been forced to wear it short ever since. It’s been a daily ongoing pain.

I also think that Santana and Brittany are getting some of the funniest lines on the show. The writing consistently blows me away. I am still smiling.