Ideology in Desperate Housewives

ideology In Desperate Housewives E rattling day, the public is unknowingly exposed to unnumbered ideological messages. They come from all around, but the media re primary(prenominal)s ideologys primary agent. In places such as magazines, commercials, billboards, movies and television shows, one stinkpot find evidence of ideological messages. According to theologist Louis Althusser, ideology places individuals into a certain position in night club by a dish called interpellation, where a specific subject (or group of people) is called come out, or hailed.Althusser claims that ideology does this in order to help people to live their own conditions of existence, to perform their appoint tasks, but also to bear their conditions. An example of this can be tack together in television gambols aimed at American middle-aged women, as instal on ABC or Lifetime. One potent example comes from the drama Desperate Housewives. This show may seem like a extol soap opera, as it primarily d epicts the lives of four dynamic home benefitrs living in the same cal-de-sac in suburbia.However, the shows purpose is non provided if to entertain, but also to hail its audience of middle-aged women by telltale(a) them what benign of behavior is acceptable for their role in society. In the installment You Must Meet My Wife, each housewife struggles with a personal betrothal as their natural desires and tendencies conflict with the pillow slip of behavior expected of them as spouses and mothers. We see these discrepancies unfold as the characters argon confronted by sexual temptation, matrimonial infidelity, discontent with their preserves and gender roles regarding family finances.In the end, we will see ideological norms reinstated by these women resisting their accredited facial expressionings in order to act appropriately. On the surface, Bree Van de Kamp looks like the high-flown housewife. Her house is always spotless and she cooks gourmet delicacies for her fam ilys dinner both night. However, as the series progresses, we learn that there is a lot to a greater extent to Bree (as there is to any person). In this episode, Bree is seduced by her ofttimes younger and very attractive avower. Bree is single, so this is non a matter of infidelity, but of commonplace sexual urges.The narrator explains that Bree was brought up traditionally, learning to hide and suppress her desires in order to be a lady. at that placefore, Bree denies her urges because she recognizes that as a woman, society does not approve of her organism sexually outgoing. This point is hit home when she fires her contractor so that she is not tempted by his company. She lies and tells him she is letting him go because he is doing a sloppy line of merchandise, unable to admit to him (or anyone) that she is having fantasies about him.Brees display of failing energizes the plot relatable and entertaining to the audience, since it is made up primarily of middle-aged wome n who spirit the same pressure to be almost inhuman sexually. Ironically, that pressure is being reinforced by the ideological lesson that this episode teaches. Gabrielle Solis profiles a different kind of housewife. Her conflict arises when a nurse informs her that her daughters blood type indicates that she could not possibly be the child of Gabby and her husband, Carlos.Gauging Gabbys reaction, the nurse assumes that the child must not belong to Carlos, and judgmentally implies that Gabby was unfaithful. The nurses actions are direct proof of the ideological message if a housewife cheats on her husband, she loses worth. Panicking, Gabby concludes that she must deport cheated on Carlos during a weekend aside with her girl fellows when she was blackout drunk. Several ideological violations arise here. First, her role as a housewife does not permit weekends away with her friends where she gets wildly intoxicated. Second, cheating on your husband is of the utmost offense.Although women now have fit rights to match their equal capabilities, our society is still predominantly patriarchal. Gabby pays for her indiscretions in this episode. Scared and late ashamed, she must deal with her overwhelming evil. Her struggle reinforces ideological norms, teaching her (and consequently, the audience) that she should have been home with her family rather than out for a fun weekend with her friends. It turns out to have been all a mistake, and Gabby was not unfaithful, however her ideological lesson was learned the hard way.Yet another ideological message is presented through the spiritedness of Lynette Scavo. Strong, smart and opinionated, Lynette is the feminist who equates to (if not exceeds) her husband in most areas. However, she is not immune to the ideological restraints of being a housewife either. In this episode, her husband turkey cock is diagnosed with Post Part-um Depression due to the recent birth of their daughter. There is a comical quality to this, a s Post Part-um Depression is in general known as a disease for women. This works to stigma Tom look weak, while Lynette is exhausted taking care of the house and the kids.She laughs at Toms diagnosis, and he becomes offended, stating that she is always too critical. Lynettes friend Renee becomes involved, telling Lynette that she needs to demonstrate her abilities as a wife and make it up to Tom. Renees character provides insight to the ideological belief that wives should be supportive and nurturing towards their husbands, rase if it means sacrificing their own comfort or opinions. In the end, Lynette apologizes and listens to Tom complain for hours, just as a proper housewife is expected to do.The domestic role of women is reinstated again through Susan Delfinos storyline. impertinent Bree and Gabby, Susan lives more of a working class lifestyle, and recently work has been soft for her husband Mike. Tight on capital, Susan decides to pick up another job to supplement her inco me as a teacher. She does this by agreeing to do housekeeping in lingerie for a live-feed stream on the internet. Although this side-job is harmless and proving to be kind of profitable, ideology tells her (and consequently, the audience) that this job is something she should be ashamed of.She lies to Mike and tells him shes been merchandising homemade jewelry (more of a lady-like hobby) for extra money. It might make soul if Susan felt ashamed because the job might be degrading the sanctitude of her body, but that is not the reason. She lies to Mike because if he knew she was using her body to make extra money for them, he might be embarrassed, upset, or even angry. As the ideology of a housewife maintains, a husband should be the main source of finances and his wife should keep him comfortable and happy. Susan breaks these rules, and it burdens her with guilt throughout the episode.She should not be ashamed to be making money in a time where finances are low, but since society does not deem it appropriate, Susan sacrifices her entire conscience to be a good housewife. In conclusion, Desperate Housewives reinforces ideological norms of middle-aged women through every main character in the show. The audience might think they are only being entertained for an hour, but what they take away from it is so much deeper. They are impressed with the ideology that women of a certain aged should act, talk, and feel this way. The audience learns lessons through the characters.This particular episode taught us that fulfilling your role as a housewife is of the utmost importance, even if it means sacrificing your natural desires, freedoms, opinions, or capabilities. Desperate Housewives is not the first television show to promote this ideology. throughout history, the ideal housewife has been depicted as static, obedient, asexual, and sometimes seemingly inhuman. However, a show centered on such a character would be dull. So Desperate Housewives takes some liberties, l etting the characters run rampant and make mistakes, only to recoil back into their rightful places inside of their homes on wisteria Lane.