"24" and Hegemonic Representation of Masculinity and Femininity

In today’s society, men and women are constantly stereotyped and held to certain social standards. Men are typically the dominant gender in society while women are the caretakers of the household. These characteristics are just some of the qualities that make up the hegemonic representations of masculinity and femininity. Season 7 of “24” enforces the hegemonic understanding of masculinity in the character Jack Bauer while disrupting the hegemonic representation of femininity with the character Allison Taylor.

Since its inception in 2001, Fox’s “24” has become one of the most popular TV series in the US, among both men and women. The main character in the show is Jack Bauer, your typical super-human good guy out to save the country. Bauer is known for his clever thinking, intelligence, and most notably his ability to pull of daring stunts and amazing maneuvers to defeat enemies and protect his country. This ability is what makes Jack Bauer the quintessential American man.

Men in modern American society are seen as the more daring, adventurous people that are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish a goal. They are more likely to be the ones to pull off an amazing stunt, out-smart their opposition, and make that great escape. Jack Bauer has shown throughout the series that he is well capable and more than likely the best at this. Practically every episode, Bauer will somehow either kill or capture an enemy in a way that no one else can or will escape from a situation that would leave almost anyone else dead. Therefore, Jack Bauer supports the hegemonic representation of masculinity in that he is the dominant force over the people he associates with and is more daring, more adventurous than anyone else on the show.

However different viewers see and enjoy Jack Bauer in different ways. Male viewers of the show watch Bauer and see him almost as the “coolest guy in the world” because of what he brings to the show. In the TV shows they watch, men like to see action. They like it when things blow up, people are killed, and not knowing what could happen next. This element is what brings men to watch “24” and to idolize Jack Bauer. On the other hand, women see men like Bauer as “the daring man” and the “man of their dreams”. Many women like men that take risks and would do anything to protect them. They see Bauer as this type of man. Women also see a side of characters like Jack Bauer that men do not: the emotional side. Bauer has this charisma and caring side that attracts female viewers and add to this “dream husband” attitude that some women possess towards him.

In the end, male viewers enjoy Bauer for the entertainment and action he brings. Female viewers look at him as “the ultimate husband” and enjoy the caring and understanding side of him. This supports the hegemonic representation of masculinity in that men should like action and be the dominant gender. It also enforces the hegemonic understandings of femininity in that women typically enjoy daring men and find men like Bauer to be attractive. All in all, Jack Bauer and the way his fans appreciate him support our society’s hegemonic representation of masculinity and femininity.

On the other hand, “24” does have a couple of characters that disrupt and shoot down the hegemonic representations of masculinity and femininity. The most important of these are President Allison Taylor. In Chapter 3 of his book, Identities and Inequalities, David Newman explains how women are portrayed on TV. He says, “The portrayal of women on prime-time television remains rather traditional and stereotypical. Despite the fact that women make up a majority of the population, most characters on prime-time television are male,” (Newman 92). However in Season 7 of “24”, we have seen a different outlook on women, especially with President Taylor.

At the beginning of Season 7, Taylor becomes the first female president in US history. This is very different from many TV shows and in society in general. In his book, Allan Johnson describes how society believes men feel about being in power and dominating women. He states, “There is gender oppression because men want and like to dominate women,” (91). This idea is the reason this country has been led mostly by men. However in “24”, we see President Allison Taylor move past these hegemonic ideas and take over the most important position in the country. This idea disrupts the hegemonic understanding of femininity in that women aren’t usually featured high-end, very important positions such as the President of the United States.

Fox’s hit-series “24” both creates and disrupts current hegemonic representations of masculinity and femininity. Jack Bauer is the perfect example of the hegemonic understanding of masculinity by being the adventurous and daring type that men are portrayed as in society. However at the same time, Allison Taylor is the complete opposite of the hegemonic representation of femininity. Just by holding the most powerful position in the country, Taylor has disrupted the messages that society sends regarding femininity. Overall, “24” provides a well-rounded viewing experience and is a great way to see how men and women are portrayed, especially in the top government positions.


Works Cited

Newman, David. “Portraying Difference: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in Language and the Media. Identities and Inequalities. New York: McGraw Hill, 2005 (71-105)

Johnson, Allan G. “Patriarchy, the System: An It, Not a He, a Them, or an Us.” The Gender Knot: Unraveling Out Patriarchal Legacy. Temple University Press, 1997 (91-98).