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HBO's 'Entourage' leaves women out of the gang
By Emley Kerry
I have heard numerous well-deserved rave reviews about HBO's hit show "Entourage," but I have heard nary-a-word about the show's extreme misogynistic undertones and gender stereotyping.
The program follows a posse of five guys - movie star Vincent Chase, half-brother Johnny Drama, gofer Turtle, manager Eric and agent Ari - throughout their adventures and misadventures in Hollywood.
Like most "insider" shows about Hollywood, it is in part a parody of many aspects of fame and the film industry. However, the implications of its gender roles are far too serious to be taken lightly.
When women do make an appearance in the show, they fall into a few unfortunate categories:
1. The nag. Ari's wife, who gave up her acting career to raise their children, is presented as a scolding housewife that always interrupts her husband's fun. She is the victim of many of Ari's tongue-lashings.
2. The slut. There are several of these per episode, so it's not worth naming them. If they are not having sex with Vince, they are being passed along to the actor's friends. They come in the forms of models, actresses, prostitutes, "full service" masseuses, strippers and adoring fans eager to sleep with Vince or his retinue.
3. The high-powered bitch. This could be an empowering role, but it is not portrayed as such. Barbara (or "Babs," as Ari calls her), Ari's partner in his new agency, is seen as the "bitch" whereas Ari, exhibiting the same qualities, is seen as dominant and a go-getter. Amanda, Vince's agent in Season Three after he fired Ari, seemed to be a strong, sane female character, but she eventually joined category two (the slut) after sleeping with Vince and losing her professionalism.
The only strong female character who holds her own against the male characters is Shauna, Vince's abrasive publicist, who does not get much screen time. She could easily fall into the power-bitch category, but unlike the other women in the show, the pregnant whirlwind of obscenities maintains equal status with the men who surround her. She does not fall for Vince's charm or Turtle's flattery, and she certainly isn't wooed by Drama's compliments which reek of desperation.
This is a male-dominated world where the women - referred to as "broads" or "chicks" - are portrayed as play-things for the men around them, to be used at the convenience of the men. The secondary female characters seem to exist solely for the pleasure of the men.
That being said, the male characters in "Entourage" are not extremely appealing. Vince is unmotivated, Drama is pathetic and fame-hungry, Turtle lacks ambition, and Ari is a foul-mouthed, manic mess; yet however unattractive they are, the world is their oyster, and a snap of a finger will summon a buxom blonde.
The "Entourage" crew kicked back into gear June 12. Let's hope the humorous show turns the microscope even further on itself and examines the insulting way it portrays women.
Originally Published: Issue 804 - June 17, 2009
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