Exploring Patriarchal Beliefs about Womanhood, Motherhood and Femininity: A The Real Housewives Case Study

Abstract

This study examines how the representations of womanhood, motherhood, and femininity in The Real Housewives perpetuate traditional patriarchal norms and reveal instances of internalized sexism and misogyny. Employing qualitative content analysis, the study uses purposive sampling to select episodes from multiple US franchises of the show and collects data from those aired between 2009 and 2023. Recurring themes centered on women’s bodies and appearances, their role as a mother, and their relationships with men. The findings indicate that the show reinforces patriarchal views through adherence to traditional gender norms, the pressure to conform to idealized roles of femininity, and patriarchal notions that shape female identity. Despite their self-perception as empowered women, the housewives exhibit internalized sexism and misogyny, which undergirds patriarchal power. The study concludes that while The Real Housewives reflects societal patriarchal norms, it also at times critiques and challenges these expectations and thus highlights the complex nature of womanhood, motherhood, and femininity in postfeminist contemporary media.