Family Matters.

Most people are familiar with the show Family Matter staring Jaleel White as Steve Urkel, the annoying nerd that lives next door to the Winslows. Recently, I saw an episode where Carl, the father of the household who is also a police officer, had a special assignment for his job. There was a mugger who was attacking women on the streets, so Carl had to dress up as one so that perhaps the mugger would come after him and he could catch him. After a night or two of walking the streets in a dress, a wig, high heels, and carrying a bag, Carl was having no luck. So, his wife, Harriet, showed him how to walk like a lady, so that he would seem more feminine and more appealing to the mugger. Of course, after his lesson, one night he came in the house screaming "I got mugged!!" There are many suggestions about gender in this episode. First of all, you are "introduced" to this mugger whose target is women. Why women? Yet, this question isn't really asked because its accepted. We would be concerned if the mugger was going after men. Women are supposedly more weak and easier to manipulate. You also have the traditional issue of what Carl wears to look like a "woman." This suggests what women are supposed to wear. Lastly, and my favorite because it is not obvious at first, but I find it interesting that Carl was mugged when he learned how to walk from his wife. This means that the mugger probably saw Carl but didn't go after him when he walked like a man in heels...but why? Is he not "woman" enough? But, when from behind Carl looks like a woman because his walk is more graceful and he is light on his feet, the mugger goes after him. Honestly, this whole episode is about what women and men are supposed to be like - but they would never admit that, would they?