MASCULINITY AND FEMININITY ROLES IN MOTHER-IN-LAW TV DRAMA: A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

This paper discusses masculinity and femininity manifestations in television drama series based on a proposed study in Eldoret municipality, a cosmopolitan area with different groups of residents with different social and economic backgrounds. It examines Mother-in-Law TV drama programme which provides a complexity of extended family life. The mother-in-law tries to dominate the entire family in shaping the distinct roles of male and female in the society at the same time contradicts the same roles by dominating the husband. The study explores the main social themes communicated in the drama series; the stereotype communications in the roles played by different actors; the critical perceptions of masculinity and femininity in the programme, and lessons of complexity of extended family life provided. The study uses qualitative research design and employs research paradigm of constructivism. The target population comprises housing units as provided by the National Census data. The study also uses multi-stage sampling technique and interview schedule to select respondents and to collect data respectively. Its findings are useful to a wide spectrum of stakeholders such as the social workers, the family members, scholars, media houses and the ministries of information and communication.