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Plummer_MA-Thesis_09.21.2020.pdf (586.83 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

“What About Bob?” An Analysis of Gendered Mental Illness in a Mainstream Film Comedy

Plummer, Anna
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ne2gs1597767396737971

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Arts in Medical Ethics and Humanities, Northeast Ohio Medical University, College of Graduate Studies.
Mental illness has been a subject of fictional film since the early 20th century and continues to be a popular trope in mainstream movies. Portrayals of affected individuals in movies tend to be inaccurate and largely stigmatizing, negatively influencing public perception of mental illness. Recent research suggests that gender stereotypes and mental illness intersect, such that some mental illnesses are perceived as “masculine” and others as “feminine.” This notion may further stigmatize such disorders in individuals, as well as falsely inflate observed gender disparities in certain mental illnesses. Since gendered mental illness is a newly identified concept, little research has been performed exploring the way stereotypical gendered mental illness is depicted in mainstream film. This paper analyzes the movie What About Bob? to show that comedic film perpetuates stigma surrounding feminine mental illness in men and identifies the need for further study of gendered mental illness in movies to ascertain the effect such depictions have on the observed gender disparities in prevalence of certain mental disorders, as well as offers a proposal for coursework for film and medical students.
Julie Aultman, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Rachel Bracken, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Brian Harrell (Committee Member)
115 p.
Film Studies; Gender; Mental Health
mental illness; film; depictions of mental illness; gender stereotypes; medical education

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Plummer, A. (2020). “What About Bob?” An Analysis of Gendered Mental Illness in a Mainstream Film Comedy [Master's thesis, Northeast Ohio Medical University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ne2gs1597767396737971

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Plummer, Anna. “What About Bob?” An Analysis of Gendered Mental Illness in a Mainstream Film Comedy. 2020. Northeast Ohio Medical University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ne2gs1597767396737971.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Plummer, Anna. "“What About Bob?” An Analysis of Gendered Mental Illness in a Mainstream Film Comedy." Master's thesis, Northeast Ohio Medical University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ne2gs1597767396737971

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2020, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by NEOMED College of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.