Jerry Maguire: the story of Gender, Emotion, and Caring

One of my courses this semester is about "CHILD DEVELOPMENT", it discusses about what is each child personality traits for each age, and what are the significant changes for every group of age. One of the chapters is about GENDER

On my last lecture, we watched "Jerry Maguire" one of my fav movies.

And, despite what the story is, this movie is a good example in terms of gender. How it reflects the role of gender in emotions and relationships.

In brief, I'll tell you about the story and what it's related to child development especially gender

Maybe most of you have watched this movie. The movie is a 'buddy' picture with sports agent Jerry Maguire (played beautifully by Tom Cruise) paired with two buddies: Rod (the too short Arizona Cardinals wide receiver, played by Cuba Gooding, Jr), and 6-years-old Ray (the son of Jerry's love interest which is his accountant Dorothy (played by Renée Zellweger).

Through his two buddies, Jerry (which is most likely to be the thinking-but-not feeling guy) discovers the right path by connecting to Ray's emotional honestly and black American Rod's devotion to his family.

Conversely, through Jerry, the emotionally flamboyant and self-centred Rod discovers that he must bring passion back to his game to be successful.

The image of nurturing and nurtured males is shown throughout this movie. And to be honest, I cry every time I watch this movie...*what a shame :p*

How Jerry's relationship with Ray is a significant theme. Through discovering a caring relationship with this 6 little years old boy, Jerry makes his first genuine move toward emotional maturity. And the funny part is, the boy is Jerry's guide. Another good example is Chad (Ray's babysitter), who became the good example of appropriate caring by a male.

It is often told that crying is a shame for boys. That's why boys tend to hide their emotional expression (for boys...cmon...crying is not something to be ashamed of...)

And again, in this movie, we can find that crying is really 'normal' for Males. That Jerry shed tears while writing his mission statement, when thinking about Dorothy's possible move to another city, which also means that he will lose Ray for sure, and at Rod's succeeds. And when Rod cried as he spoke to his family.

And historically, despite crying, weeping, more than any emotional expression, has been associated with feminine emotion. Remember that our parents used to say "hayo, anak laki ga boleh nangis, or...malu ah anak laki kok nangis...”
It has increasingly taken on a more prominent role in the males' emotional makeup instead.

This movie reflects changes in gender roles as an increasing number of males show an interest in improving their social relationships and achieving emotional maturity.

Stephanie Shields (one of young children's expert), mentioned that overall females are more competent in dealing with their social relationships than males.

Hmm...What a movie...and the other thing is...I love the soundtrack....

*SECRET GARDEN* by Bruce Springsteen

she’ll let you in her house
If you come knockin' late at night
She'll let you in her mouth if the
Words you say are right

If you pay the price
She'll let you deep inside
But there's a secret garden she hides

She'll let you in her car
To go drivin' round
She'll let you into the parts of herself
That'll bring you down

She'll let you in her heart
If you got a hammer and a vise
But into her secret garden, don't think twice

You've gone a million miles
How far'd you get to that place where
You can't remember and you can't forget

She'll lead you down a path
There'll be tenderness in the air
She'll let you come just far enough
So you know she's really there
She'll look at you and smile
And her eyes will say
She's got a secret garden
Where everything you want
Where everything you need
Will always stay a million miles away