The Queens Gambit, released in 2020 on Netflix, sparked a lot of attention as it became one of the platforms most watched programs just after 4 weeks. This period drama follows the story of a young orphan, Elizabeth Harmon, become a winning chess player. Not only was this show so beloved on Netflix, it created a tangible change in the chess word. More people than ever are downloading chess apps, streaming chess games, and playing. Both men and women are significantly more interested in this game than before.
Based on the reception of the show, doesn't it beg the question that, at least in terms of the media we consume, the cultural hegemony may be less patriarchal then we assume?
It's probably safe to say, that when the Simpsons started airing in the 90's, it was oppositional to place a woman as the head of the household. In the intervening years, it is increasingly challenging to find a man who occupies that position as the head of the household, who is not also a character the audience is meant to associate with the role of antagonist. Another example is Modern family. If we look at the relationship between Phil and Claire Dunphey, the woman is presented as beautiful, intelligent, successful, and a leader, while the husband is shown as goofy and oblivious. Not only are these values so unobjectionable, both men and women view these shows as enjoyable, funny, and relatable. Not only is this depiction of the relationship between men and women in modern society palatable to a broad consistent audience, but this dynamic has been applauded and replicated as a proven template of success across various genres. I wont contest that at some point feminist values were controversial to voice to the public at large, however, it appears that over the course of the last few decades, there may be reason to believe that we have witnessed a shift in the dominant hegemony.
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