Lassoing the Patriarchy? Or Just Softening It?

As I absorbed Sellnow’s Feminist Perspectives chapter and considered a potential oppositional reading, which “challenges these taken-for-granted beliefs and behaviors in some way,” Ted Lasso jumped to mind. The show’s protagonist challenges many hegemonic norms from a feminist study perspective. A former American football coach who’s thrust into the same role for a British soccer club, one might expect Ted (Jason Sudeikis) to embody stereotypical masculine traits like independence, strength, and assertiveness. That’s not the case.

Ted and Keeley are 'model' characters.

Coach Lasso opposes toxic masculinity at every turn. He brings his boss, team owner Rebecca Welton, a pink box of homemade shortbread biscuits every day. He’s introspective and mostly soft-spoken. He’s open with his emotions, tries to see the best in everyone, and has no qualms about making himself vulnerable in therapy (or out of it, for that matter). He’s the warmer, gentler male protagonist frequently missing from the myriad shows that reinforce gender norms.

In following Sellnow’s model for conducting a feminist analysis, however, Ted Lasso, the series, might not score quite as well as Ted Lasso, the character, as an oppositional reading to masculine hegemony and the patriarchy. I would argue that while the show does take a progressive stance against toxic masculinity, especially with its lead character, a feminist analysis shows that it also supports patriarchal structure by focusing on the development and redemption of its male characters, with female characters playing “support” roles in that development.

If you’ve watched the show, which reading do you think stands out? Did studying Sellnow and going over the other resources in this module change your perspective on the series?

Let’s start, as Sellnow suggests, by looking at a few of the show’s characters as models or anti-models. Ted is an easy one. He’s the ultimate model—the character we root for and admire. Keeley Jones is another. She carries the traditional marks of feminine beauty along with a savvy business mind, ultimately working hard to start her own PR firm. We root for her.

On the anti-model side, we’re introduced to (pre-redemption) Jamie Tartt, a star player for FC Richmond who appears to care only about himself. Rebecca, the boss, also starts out an anti-model who’s bitter about a broken relationship and hires Ted specifically because he has no experience with soccer. Her goal from the outset is to run the team into the ground.

For the sake of blog post length, I’ll focus here on the models and what they reveal through a feminist analysis.

Ted challenges heteronormativity and patriarchy through his vulnerable character. He feels. He suffers a breakdown during an FC Cup match; he works with a therapist to come to terms with his emotions; he opens up to people; he nurtures those in his life and tries to get them to see their full worth. Through this, we see a rejection of hegemonic masculinity.

In Keeley, we see a female character capable of simultaneously navigating complex personal relationships and the pursuit of her business goals. However, the focus on her role as a supporter of growth for the men in the series actually supports patriarchal norms. She helps the gruff Roy Kent (a picture of toxic masculinity) begin to show his softer emotions. She helps Jamie develop his humble side. She provides support for Ted and his efforts. Even as she launches a PR firm and displays her business acumen, the show focuses more on Keeley’s loving heart—clearly an affirmation of hegemonic norms.

So, while Ted Lasso showcases a male lead with feelings, warmth, and kindness that run counter to hegemonic norms, I believe the series also supports perhaps a more subtle patriarchy where the development of men like Ted, Jamie, and Roy is central to the story while women are shown as stabilizing characters, supporting the men along the way.