Think of your future, kids. Enroll in Code College.
It was only a matter of time until “Guy Code” and “Girl Code” (which returns to MTV Wednesday, October 1 at 11/10c) officially entered the canon of Western civilization, and that moment is now. Arizona State University’s online school requires nearly 1,000 students per semester to critique the shows — which present comedic takes on modern gender and social dynamics — as part of its “Women & Sexuality” curriculum. Although a professor tells us that students’ reactions aren’t always positive, hey, at least they don’t have to buy another textbook, right?
We became aware of the homework assignment thanks to 22-year-old ASU Online student (and bikini model) Brandi Bondoc, who tweeted earlier this month…
Brandi explained in an email, “We had to watch an episode of the show and write a discussion board post afterwards.” Here’s the full assignment:
“Analyze the television show utilizing some of the following guiding questions: Does ‘Girl Code’ or ‘Guy Code’ perpetuate or resist heteronormative ideals? Does it perpetuate or challenge double standards? What does ‘Girl Code’ or ‘Guy Code’ say about normative female sexuality? What doesn’t it say? Please use this units readings to inform your analysis.”
From that wording, we kind of assumed the professor loathes the shows and considers them as progressive as a 1950s guidebook for housewives hellbent on cooking the perfect roast for their husbands, and then giving the perfect foot rub. But we called up Dr. Elena Frank, a faculty associate at ASU’s School of Social Transformation, who had nuanced feelings towards both programs — and how they might even help change society…if they don’t help destroy it.
MTV News: What’s the goal of having students watch the “Code” shows?
Dr. Elena Frank: There were two specific concepts being discussed in this specific unit: The concept of heteronormativity — which is the idea that heterosexuality is the most assumed, expected and natural form of sexuality, and anything else is considered abnormal or unusual — and the other is double standards for sexual behavior. A lot of the topics in “Girl Code” and “Guy Code” really, really get at those issues, like hooking up…and make a ripe start for discussing it.
MTV: What are the students’ typical reactions?
Frank: I can say a lot of the students were pretty disgusted by “Guy Code.” They found it to be very sexist and degrading toward women. They viewed “Girl Code” a lot more favorably, even though they found issues in it, along with positive messages about female bodies and sexuality.
MTV: Were the male students any more positive toward “Guy Code”?
Frank: A lot of them did appear to be quite disgusted, although it’s hard to tell how much of the disgust is a performance. A part of it is they’re looking through a new lens; they become a little disgusted with themselves. “Am I contributing to that?” “I’m offended by how men are represented here.” The assignment did look for challenging norms, so there was space to express that as well.
MTV: Which gender norms are the shows successfully challenging?
Frank: The students talked about the “wingwoman” segment [from “Girl Code”] in the sense of women displaying sexual confidence and assertiveness, as a challenge to the idea women are sexually passive and reliant on men.
Another segment a number of people mentioned was “Girl Code” talking about marriage. A lot of what we talk about in class is that girls are socialized from a young age by the wedding-industrial complex and Disney princesses, so “Girl Code” had women expressing a diversity of needs and wants, with some of the women saying they didn’t want that.
My research is on women and masturbation, so I really appreciated the “Girl Code” segment on female masturbation. … Most women make it to adulthood without seeing any representation of female masturbation at all — and haven’t talked about it with anyone — and that segment is amazing and unprecedented. … I hope many, many women saw those segments, because I think they’re fantastic.
MTV: Did your students feel “Guy Code” ever says anything unexpected about gender?
Frank: I can’t think of any examples from “Guy Code” where they said it challenged the heteronormative script. There’s a lot of references on “Guy Code” about women being bi-curious, but it’s in terms of threesomes and male fantasy, not women expressing their own sexuality.
I can say for myself, looking at the “Guy Code” episodes, while it does play into the traditional “guys are horny” shtick, there does appear to be more going on under the surface. There is a discussion of topics and fears guys might not be comfortable talking about with their friends.
Men are constrained by these norms, too — they’re supposed to be super manly and can’t show their feelings — so some of these topics are challenging the norms. There was not explicit discussion of non-heterosexual identities [on “Guy Code”], but it wasn’t anti-[gay] either. Yeah, that’s an option, that’s normal, it doesn’t make a big deal about it — it’s just there.
We later sent Dr. Frank the episode of “Guy Code” that covered being gay — which she hadn’t previously seen. Here’s a clip:
MTV: Curious to know your thoughts!
Frank: I like the implication that straight men do not need to actively reject “gayness” in order to demonstrate their heteromasculinity. I really liked the explicit comment that it’s not “guy code” to use the term “gay” in an offensive manner. This is a big issue particularly amongst young people! Also, I like that the segment demonstrated that contrary to what many men think, being homophobic does not enhance your attractiveness to women, and correspondingly that being friends with or spending time with men who identify as gay does not make you any less masculine.
However, there is a difference between not being homophobic and being gay. In fact, you can be gay and highly homophobic. The other thing I would mention is that while it seems to be sending a positive message when many of the actors talk about how they don’t mind being “hit on” by gay men, emphasis on this point also reinforces the stereotype and common straight male fear that all gay men want to sleep with all men, including straight men.
Overall, I do believe the intentionality behind this segment is a positive one and that the overall effects are likely to be positive in comparison to most popular media representations and discussions of LGBTQ individuals.
MTV: Do you recommend that other schools’ gender studies departments teach “Guy Code” and “Girl Code”?
Frank: Yes, absolutely! It provides a great tool for students to make connections between the course material and the quote-unquote “real world.” Popular media that’s familiar to them is a great way to understand abstract concepts and how they’re connected with their own lives. … A good number of the students had already watched the shows in some capacity.
Most sources of socialization — like churches and schools — are very silent on sexuality, especially female sexuality, unless it’s in a prohibitive manner. Most young people tend to rely on informal sources for sex education [such as] media like “Girl Code” or “Guy Code.” So it’s really important from that perspective to examine the messages being conveyed on young people’s ideologies and behaviors, for better or for worse.
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