Exploring Gender Dynamics in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (20

Exploring Gender Dynamics in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)

by: John, Adam, Emma, Eriana, & Isabelle

START

Introduction to Gender Stereotypes in Media

Definition: - Oversimplified beliefs about gender roles and behaviors. - Common in media through recurring portrayals (e.g., men as strong and rational, women as emotional and nurturing). Significance: - Media shapes societal perceptions and reinforces traditional gender norms. - Influences self-esteem, career aspirations, and social interactions. - Critical analysis helps challenge harmful stereotypes and promote inclusivity. - Encourages diverse and accurate gender representation in media.

PLAY

Experience an amazing adventure with Jumanlly:

Plot Summary: The film follows four high school students who get sucked into a mysterious video game, Jumanji, where they must navigate a jungle adventure in the bodies of their chosen avatars. The body-swapping premise plays a key role in exploring gender dynamics, particularly as Bethany, a self-absorbed teenage girl, is transformed into the male avatar, Professor Sheldon Oberon. This shift forces her to confront gender identity, stereotypes, and self-perception in unexpected ways.

PLAY

Main Characters: Spencer Gilpin → Dr. Smolder Bravestone – Shy gamer turned fearless adventurer. Fridge Johnson → Franklin "Mouse" Finbar – Star athlete turned small, less powerful sidekick. Martha Kaply → Ruby Roundhouse – Reserved bookworm turned skilled fighter. Bethany Walker → Professor Sheldon "Shelly" Oberon – Popular girl turned middle-aged male cartographer. Alex Vreeke → Jefferson "Seaplane" McDonough – A long-lost player (Nick Jonas) who becomes their guide.

Trailer

PLAY

E-Character Analysis Framework

Mission: Character Breakdown!

Real-World Personality & Traits Avatar Power-Up Gender Stereotypes Transformation Challenge

Level 1: Level 2: Level 3: Level 4:

PLAY

Spencer Gilpin → Dr. Smolder Bravestone

Spencer: Shy, academically inclined, and lacks confidence Avatar Bravestone: Confident, courageous, shows muscular archetype of masculinity

PLAY

Spencer Gilpin → Dr. Smolder Bravestone Transformation

PLAY

Gender Dynamics

Character

How Spencer’s transformation challenged his self-perception and societal expectations of masculinity

Spencer / Dr Bravestone

From Zero to hero

Restart game

PLAY

Anthony "Fridge" Johnson

Franklin "Mouse" Finbar

- Stereotypical “jock” - Very confident/borderline cocky - His personal identity is heavily based on his physical attributes

- Smaller in stature - Lacks physical strength - Skilled in problem solving and wildlife knowledge - Subordinate role

PLAY

"Fridge" to "mouse" transformation

PLAY

Character

BIG DAWG TO short king

Roll the dice

FROM FRIDGE TO MOUSE

Restart game

PLAY

Bethany Walker → Professor Sheldon "Shelly" Oberon

Bethany Walker (Real World): Description: High school student renowned for her beauty and active social media presence. Traits: Narcissistic, self-absorbed, and heavily reliant on physical appearance for validation.

Professor Sheldon "Shelly" Oberon (Avatar in Jumanji): Description: Overweight, middle-aged male cartographer with a non-glamorous appearance. Traits: Intelligent, knowledgeable about Jumanji's geography, but physically unfit and lacking combat skills. Role in Game: Provides crucial information and navigational skills to the team.

PLAY

Bethany Walker → Character Transformations

PLAY

Character

Bethany & Professor Sheldon: A Game of Identity & Perspective

Bethany/Prof Sheldon

"I'll be Shelly Oberon, the curvy genius"

Roll the dice

Restart game

PLAY

Martha Kaply → Ruby Roundhouse

Real-World Martha: a shy, intelligent bookworm who is also cynical and judgemental; her resistance to school authority lands her in detention with the others Avatar Ruby Roundhouse: strong, confident, and capable fighter who utilizes her martial arts skills to overcome challenges

PLAY

Martha Kaply Character transformation

PLAY

Character

Martha and Ruby Roundhouse:Empowerment or objectification?

Roll the dice

From insecure to confident

Restart game

PLAY

DISCUSSION QUESTION

Does Ruby Roundhouse's portrayal empower or objectify women, or both?

PLAY

Alex Vreeke → Jefferson "Seaplane" McDonough

Real-World Alex: Isolated, nostalgic for the past, represents traditional male adventurer. A regular teenager who mysteriously disappears into the Jumanji game and is trapped there for over 20 yearsAvatar Seaplane: Skilled pilot, confident, brave, and embodies classic action hero traits. He uses his expertise in aviation to navigate through the world of Jumanji.

PLAY

Alex Vreeke / jefferson Mcdonough avatar Introduction

PLAY

Gender Dynamics:how alex's character reflects traditional male heroism

Players

Roll the dice

Alex vreeke-From unknown to prince charming

Restart game

PLAY

WHO SAID IT?

START

GAME INSTRUCTIONS

• group competition

• guess the game character who said the quote

• best of 5; first to raise their hands

START

“It’s nice being a guy. No one cares if you’re, like, a total weirdo.”

“I’m basically the best there is at everything.”

“No way! I’m not going to be the one who has to be afraid of stuff.”

“Why am I dressed like this? This is so not what I’d wear.”

“This is going to be great! No one’s going to care how I look.”

Game Discussion:

Have you ever felt influenced by the gender portrayal of characters in games? How so? How can game developers create more balanced and diverse representations?

PLAY

Conclusion and Key Takeaway

Final Thought: Reflects on how media shapes perceptions of gender roles, encouraging a critical analysis of the content we consume.

PLAY

References

Gould, M., & Howson, A. (2021). Cooley and the looking-glass self. Salem Press Encyclopedia. Research Starters. https://research.ebsco.com/c/462il3/search/details/yg5y7zwjpb?q=looking-glass+self+ Karsay, K., Knoll, J., & Matthes, J. (2018). Sexualizing media use and self-objectification: A meta-analysis. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 42(1), 9-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684317743019 Kumar, A. M., Goh, J. Y. Q., Tan, T. H. H., & Siew, C. S. Q. (2022). Gender Stereotypes in Hollywood Movies and Their Evolution over Time: Insights from Network Analysis. Big Data and Cognitive Computing, 6(2), 50. https://doi.org/10.3390/bdcc6020050 Shary, T. (Ed.). (2013). Millennial masculinity: Men in contemporary American cinema. Biola University Library. https://research.ebsco.com/c/462il3/search/details/gw54wsh5hn?limiters=FT1%3AY&q=male%20masculinity%20in%20movies Banet-Weiser, S. (2018). Empowered: Popular Feminism and Popular Misogyny. Duke University Press. https://doi.org/10.1215/9781478002772

1. Self-Perception and the Crisis of Identity

The struggle between spencer's insecure self and his new, exaggerated masculine identity, Dr. bravestone

Bethany Walker: Embodies traditional feminine stereotypes, placing high value on physical attractiveness and social validation. Her self-worth is closely tied to her appearance and online popularity.

This transition forces Fridge to navigate masculinity in a new way—valuing intelligence and teamwork over brute strength.

Objectification of femininity through avatar: Ruby Roundhouse heavily reflects objectification of women in media, especially through her appearance. She is given a very sexualized appearance with exaggerated physical features, such as tight-fitting clothes and an athletic build. The fact that Martha, as Ruby, is played up in this overtly sexualized way is a commentary on how women in action or adventure genres are often reduced to "eye candy", even if they also possess physical strength and agency.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Use this space to add awesome interactivity. Include text, images, videos, tables, PDFs... even interactive questions!

Confidence and Charisma: With his easy confidence and charm along with the natural ability to take control in rough situations, Seaplane strongly reflects the traditional charismatic male hero figure who others look to for help and guidance.

Martha Kaply: an intelligent, socially awkward girl who is dismissive of traditional femininity and hates being told what to do. Under this cold exterior, she is shown to be insecure of herself and shy, as it is later revealed that she lacks confidence in her ability to be around boys.

Scholarly insight: The dichotomy of strong female characters being sexualized in media highlights ongoing tensions in how women are represented in popular culture. These tensions also contribute to real-world consequences that lead to harmful gender stereotypes and narrow beauty standards.

2. The Role of Societal Expectations:

Spencer’s transformation reflects the societal pressure to fit masculine ideals of strength and dominance, leading him to question if these traits align with his true values.

Leadership: though not the main leader, Seaplane takes active charge when necessary and guides the group through the many challenges they face. This is a common trait for male heroes. movie example: during the final escape scene, he provides a solid plan of escape with the seaplane

Professor Sheldon "Shelly" Oberon: Represents a departure from traditional feminine traits, embodying characteristics typically associated with middle-aged men, such as a focus on intellect over appearance.

Fridge's struggle with sterotypical masculinity

Scholarly Insights: Body Image & Self-Perception: Societal beauty standards contribute to self-objectification and body dissatisfaction; Bethany's transformation challenges these norms. Karsay et al. (2018) Gender Identity & Fluidity: Living in a male body highlights gender as performative and supports the idea of a spectrum rather than a binary. Empathy Development: Experiencing another gender fosters empathy, reduces superficial judgments, and promotes personal growth.

Empowerment of femininity through Avatar: Ruby Roundhouse as a character is portrayed with strong, skilled, capable traits traditionally associated with male heroes in action-adventure stories. She is gifted with exceptional martial arts skills, enabling her to succesffuly fight off enemies and protect her team. Through this, Ruby also challenges traditional gender roles, as her avatar's physical abilities and confidence defy typical expectations for female characters.

character development: 1. Identity Crisis 2. learning to Adapt 3. understanding and acceptance of new role

Physical Courage: Seaplane displays bravery through his confrontation to physical dangers, taking on challenging situations and obstacles with fearlessness. Example: he helps his group members escape deadly traps and other threats by piloting the seaplane

3. The Emotional Disconnect and Masculinity’s Limits:

Bravestone’s stoic persona forces Spencer to suppress emotions, revealing how idealized masculinity ignores emotional depth and highlighting the importance of vulnerability.

Struggles Adjusting to New Body: Identity Crisis: Bethany faces confusion and frustration adapting to a male body that contradicts her previous identity. Loss of Social Currency: Her attractiveness, previously a source of influence, becomes irrelevant, challenging her self-esteem. Physical Limitations: Adjusting to a less agile and less attractive body hinders her confidence and effectiveness in the game.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Use this space to add awesome interactivity. Include text, images, videos, tables, PDFs... even interactive questions!

Theory for Spencer Looking-Glass self (cooley)

Spencer sees himself as weak and undesirable, but through the avatar of Bravestone, he realizes that self-perception can change based on experience and perspective.