IS IT ALL ABOUT JUST LAUGHTER OR IS BROOKLYN 99 MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN GENDER STEREOTYPES:

For the longest time, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (B99) is a standout sitcom that believes in pairing laughter with a touch of reality. From the very first episode till the last one, Brooklyn Nine-Nine throughout eight seasons has made sure to deliver dialogues, themes, and characters that are not just there to make the audience laugh but are there to make a difference. As the show progresses, the simple punchlines turn into dialogues highlighting the real issues about society making Brooklyn Nine-nine one of the most progressive shows of its time.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine does not just offer an insight through its dialogues, but we can see an immensely diverse representation of characters. Most importantly, Brooklyn Nine-Nine breaks gender stereotypes and talks about feminism like no other television show has. The three of the female lead characters are shown to be diverse in their ways but each one of them stands out in a way that does not justify the stereotypes.

The three main female characters, Rosa Diaz, Amy Santiago, and Gina Linetti played by Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Fumero, and Chelsea Peretti respectively have displayed three entirely different women. Through their differences and quirks mutual respect works, these women make their way through the NYPD and achieve a bond they cherish by the end. These women display a bright ray of sunshine on the sensitive topic of Feminism and portray it in a way that makes the viewers not just aware of it but be able to take action for it in real life.

Stephanie Beatriz's portrayal of Rosa Diaz is a figure that reinterprets the definition of a strong, self-dependent woman. She is depicted as the perfect representation of going against the stereotypes. She challenges the traditional gender norms by showing that there is nothing that a woman can not do on the field that a man can. Her character was always shown to be one of the strongest in emotion and strength unlike how women are portrayed in the real world. With her gothic attire and her attitude of not letting anything wrong go by, Rosa Diaz was someone who everyone knew could not be messed up with. She further made her stance as a baddie clear by riding the motorbike which is normally seen as a man’s vehicle and in one of the episodes, her colleague and friend Jake Peralta was seen to be scared of riding on it and accepting which further breaks gender norms in the show. Rosa’s personal life was also a breath of fresh air, she was not shown to be swooning over any man no matter how many sweet gestures or attempts they made as did her other colleague, Charles Boyle, throughout the initial seasons. She was tough and determined to fight for what she believed was right. Rosa's journey also touches on more personal elements of her life, such as her bisexual coming out. This narrative, which emphasizes the value of LGBTQ community empowerment and representation, is handled with delicacy and respect. Rosa personifies the feminist ideals of integrity and self-empowerment by being unapologetically herself.

Another break from gender stereotypes is given by Melissa Fumero's character Amy Santiago has been the epitome of drive and success in the workplace. She achieves excellence in her work through her utmost dedication and determination. Amy is romantically involved with one of her coworkers, Jake Peralta, and later in the show they get married. Throughout her relationship with Jake, Amy always stood up for what she felt was right and had healthy competition with him in the field as a detective. There was a time when the couple had an entire debate whether they should have children or not where Amy stood her ground and later Jake understood her perspective and respected her decision by supporting her throughout. Her character overturns the conventional notion that women need to be less competitive or focused on their careers. Amy exemplifies the value of female ambition and leadership with her commitment to her work and her goal of becoming the youngest captain in NYPD history. Even through her pregnancy Amy was actively participating and performing her duty. She was seen to be an epitome of inspiration when she took charge of the precinct during the city blackout where through her severe contractions and pain she made sure the city was safe and looked after. After being the sergeant, Amy did not ignore the concerns of other women but instead, she took charge where she was supported by her loving husband, Jake who was never jealous but always proud of her success.

Whereas Gina Linetti played by Chelsea Peretti has been one of the favourites on the show. She displayed confidence, wit, and self-love in the purest form. Gina is an example of a kind of feminism that promotes self-love and authenticity because of her steadfast faith in her own magnificence and her unique way of life. Gina throughout the show encouraged and showed everyone to believe in themselves and take charge of their lives. She is a powerful reminder that one can be anything and there is no set framework one has to fit in. Larger discussions on gender equality and personal empowerment are frequently sparked by Gina's uncompromising demeanor and witty advice.

The men of Brooklyn Nine-Nine are a refreshing vision away from all the toxic masculinity. All the lead men in the show accept and embrace their soft sides and act upon them. none of these men are shown to be toxic in any sense which broke gender stereotypes like nothing else. These men respect and hold high regard for their fellow female coworkers and other women in the show. The male characters are never seen to pass any derogatory remarks and have always called out the other non-lead characters for it. They are not afraid to accept their human side and also to accept defeat at the hands of women in friendly competitions. They have always displayed the epitome of mutual respect and teamwork. From Charles Boyle’s feminine side to Terry’s love for his family and his acting on instinct for his daughters, to Captain Holt preferring Amy over Jake for his mentorship due to her hard work and determination, and to Jake Peralta being himself and proving that men can make sacrifices for women too, Brooklyn nine-nine presented a vision in gender dynamics that was never seen before.

To talk especially about the fan favorite, Jake Peralta played by Andy Samberg who broke gender stereotypes like none other. During the initial seasons where Jake was seen making jokes that women had taken offense to. The writer made sure that the character development was major and present. Throughout the show, Jake is the comedian with his carefree nature but responsible when it comes to his wife and work. He neglected all the gender norms and acted out of pure love for his female friends and his partner. Being the most competitive detective in the precinct, he willingly gave up his job to stay at home and look after their child when his partner, Amy, got a job that was higher in rank and was her dream for very long. He made sure his partner was respected and clapped the hardest for her in every achievement.

Feminism and gender equality are skillfully woven into Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s story, demonstrating that these subjects can coexist with humor. All the characters play a key role in developing a sense of feminism along with breaking gender stereotypes for the viewers which makes the show worthwhile and a repeat and favorite for me.