Just Like Larry

As always I was watching an episode of Spongebob I'd already seen multiple times, but for some reason I have an unconditional love for the show. This time while watching it I noticed that the episode was all about being "masculine." In the show Spongebob and Patrick want to be like Larry because he gets all the ladies and everyone depends on him. Larry is a brave, confident, and muscular Lobster. Throughout the episode Spongebob and Patrick attempt daring stunts and do things that would make them seem brave infront of the other sea creatures because otherwise they are considered immature or weak. After watching this episode I noticed that society's definition of masculinity is even applied to a lobster in a childrens television series. When I described Larry the lobster my definition was as if I was describing a "real man" in our society. Larry is muscular, assertive, brave, demanding, and more. This episode is just another reminder of society's definiton of masculinity, and it's also another demonstration of how young children are taught gender roles in society.