The Kids Are Alright Analysis

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The film The Kids are Alright is based on the lives of a lesbian family who’s two kids were born by the sperm of there sperm donor one in each mother. The movies conflict in the film arises when the boy now 15 (Laser) convinces his sister (Joni) who’s now 18 to make a call to meet there sperm donor. The film examines the changes in the nuclear family; how it is the same as the original version, but also different. It also discusses gender roles and how they are manipulated in modern society. The film also depicts how a queer family can function in the same way as a normal heterosexual family. The purpose of this film is to show how the cultures and ideologies in western culture has changed to reflect the modern era. The film reinforces the nuclear family and also shows how modern society has altered it to different variations of the original nuclear family. The basic elements of the nuclear family are one breadwinner (generally male) and one homemaker (generally female) where the homemaker and children are dependent on the breadwinner to provide financially for the family. The homemaker is in charge of everything domestic including cooking cleaning and child rearing. This idea is presented in the film as Nicole (one of the mothers) is the clear-cut breadwinner of the family and Joules (the other mother) is the obvious homemaker. There are many characteristics that would force the viewer to label Nicole the breadwinner including the obvious that she is the one in the family who works. She is a doctor who is carrer orientated and often her career takes precedence over her family life. This is demonstrated in the scene when she prepares a bath for Joules and forgets the bath salts, instead of simply going to get them the phone rings and she ends up talking to one of her patients leaving Joules hanging in the bath waiting for her. This is an important
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