MGM stands for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, created in 1924 for the production and distribution of movies and TV shows in the United States. Known for their famous logo, Leo the Lion, who was inside golden film and would open every movie or show with a loud roar. MTM represents The Mary Tyler Moore show established in 1969 by Mary Tyler Moore and her husband. Her famous show logo was an orange kitten named Mimsie inside a circle of golden ribbon, that would meow at the start of every show.
Between these two company logos there are similarities. MTM took the idea from MGM to mock their creation. We can also look into these logos as females vs male. The male company uses a lion with a loud roar, that shows strength and power. Where the female company is symbolized as a small more timid kitten, with a small meow. This shows the way society stereotypes males and females. We see this on various scales from baby stuff being pink for for girls and blue for boys, the way people buy toys for their children, girls getting barbies and baby dolls and boys getting trucks, or characterizing boys liking dirt and girls don’t. All of these situations link into the way society stereotypes girls and boys and we can see this in the two logos as well. The men company logo showing more strength and superiority over the small weak kitten with the female company. I believe Mary Tyler Moore did this on purpose to mock MGM and society.
Gender roles in society are represented as how we’re expected to act, speak, dress, our interests, hobbies, and more. These gender stereotypes can be harmful to many people. It allows people to look at others in a negative way and allows individuals to feel held back and not fully express themselves. The next time you are out, whether it is school, work, or an activity on the weekend look and see what type of gender stereotypes you see, and maybe you are doing it as well. It has been around in our society for generations and it continues to be present in today’s society.
When seeing the MGM vs MTM logos in class it sparked the initial thought of all our stereotypes, boys vs girls, men vs women. As generations have proceeded, these stereotypes have changed, but they are always present. Whether it is Leo the Lion and Mimsie the kitten or blue and pink, there is a large spectra of stereotypes.