Abstrak

Kindergarten Cop (1990), The Pacifier (2005), and Playing With Fire (2019)
explore hyper-masculine characters when they are given domestic tasks that are
often associated with feminine traits. Film attempts to humanize these
hyper-masculine personalities associated with being unable to express or suppress
their emotions. These movies aim to challenge traditional gender standards. These
three movies present how masculine figures have difficulty performing things that
are associated with femininity. The purpose of this research is to show how these
films present masculinity and how they use it as a comedic device when
confronted with feminine activities. Instead of revolving the story around
questioning the main character`s identity, the movie uses it only for comedic
purposes. The presence of comedy in the films indicates there is a hegemonic
masculinity, normative and performative view of gender. While it challenges the
notion that caregiving is limited to a female responsibility, it also risks trivializing
men`s struggles in breaking free from established gender norms.