Gender Roles in A Game of Thrones

By Zachary Agovino

A Game of Thrones is one of the most popular and possibly controversial shows on television right now.  The show is set in a medieval land called Westeros, ruled by kings and queens, lords and ladies.  And as you can imagine in a world like this, there are very clearly defined gender roles.

                One of the most clearly defined gender roles is that men rule the kingdoms and women are the bearers of children for their husbands.  For example we see this happen to both Cersei Lannister, the Queen Regent, and Sansa, of the Stark House, when Cersei’s father Tywin tells them they are to be married off to lords regardless of what they want[1].  Even though Sansa is only 14 she is being married off to Tywin’s son Tyrion so that he can “wed her and bed her and put a child in her”[1].  Even though her husband to be tries to defy his father and protests, Tywin quickly shuts Tyrion down and tells him that he must marry her.

                Tywin is forcing both of his children to marry in order to secure a grandson from both marriages who will rule the 2 regions that Cersei’s husband and Sansa Stark are the heirs too.  Thus ensuring that a man will be born into the family that has allegiance to the Lannister family, and further defining the role that men play in ruling a kingdom and women play in providing them sons or heirs. 

                Sansa herself is also a great example of women who subscribe to their gender roles in this show.  She is an example of a “perfect lady” who loves embroidery, dancing, sweet songs, and romance[2].  She tends to abide by the gender roles established by society and is angered by those who do not abide by these rules.

                Interestingly enough, while there are quite a few examples of men and women fulfilling their individual gender roles in society, there are also some characters who defy these roles blatantly.  One such character is Arya Stark, Sansa Stark’s younger sister.  To be honest, Arya is a bad-ass.  While from the beginning she was a bit tomboyish, we see her quickly turn into a character who completely rejects the gender roles of the society, and is a polar opposite to her sister[2].  She is constantly defying the social rules put before her and when her father realizes that he can never turn her into what Sansa has become and gets a swordsman from overseas to train her in swordfighting[2].

                Many of the female characters within the show are objectified and treated as a tool for sex and child birth but nothing more.  The gender roles in this show are clearly personified at every corner and in almost every scene, leaving one with the impression that the show encourages these roles, when in reality it tries to show their ridiculousness and prove that the ones who challenge these roles will ultimately win.

1.  Martin, George RR, "Kissed By Fire," A Game of Thrones, Web, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRJock_ztw4.

2.  Payne, Rhiannon. "Girls of Thrones: Strong Female Characters in a Sexist Fantasy World." Feminspire, 3 28, 2013. http://feminspire.com/girls-of-thrones-strong-female-characters-in-a-sexist-fantasy-world/ (accessed February 28, 2014).