Essay reupload

The document discusses how the 1999 film American Beauty portrayed gender roles in families and how representation has changed since. It notes that while the film showed characters fulfilling stereotypical roles of the time like Carolyn as the homemaker, it also suggested these roles trapped and limited them. Modern family representations show more diversity, like stay-at-home dads. Overall, the film both reflected and challenged gender norms of its time to some degree, but representation has advanced further since, reflecting society's changing views on families and gender.