Danielle Trumbull

“Ugly Betty” is a show that is filled with examples of minoritizing and universalizing

discourse. The setting is in a fashion magazine workplace where the norm is naturally pretty,

thin, heterosexual and of course those with authority are the people who are most admired.

Betty shows up to her job interview in a sad poncho and braces. She is looked upon with disgust

even when she starts to dress a little better according to their taste. Even when Betty does

receive the job as assistant to Daniel Meade she finds out she was hired for the one purpose

that Daniel will not try to sleep with her as he had with other assistants. It is assumed she will

not be considered sexually attractive. This is the very first episode of Ugly Betty that I will focus

on. It is the episode where we see the most minoritizing of discourse. Marc St. James is another

character who is considered a minority. He is rejected by his mother for being homosexual but

continues to be himself. He does not allow the preferences of others to affect being true to

himself. One of the most prominent minoritized characters is Alexis Meade who used to go by

the name of Alex. She allowed her family to think she was dead and underwent a sex change

surgery to become a woman. While watching this show I have noticed the emphasis on Alexis

Meade’s character. During the first season it served as one of the biggest twists in the storyline

because it is still one of the most unusual things that people have difficulty understanding.

There are also characters in Ugly Betty who play the role of dominance in typical society. Daniel

Meade is the straight man with fame and an outstanding income. He has the impressive job and

is portrayed as a ladies man with scenes showing him with a different girl at least every night.

Wilhelmina is the feminine role of dominance with all of the assets that are admired by society.

She is the role model society sets for women and expects them to live up to. The contrast

between those preferred in society and those that are not is very obvious.

Hegemony can best be defined as dominance in subordination in the field of relations

structured by power. According to Lull’s reading on Hegemony it is not just social power itself,

but also a method for gaining and maintaining power and dominance. Lull also points out that

Hegemony can be fragile, especially from a political standpoint. It can be lost and it must be

earned and given. Groups that wish to change the norm and highlight things that are not

considered the norm may do so through messages delivered in unique but significant ways.

Examples of this are street art, feminist organizations and punk groups.

A lot of the story lines for the episodes of Ugly Betty instill in us that we should be more

accepting of those who are not considered to be the societal norm. During the first episode she

walks into the workplace and is given disgusted looks while she is taunted by Marc St. James and

his accomplice Amanda. She is purposefully portrayed as a disaster in her poncho, frizzy hair and

braces. She is short and not as skinny as the models and employees at Meade Magazine. I think

it is extremely interesting how the portrayal of minoritized characters progresses from this point

on and eventually lands in an area of universalizing discourse. An example of universalizing

discourse in Ugly Betty is when Alexis Meade returns and becomes a significant art of the

company. She in turn becomes responsible for a lot of success that the company comes by

shortly after her return. This shows the audience that she may not be the societal norm but that

meanings can change. Meanings are not fixed but spontaneous. She can be a transgendered

woman and be successful even though she is not considered the norm. The beginning of the

series very strongly minoritizes discourse because it highlights preferences and shows how Betty

is considered “not good enough” compared to Daniel Meade, the fashion designers and the

skinny models. The norm is most definitely at the center of these episodes and renders

meanings predictable with solid categories of exclusion. As the episodes progress and we move

from one season to the next we see changes in meaning. We see Betty become more acceptable

even when she is not at the prime example of what society wants her to be. We see people

accepting those who do not fit in perfectly to the norm such as Alexis Meade and Marc St.

James. Betty especially tends to make sense of her subordination through what she has learned

in her everyday surroundings. She is used to not being considered as pretty as her sister Hilda

and so when she enters the fashion world she is not surprised when they treat her as if she is

not worthy. According to Lull, Hegemony is best produced in everyday activities that we can

relate to. In Betty’s case her everyday activities included her family.

Ugly Betty shows prime examples of universalizing and minoritizing discourse. In the

beginning of the series, Betty is considered undesirable and “not as good” as the rest of the

people she wants to work with or is competing with. This is because the norms are at the center

and there are categories of exclusion that include Betty. As the series progresses we see

different characters come into play that demonstrate universalized discourse. The main

character that we see this with is Alexis Meade. When we see her come into the work place and

take over with a position of authority we see the primacy of norms shattered. A voice is given to

a minoritized subject. The messages that certain groups are able to send to society can

challenge cultural assumption and I think that is one thing Ugly Betty does very well. The show

instills in the audience that watches it, that there is not one fixed, predictable meaning. The

audience is shown that things can change and those who are considered less desirable to society

or outside of the norm do not have to be subordinate. They can be successful and hold positions

of power as well. The transition from minoritizing discourse and universalizing discourse is

extremely evident throughout the series of Ugly Betty.