We re physicists : Gender, genre and the image of scientists in The Big Bang Theory

Abstract

As a comedy, the popular CBS television show The Big Bang Theory (2007 ) has made an international commercial success of its portrayal of scientists, complete with equation-laden white boards and an affectionate depiction of nerd culture. Working both with and against the gendered stereotypes of the nerd and the mad scientist and drawing upon many of the core characteristics of situation comedy as a genre The Big Bang Theory offers a sympathetic and nuanced depiction of scientists, including a more diverse group of scientists by gender, ethnicity, and scientific subfields than usually seen in either television or movies.