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c) Possible clues for cultural differences.
In China, it is difficult for any employee to make friends with his/her superior
outside the workplace. In the workplace, people behave and speak to show
respect to their superiors. Superiors expect their subordinators‟ submissive
behaviours. The relationship between the employer and employees is rigid and
formal. People adapt their words and behaviour to fit their roles. People accept
the difference between roles, which results from power distance.
Therefore, Chinese viewers are maybe surprised by how Doug behaved (slapping an
employee‟s backside) and spoke (using the word “the hell”), since they will most
probably not be aware that the series is a comedy and not to be taken seriously. In fact,
of course, Doug‟s behaviour is not normal in the US either, and this behaviour is
designed by the playwright to elicit a laugh from the audience. Being a subordinate does
not necessarily mean being inferior to the supervisor.
5.2.2 Masculinity
Masculinity refers to how men‟s power is superior to women‟s in society and is
measured by the roles of men and women in society. In general, a society that scores
high in masculinity is to emphasise ambition, assertiveness and gender differences. By
comparison, a society which scores high in femininity stresses caring behaviours and
less differentiated gender roles (Hosftede, 1973).
The first scene I will present is found in Season 2, episode 3, scene 6.
The second scene I will present is found in Season 6, episode 6, scene 3.
a) Description of Scene:
In this scene, Ross asked Rachael for opinions about when to have sex.
b) Line:
“Let me tell you something. As a woman there is nothing sexier than a man who
does not want to have sex.”
c) Possible clues for cultural differences.
In China, sex is basically a taboo subject between people of the opposite sex, even
if the people in the conversation have long known each other.
While sex is perceived as a basic pleasure for human beings (regardless of gender), it
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