Seite - 113 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Band 02/02

Losers, Food, and Sex | 113www.jrfm.eu 2016, 2/2, 99–122 who was witnessing the conversation, and not to Adam, his host, to clear away. Here, men not only condescend to women, but they do so in a feminine space. This must be interpreted not as men subverting traditional understandings of gendered spaces but as a masculine intrusion into feminine space, a safe space for women, in order to express their domination. When Adam finally meets Abi, the audience perceives her as ambitious, en- ergetic, motivated, and a natural leader. Abi embodies everything Adam is not and everything that is traditionally associated with a masculine character type, without acting like a man or being butch. Adam feels threatened by Abi to the point that he bullies her. This episode, S02/E02, provides a good example that masculinity does not depend on being male (that is, on having a male body), but that gender relations and who is considered to be or act masculine or feminine often emerge from and are rooted in positions of power.45 As a curate, Abi is not in a formal position of power, but the way she connects with people, her leadership and her organizational skills invest her with power and authority. At the same time, this episode subverts the link between masculinity and power exactly because Abi does not “act” in a masculine fashion, pointing out that the link between masculinity and power is as much a naturalized social construct as the notions of masculinity and femininity themselves. Abi is not the only female priest to challenge Adam’s clerical masculinity. In episode S02/E04, it is women-only night, with five spouses of vicars coming to the vicarage, hosted rather unwillingly by Alex. As the first guests arrive, it turns out that in addition to being married to vicars, three out of the five women are vicars themselves. The get-together starts with the women chatting over wine and snacks. Time progresses; it is almost 3 a.m. and we hear loud music playing. Adam is turning in his bed and we hear him thinking in voice over, “They are making so much noise, it’s really annoying. … Why won’t Alex shut up? Right, I’m gonna go and tell her to shut up.” He crawls out of bed, the scene cuts to the party downstairs and we see all the women, including the female vicars, drinking, smoking, and dancing. Rather than tell Alex and her guests to quiet down, however, Adam mumbles something about the planned interfaith foot- ball match the next morning and reminds Alex of the curry she promised to make for the game. The facial expressions of Alex and the other women clearly show what they think of Adam’s idea of ending the party: nothing. And Alex replies to Adam, “We’re only making curry for some fat dads, it’s not a UN con- ference.” A little bit humiliated and stumbling over his words, Adam excuses himself and withdraws from the scene to go back to bed. This scene can be interpreted in different ways. It can be seen as masculin- ity’s attempt to control and exert power over femininity by referring to a tradi- 45 Reynolds 2002, 100.