Representation in Modern Family

 The TV show Modern Family follows the lives of three related families, focusing on relationships like Cameron Tucker and Mitchell Pritchett with their adopted daughter Lily, Phil and Claire Dunphy with their three kids, and Jay Pritchett with his wife Gloria and their children. In this post, I’ll be discussing the representation of Gloria and the portrayal of Cameron and Mitchell’s relationship.  

The character of Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, portrayed by Sofia Vergara in Modern Family, is often exoticized throughout the series. The show uses various stereotypes to develop her culture. Gloria is portrayed as a short-tempered woman, with a thick Colombian accent, and a curvaceous figure, and she is always shown to have a strong effect on men. One of the things highlighted the most is her physical appearance. Her fashion choices (tight dresses, high heels, and bold makeup) emphasize her physical appearance, which is often exoticized by other characters. In one of the episodes, Claire openly comments on Gloria's sex appeal, highlighting how her appearance makes her seem intimidating. This constant focus on her looks feeds into the broader stereotype of Latinas being valued for their physical attractiveness rather than their intellect or personal depth.  

Gloria’s Colombian background is often exaggerated in Modern Family, making her seem more "exotic" and different from the other characters. Her thick accent and the way she often mixes up English sayings are used as jokes throughout the series, which makes her stand out as foreign. While these moments can be funny, they also emphasize how she’s not like the others because of where she’s from. In Season 3, Episode 12, “Egg Drop”, Gloria is portrayed as overly emotional and dramatic, which plays into the stereotype that Latina women are always fiery and passionate. This makes her seem more like a mockery than a fully developed character. 

On the other hand, the representation of the LGBTQ+ community in Modern Family regarding Cameron and Mitchel’s relationship is very positive. Unlike older shows that often show gay characters in a stereotypical way, Cam and Mitch are portrayed as a regular, loving couple. They go through everyday situations, like raising their adopted daughter, Lily, and dealing with the same challenges any couple faces.  What makes their portrayal important is that they aren't just shown as "the gay couple", they are shown just as a regular family even showing their wedding, the process of adopting their daughter, and their everyday challenges. By showing them as a regular family instead of funny side characters, Modern Family helped audiences see LGBTQ+ couples in a more positive and relatable way. This show made a big step forward for historically underrepresented groups in the media. 

Overall, Modern Family has good and bad representation. Gloria’s character and value were somewhat accurate coming from a Latina myself but some of her characteristics were exotified to create a greater appeal to the audience. Regarding the LGBTQ+ representation in this show, I think that it is one of the best out there since it really delves into the family life of a gay couple and helps normalize this.

Clip From the Show

I couldn’t find the exact Egg Drop clip but this scene from season two illustrates the on-running jokes about her accent and the outfits she is mostly seen in. Modern Family - Gloria´s accent (youtube.com) 

Mitch and Cam Get Married - Modern Family (youtube.com)   

Unexpectedly Human: A TD Bank Story – Commercial (youtube.com)