Unveiling TBBT's Main Group's Influence on a Dominant Sheldon Characteristic

Summary

Sheldon's social ineptitude in The Big Bang Theory often led him to make sexist remarks, particularly towards his female friends and acquaintances.

In contrast, Young Sheldon treats female characters on an equal footing, showing no distinction between female teachers and friends versus male ones.

Sheldon's sexist mindset in The Big Bang Theory could possibly have been influenced by his friends, who also exhibited disrespectful behavior towards women, although Sheldon's blunt approach made him the most offensive.

Sheldon's family differences in Young Sheldon have often been criticized as plot holes, but one particular aspect of Sheldon's character in The Big Bang Theory might be attributed to the people he surrounds himself with in the parent series. Throughout The Big Bang Theory's twelve seasons, Sheldon's social ineptitude often led to him inadvertently embarrassing or offending others with his blunt and frank remarks. However, it was predominantly Sheldon's female friends and acquaintances who were subjected to his use of sexist stereotypes or his attempts to decipher their emotions.

On the other hand, the main character in Young Sheldon exhibited a distinct approach towards female characters, whether they were family members, friends, or teachers. Despite Sheldon's direct and overwhelming nature when confronting problems, he treated both male and female teachers in the same condescending and know-it-all manner. In Young Sheldon, where he had only a few longstanding friends, Sheldon formed a bond with two girls and treated them as equals, unlike how he interacted with women in The Big Bang Theory. This suggests that Sheldon's sexist attitude was developed at some point prior to the events of Young Sheldon season 6.

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Sheldon's Sexist Attitude Must Have Come From His Friends In TBBT

In Young Sheldon, Sheldon’s long-time female friend was Paige. However, in Season 1, Episode 15 titled "Dolomite, Apple Slices, and a Mystery Woman," Sheldon took the initiative to approach another high school student after seeing her with a geology book. He desired friendship with Libby because he perceived her as a kindred spirit who shared his interest in science, a rarity in Medford. It deeply saddened Sheldon when she unintentionally revealed that she still saw him as a child, indicating his natural tendency to categorize potential peers irrespective of their gender.

In Young Sheldon, Mary and Connie had a significant influence on Sheldon's character development. However, in The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon was primarily surrounded by his own group of friends. While Penny faced sexist assumptions when discussing her friends, it was Leonard, Raj, and Howard, who Sheldon had spent most of his adult life with, that often displayed derogatory behavior towards women. This could be attributed to their lack of social skills or their misguided belief that such behavior would make women attracted to them. Although Sheldon's directness made him the most offensive when addressing female characters, the early seasons of TBBT revealed that Leonard, Howard, and Raj were just as susceptible to gender stereotypes as Sheldon.

How Sheldon's Misogyny Changes During The Big Bang Theory

In The Big Bang Theory, a significant development occurred with Sheldon as he gradually became more considerate towards his friends and acquaintances, extending to his interactions with women. Gone were the comparisons between women and eggs on a hot Texas summer day or the beliefs that men were superior to women, referred to as the "champagne of genders," seen in earlier seasons. However, despite his progress, Sheldon still exhibited sexist remarks when he felt scorned in The Big Bang Theory, contrasting with his character in Young Sheldon where he did not entertain such prejudices.

The breakdown of Amy and Sheldon's relationship in Season 8 exemplified this aspect of Sheldon's character. In his hurt and anger, he resorted to expressing himself through various sexist remarks towards Amy, such as suggesting that her eggs had an expiration date while men could father children throughout their lives. This ultimately led to their official breakup. Nevertheless, their subsequent reconnection demonstrated that Sheldon had genuinely learned to consider Amy's feelings. Despite the influence of characters like Bernadette and Amy in The Big Bang Theory, which helped shape Sheldon's less biased behavior towards women, he never quite achieved the same level of balance seen in Young Sheldon.