"The Big Bang Theory" - Gender representations & Stereotypes:

The Big Bang Theory is America’s highest rated comedy. It is regularly E4’s most watched show and can definitely be said to divide opinion.The programme bases itself entirely on stereotypes in a huge number of ways and given its subject matter, a lot of these are drawn from those typically found in the Sci-Fi/fantasy genre.

A world in which historically the men are the heroes and the woman are skimpily-clothed and more than slightly helpless. Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Howard submerge themselves in comic books and films as a method of escapism from a society which labels them ‘uncool’
Stereotypically the women of the show are constantly sexualised, a major issue in sci-fi and fantasy.Particularly in the earlier seasons, Penny seems to be portrayed as the archetypal “helpless blonde bimbo” needing to be saved from her pedestrian life by our oh-so-intelligent lead characters. For quite a while she has virtually no character besides being attractive and not very academic when compared to the hoards of scientists that populate the show. Penny is the clearest example of the programme objectifying women, though in no way is the practise limited to her.
Stereotypically women who are scientists are portrayed as being ugly and wear glasses and are not blond and are socially maladjusted and don't care about their appearance.
Another stereotype follows, which is seen both in older sci-fi/fantasy and the households of the 1950s: the idea of women as automatic home-makers or at least stay at home girlfriends. It is Howard who becomes an astronaut and Bernadette who stays at home and frets.
All the women on the show have careers, and in general very successful ones, but they are shown as performing the expressive role in the relationship despite this. The expectations for all genders are socially constructed, and one specific expectation for males is to be the main breadwinner in a romantic relationship. Bernadette and Howard are in a relationship, and in contradiction to the previously mentioned gender stereotypes, Howard married into money because Bernadette earns much more and controls their spending.

Intelligence is gendered masculine, and in popular thinking intelligent people often are male. Television representations of intelligence reinforce this gendering, and they reduce these intelligent characters to traits such as possessing multiple degrees,  pursuing scientific interests, announcing their intellect, overusing logic, avoiding empathy, and overall acting socially awkward.
Penny’s character is an example of enlightened sexism because one may believe she represents independence and confidence as a woman by living on her own and befriending the “geeks” next door, Furthermore, Leonard’s character encompasses gender scripts by constantly trying to be “manly” and wanting to show off his beautiful blonde girlfriend. He strives to attain the image of the dominant male which is the normative ideal image of a man in our society.The Big Bang Theory uses humour to both reinforce and challenge gender stereotypes. The relationship between Leonard and Penny often juxtaposes typical gender scripts, however their characters exemplify the gender binary. These stereotypes are challenged because, stereotypically the "geek" wouldn't have the blonde attractive women as his girlfriend.