Mrs. Doubtfire - Not a Threat?

So, in class we've discussed how women are pitted against one another.  However, it seems as women age they become less of a threat.  Mrs. Doubtfire is a playful comedy that has a father (Robin Williams) desperate to spend more time with his children, who are in the custody of their mother.  In order to spend more time with them he concocts this persona of Mrs. Doubtfire, an elderly nanny. 

Usually, the nanny is an evil character - either the children hate her or the mother hates her because she's generally younger and prettier.  In this film; however, the nanny is an asset to the family.  I theorize that not only is the nanny awesome (come on, it's Robin Williams), but she is an older character who poses no threat to the mother in any way.  In fact, Mrs. Doubtfire becomes somewhat of a confidante for her.  Almost motherly.

Of course it cannot be that easy.  Mrs. Doubtfire *does* try to sabotage his ex-wife's romantic endeavors, yet it's not because he's pretending to be a woman and that's what women do.  This unique twist, though, while apparent, only disguises how women are portrayed in film.  Viewers do not conceptualize this as a feminine attribute, rather as a desperate man going to great lengths to keep his family together.

With the exception of The Crying Game and Tootsie, I cannot really think of many movies (or sitcoms, for that matter - hello, Bosom Buddies) that have men dressing as women who are aesthetically pleasing/plays to the male gaze.

Response blog to in-class presentation

One of the in-class presentations dealt with women sacrificing their femininity in order to succeed in a "man's world."  This is extremely evident in the film G.I. Jane.  The setting is the ultimate male domain - the military. 

Women have long been called the weaker sex.  Obviously, this caused controversy over whether women should be allowed in the military.  In G.I. Jane, not only does a female want to be in the military, but she also wants to be the best of the best and join the ranks of the elite forces.  Naturally, this presents a huge problem.

Over the course of the film, Demi Moore's character goes through a transformation wherein she is forced to shed her feminine qualities in order to become on of "them."  She suffers torment by her peers and eventually is assimilated.

Interestingly, though, it is worth mentioning that the climactic scene in the movie - the "suck my dick" scene - her male peers show compassion towards her struggle, which seems like it would go against their nature.  One can interpret this in two ways:  her male peers realize that she is not receiving equal treatment, but rather degradation, torture, rape and the like, OR, they are somewhat mocking her because she is the weaker sex and cannot take it.  Of course, we'd like to believe it's the former.

Once she has abandoned her femininity she gains respect of her male peers, which further reinforces the concept of women as "other."  Until she becomes one of them she has little to no merit on her own.

Perpetuation of Gender Norms in Teen Clique Films

So, I've got this paper/presentation due at the finale of my Women in Film class.  Not being an avid film viewer I did experience a brief moment of panic.  Alas, while flipping channels on a lazy Saturday afternoon I stumbled upon Mean Girls.  Not only did I recoil in horror at remembering my high school days, but the heavens opened up and I was presented with a trilogy of girly clique goodness.

The aforementioned  Mean Girls, Heathers and Clueless.

These films are variations on a common theme:  the popular girls take in an outsider, attempt to make her one of them, manipulation ensues, worlds crumble, lessons learned, etc.

First, we have to take a look at what makes these girls "popular": a certain look dictated by the male gaze, a certain amount of submission to desirable males and domination over lesser males, a certain type of relationship dynamic with their parents/figures of authority, and a certain amount of control over/idolization by their lesser female peers.

Also note that there is definitely a Queen Bee (actual term used in Mean Girls) of the popular girls. 

As an aside, I was not one of the popular girls.  I know that I am not alone in this.  I bet there are more women who share that sentiment than cheerleaders existing in the world at any given point in time.  Ever.  A popular girl is part of a very exclusive club and seems to have revolving players as opposed to an expanding number of participants.  One's position is more likely to be usurped as opposed to simply adding another slot.

In my opinion, the vast amount of each of these films focuses more heavily on becoming popular as opposed to being forced to face the consequences of one's actions and learning the life lessons that are billed as "the point" of the film.

To be continued...

Character Analysis in Steel Magnolias

This film revolves around a sisterhood of friends who share in one another's joys and sorrows.  Set in a classic southern town in Louisiana, there is an added layer to the customary gender roles.  Women are supposed to be pretty, polite and agreeable.  The female characters run the gamut from Annelle, the naive newbie, to M'Lynn, the rock.

While there are male characters, they are almost ancillary.  The original play actually had no male characters onstage.

Men tend to relate to one another while doing some sort of activity, i.e. Drum and his sons launching firecrackers into a tree to drive the birds out for Shelby's wedding in the back yard.

Women, however, relate to one another through face to face interaction and emotional connections.  This is highlighted throughout the film.

M'Lynn:  She is definitely the strongest female character.  She thrives on control and appears to have a firm grip on herself and her family. 

Shelby:  Diabetic daughter of M'Lynn who is getting married.  M'Lynn is very protective of her - sometimes even in a condescending manner.  In one scene in the beauty shop, Shelby suffers from a diabetic episode and M'Lynn is forcing her to drink orange juice.  Shelby tells her to stop, to which M'Lynn replies "I'd like to see you try." 

Shelby, too, recognizes her mother's need for control.  Upon the news that Shelby is pregnant - which is a high risk pregnancy - she tells M'Lynn "You're jealous, because you no longer have a say so in what I do and that drives you up the wall. You're ready to spit nails because you can't call the shots."

Shelby very much wants to be "'normal."  She says pink is her signature color.  She laments the fact that she has a disease that might leave her debilitated and she feels like less of a woman because she cannot give her husband children without a great risk to her own life. 

Truvy owns the beauty shop where a lot of the movie takes place.  It is the quintessential setting for female interaction.  Truvy perpetuates the concept of the male gaze in that her job is to make women beautiful.  She, herself, says that she hasn't left the house since she was 14 without "lycra on these thighs."  Even Ouiser, the salty rich widow has her upper lip waxed while Clairee, the epitome of a southern lady indulges in a mud mask.  Annelle, an awkward, conservative, almost homely woman is transformed into a more acceptable ideal of feminine beauty by the end of the movie - and, while it does seem to directly affect her self esteem, it is also a transformation for her boyfriend.

M"Lynn donates a kidney to try to save Shelby's life after Shelby experiences kidney failure.  Unfortunately it does not save her and she dies.  Up to this point, M'Lynn has exhibited nothing but strength.  After the funeral, though, she unabashedly exposes her vulnerability in an emotional outburst that only her closest friends witness.  It is during this monologue-ish scene that M'Lynn compares herself to men saying "I find it amusing. Men are supposed to be made out of steel or something."  She goes on to say "I've always been ready to go first."  During the ordeal at the hospital Drum (Shelby's father) and Jackson (Shelby's husband) both had to leave because they could not deal with the highly emotional situation, thus further showing how men and women differ in their respective relationship roles.  I believe that it is this emotional outburst allows M'Lynn to give herself permission to not be in control all the time.  She even says "Maybe I should start having emotional outbursts at home.  Maybe Drum would be pleased."  It seems as if M'Lynn feels the need to be guarded with her emotions in an attempt to not show any weakness.  In our patriarchal society any exhibition of emotion (other than anger) is a sign of weakness.

Adam’s Rib (George Cukor, 1949)

            The movie’s plot centers on the trial of Doris Attinger, a modest housewife and mother, who is alleged to have attempted to kill her philandering husband after catching him with another woman.  

            Adam and Amanda Bonner are both lawyers – Adam a District Attorney and Amanda in private practice.  On the surface they seem to be well matched, very much in love and quite happy together.  Despite the gender stereotypes of the time, Adam appears to have a great respect for Amanda's education and profession.  

           Upon the news that Adam has been assigned the Attinger case, Amanda decides to represent the defendant.  During a conversation Amanda becomes passionate about the case and Adam laughs and calls her “causey.”  One night while getting ready for bed Amanda conveys that a man is deserving of the same justice …”not just those who had the misfortune of being born female.”

            The very title of the movie suggests where women rank in society.  According to the Bible, women were made from Adam's rib, implying, perhaps, that in some way women are the property of men.  At one point, Amanda has a conversation with her secretary regarding the circumstances of Mrs. Attinger’s actions.  When questioned about the permissibility of a man’s infidelity, the secretary shrugs it off as unfortunate, but not surprising.  However, when asked about the same about a woman, it becomes scandalous.  Even in a seemingly progressive society there still seems to be loyalty to the patriarchy and its double standard for behavior.

            The film also illustrates a common theme of women being judged based on their appearance.  Doris was conservatively dressed while the other woman, Beryle Caighn, wore more stylish, form-fitting clothes and coiffed hair. 

             Of course it wouldn’t seem strange for Mr. Attinger to choose the more attractive woman.  During the trial, Mr. Attinger testified that he had a habit of beating his wife, staying out all night and claimed she was too fat (she was not) and that he had not been in love with her for three years with no consequences.  He seemed to genuinely believe he was not at fault.               

             Women were stereotyped as being the weaker sex.  A sign of this weakness was crying.  During cross examination Ms. Attinger became emotional and Adam told her to “have a good cry” and asked “Are you crying because of your domestic failure?”  There was no hint of sympathy for Ms. Attinger, but rather an attempt to shame her for being a “domestic failure.”  Later in the movie during an argument, Amanda began to cry and Adam accused her of turning on "the juice."  It is interesting to note; however, that a climactic moment in the movie shows Adam crying.

            The conflict between genders did not stay in the courtroom, but also took a toll on Adam and Amanda’s relationship.  Over the course of the trial, Adam’s double standard was cleverly exposed.  While he certainly adored and respected Amanda in private, he had no ethical issue painting Ms. Attinger, and women in general, as not so bright.  In an attempt to prove differently, Amanda called several female witnesses to illustrate that women can be just as (or more) educated and just as (or more) physically strong than men.  As a result, Adam is ashamed of her actions.  It shows that when a woman (Amanda) gains status in her career she loses her desirability. 

            It is obvious that the strain of the issues brought up in the trial impact the couple’s own gender roles and interaction.  The prospect of divorce often guides people's behavior.  A scene at the accountant's office might lead us to believe that divorce is imminent; however, it is quickly reconciled and the couple move forward with a new understanding and acceptance of one another.