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Bernard Shaw On Sexism

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Recommended: Gender roles and norms in religion

One of the most integral parts of Shaw’s argument in regards to sexism is that it is a learned and unnatural behavior, a system that is imposed rather than organically created. Shaw argues that it is the institutions of the government and Catholic Church that foster sexism. As such, the common people- particularly the country folk who have had limited exposure to these groups- are not portrayed as sexist while the clergy and government officials are. This disparity is eloquently displayed in the following excerpt. "I will go out now to the common people, and let the love in their eyes comfort me for the hate in yours. You will all be glad to see me burnt, but if I go through the fire I shall go through it to their hearts for ever and ever" …show more content…

She has become aware, as the reader has been for a long time, that the upper classes of both the government and Catholic Church resent her to the very core not the least because of her gender, which magnifies the abrasiveness of her actions. The common people however view Joan as a hero regardless of her gender. To the commoners Joan’s gender is immaterial. Shaw calls this sexism that is deeply engrained in the government and Catholic Church out throughout Saint Joan. He does this by showing how ridiculous and counter productive a mindset it is. However, Hollis takes a different view, “…it is necessary to recognize the nature of the Church…. The Catholic position is reasonable” (Hollis 156). Hollis states that the Catholic Church’s social positions are just and absolutely essential to maintaining order. His writings raise a fair question: Does some level of repressiveness need to be present to maintain order in society? To this question, in the context of sexism Shaw responds with a resounding no. In regards to the Catholic Church specifically Shaw makes it clear that not only is sexism unnatural but it goes against the teachings of

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