ipl-logo

Gender Stereotypes In A Streetcar Named Desire

1666 Words7 Pages

Gender Representations Films have a tendency to shape what we think about a specific topic; it can open our minds to new subjects and opinions. How each gender is represented in films is displayed differently throughout the films: A Streetcar Named Desire (Kazan, 1951), Inglourious Basterds (Tarantino, 2009), and Legally Blonde (Luketic, 2001). Women are sexualized and treated as a minority throughout these films, but the men are forced to be masculine and prove their worth. In A Streetcar Named Desire, the women of the time were just getting rights and a voice in what was going on. Even though this is true, not all things changed. The female characters in this film are still sexualized and treated as if they are less compared to the …show more content…

The men in this movie do horrible and traumatizing things. Even though there are two strong women characters in the film, they seem to only react to the conflict and violence around them. The men of the story do not react, they act on the violence; they enlist for the special mission. This kind of action/reaction gender dynamic hints at deeper notions of men and women’s relationships to violence. Men seek out violence, for pleasure or honorable purposes, where as women must be pushed to violence. At the beginning of the film, when Colonel Hans Landa arrives at the house, one of the women must get him something to drink. They also seem scared to speak as if they are not allowed to in the presence of a man. The women seem to have to serve the men, this proves that during this period women did not have many rights. During the conversation between Perrier and Colonel Hans Landau, the women of the house had to leave. Masculinity played a big role during this scene. The men seem to be confused on who is the dominate male in the situation. They both try to not overstep any boundaries. This is another example of how women can be influenced by men of higher power. They acted as if it was okay that they were being treated this way, when it was in fact …show more content…

The Natzis and the Jews are at a constant battle. Lieutenant Aldo Raine has a goal for his soldiers, to bring back 100 scalps from german soldiers. This seems like a horrific task, but it seems like a battle for masculinity. This horrible idea was to prove that they were something to be frightened of and to intimidate the Natzis. The men characters in Inglourious Basterds, are constantly trying to broadcast who has the most power and strength. Obvious we know that the Natzis ruled over the Jews, but they definitely fought for their lives and freedom. This represents that men are more likely to fight for something they believe strongly in and to receive what they believe they deserve. In the case of this film, that would be to keep int Natzis from killing the

Show More
Related
682 Words | 3 Pages

The themes of masculinity and American ideals heavily influence this film. Men are presented to be powerful in this film, and that power derives from the fact that they carry guns and commit acts of violence. In the film, almost all of the males have either a pistol or a shotgun. This depiction is inaccurate, as most people in the west didn’t own a firearm. In contrast, women in the film are portrayed to be the weaker gender, being present only to take care of their partner.

Read More
1166 Words | 5 Pages

Common themes in these stories address the dominance of men towards women which affects the physical and emotional well-being of the female characters. The authors use symbolism, similes, metaphors and dramatic irony to exemplify patriarchal dominance and its suppressive treatment of women. In the early 1900s, patriarchal dominance reigned while women's roles were confined to raising children and taking care of their households and husbands. Men

Read More
865 Words | 4 Pages

In comparison to the movie, the play undermines male dominance by focusing on women’s efforts to solve their own problems. First of all, there aren’t even men in the cast of the play,

Read More
1285 Words | 6 Pages

Each of these concepts are utilized at the advantage of men, and the disadvantage of women, and has shown to provide detrimental consequences and results for women in society. However, in this film, and other films by Tyler Perry, appear to take the added step to combat these aspects that are present in the media’s portrayal of women. While these are present in the movie, he often makes a point to combat it with an inverse portrayal of each

Read More
1839 Words | 8 Pages

Cultural theories by Kathleen Rowe, Laura Mulvey and Stuart Hall can help the audience seek an explanation to how these stereotypical gender roles are portrayed in the movie and how it can create power for the specific

Read More
413 Words | 2 Pages

After having been performed at the Ethel Barrymore Theater in 1946, A Streetcar Named Desire brought about much controversy. At first it seemed that much of the controversy stemmed from the unpleasantness with which the subject was presented, such as the vulgar, unprecedented topics acted out on stage. George Jean Nathan, an original critic of the play, touched upon the vulgar manner of the drama, calling it “The Glands Menagerie.” (Bak, “Criticism on a Streetcar Named Desire”) Perhaps the more pressing reason as to why this play was received controversially, however, is a result of its cynical nature.

Read More
462 Words | 2 Pages

The narrator is leaving work at around midnight because he had to work late, when he is on the bus he sees a lady struggling to get off the bus. He is then faced with the decision as whether to assist her or not. The lady who is struggling to get off the bus has two small children and one large suitcase. His first instinct was to help her, but after much thought he decided against it. He feels as though the woman will perceive him as trying to get too familiar or threatening.

Read More
1038 Words | 5 Pages

Tennessee Williams is acclaimed for his ability to create multi faced characters such as Blanche Dubois in the play, A Streetcar Named Desire. She comes to New Orleans after losing everything including her job, money, and her family’s plantation Belle Reve, to live with her sister Stella. During her time there she causes many conflicts with Stella’s husband Stanley and tries to get involved with the people there, all while judging them for their place in society, although she is imperfect too. Through her, Williams has created a complex character. She is lost, confused, conflicted, lashing out in sexual ways, and living in her own fantasies throughout the entirety of the play.

Read More
1886 Words | 8 Pages

Gender and power are quite distinctive from one another in both these texts. From one point of view it could be argued the men are the autocrats and considered as oppressors of females in the male dominated society. In the male dominated society men are the decision makers and have the instrumental role. Despite benefitting from the patriarchy they are still victims (Synnot n. p.).This is because to secure his place in the family, a man has to dominate over his children and wife, therefore faced with a choice between the two sexual dispositions, and a boy has to choose between his mother and father.

Read More
1697 Words | 7 Pages

A Streetcar Named Desire Literary Analysis The late 1940’s were characterized by the emergence out of World War II that led to a dependence on the idea of The American Dream, which meant men were working harder to achieve a more comforting lifestyle and opportunity while women were still fighting the oppression of caused by unequal representation. This idealistic dream is illustrated throughout Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”, which has a rigid dichotomy between illusion and reality revealed throughout multiple characters and their dysfunctional lives that are a direct result between fantasy and actuality. Illusion is taken advantage of as an alternative to the unfair circumstances that the characters in “A Streetcar Named

Read More
1245 Words | 5 Pages

Stereotypical gender roles have existed as long as human culture has, becoming a natural part of all of our lives. Within each gender lies a variety of stereotypes and expectations. Most notably for men they are often depicted as tough and the family provider. Whereas women are often shown to be soft and vulnerable. Throughout the play A Streetcar Named Desire the author; Tennessee Williams illustrates the main characters, Stanley, Stella, Mitch and Blanche with these stereotypes.

Read More
652 Words | 3 Pages

The themes of violence and power in ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ hold an important role in the criticism of 1940s American society. Conflicts perpetuated by violence and power, such as abusive relationships and violent oppression are projected through the characters within the play.  Williams uses these conflicts to highlight his criticisms of faltering values and social norms, from the perspective of an individual constrained by the expectations of a strict, Southern society. To begin with, there is an indefinite violence between men and women within ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’. Stanley Kowalski, a focal character, is the epitome of male dominance and primitive aggression.

Read More
1547 Words | 7 Pages

Tennessee Williams wrote “A Streetcar Named Desire” (Williams, 1947) It is based in New Orleans a new cosmopolitan city which is poor but has raffish charm. The past is representing old south in America 1900’s and present is representing new America post world war 2 in 1940’s. Past and present are intertwined throughout the play in the characters Stanley, Blanche, Stella and mitch. Gender roles show that males are the dominant and rule the house which Stanley is prime example as he brings home food and we learn of one time when he got cross and he smashed the light bulbs.

Read More
610 Words | 3 Pages

Black women are treated less than because of their ascribed traits, their gender and race, and are often dehumanized and belittled throughout the movie. They are treated like slaves and are seen as easily disposable. There are several moments throughout the film that show the racial, gender, and class inequalities. These moments also show exploitation and opportunity hoarding. The Help also explains historical context of the inequality that occurred during that time period.

Read More
847 Words | 4 Pages

“A Streetcar Named Desire” is a very elegant film in which the Southern gothic culture is demonstrated profoundly. Tennessee Williams uses the characters in the play to bring about a sense of how corrupt society truly was in the 1940’s in the South. The 1940’s was marked by an immense amount of violence, alcoholism, and poverty. Women at the time were treated as objects rather than people. Throughout the play Tennessee Williams relates the aspects of Southern society to the characters in the play.

Read More

More about Gender Stereotypes In A Streetcar Named Desire

Related Topics

Open Document