ipl-logo

Marilyn Frye's View Of Sexism

1637 Words7 Pages

The musical Gypsy (1962) plays with many ideas concerning gender, individualism, and sex roles. These themes contribute to the question of whether or not Gypsy is sexist. For the purpose of this essay, sexism will be defined as any action that consciously contributes to a gender stereotyping society. In her essay, Marilyn Frye notes this definition of sexism stating that “making decisions on the basis of sex reinforces the patterns that make it relevant” (846). Therefore, any decision that contributes to the gender binary and its framework can be considered sexist. While the question of sexism is debated in the musical from both a sexist and non-sexist perspective, the storyline has occasions that can emphasize both of these views. These nuances …show more content…

Rose just received news that a spot for her children’s show became available and she needs to secure funds from her father to get her to the theater. She approaches her dad, and starts in song, stating “I’ve had a dream Pa” in a very poised tone, trying to convince him that what she is doing is right for her and her kids (19:40). Her Dad does not take the bait replying ‘’you aint(sic) getting eighty cents from me” to Roses comment “all I need is eighty-eight bucks” (23:18). Angered by her father’s response, Rose takes her dads prized railroad commemorative gift to sell off so that she can fund her journey. Rose is seen in opposing roles every other frame in this scene. When being individualistic and confident, Rose sings “[I] will be being booked in the in the bigtime” and looks upward, as if she could actually envision the goal she aspires to achieve (22:59). She stands with her shoulders back and projects her dream away from her father, to signal that she rejects the notions her dad’s suggestions to her regarding a husband. Rose is going on this journey, and she will be doing it for herself, her dignity, and her kids. Although she does mention June as a purpose for the trip, it is as an afterthought. This can be seen when she makes the statement “I had a dream… about June and The Orpheum Circuit” (22:25). This is the only time in the song that …show more content…

All of Roses actions, individualistic and stereotypical, culminate in the creation of a truly ironic character. Through a strong feminine role, Rose is able to achieve her dream of reaching the top of the theater industry. Rose does this through the subjection of her children to gender stereotypes. This stereotyping casts Rose in a sexist light but does not make the musical as a whole sexist. While it can be concluded that Gypsy is sexist due to the subjection of children to stereotypes and the audience response to how Rose plays the motherly role, this sexism is defeated by Roses triumph. Instead, through manipulating the sexist construal’s of society at the time, it is easier for Rose to achieve the goal that she wanted for herself. Rose uses her children and her father in an unsavory manor to achieve stardom. Rose succeeds (maybe not in her stereotypical motherly role) and ultimately does achieve this goal, showing how her strong feminine character used and manipulated sexism to defeat

Show More
Related

Ishmael's Journey In A Long Way Gone

904 Words | 4 Pages

So, she goes against him and finally stands up to him using her inner power: “and the answer, the one that was important above everything else, ran through my body and fell from my lips: ‘you can’t just pull me out of your life and throw me away’” (Tan 196). Rose uses “ran” and “fell” to describe the sudden rush of power that went through her. Suddenly finding her underlying authority, she finally tells Ted her feelings. She had never spoken up for herself, and for most of her marriage, she has been a “ghost.

Read More

Patriarchal Stereotypes In Billy Flynn's Play

185 Words | 1 Pages

From an outlook of the male gaze, Billy Flynn is controlling Roxie Hart, she is role played and dressed as a puppet, it’s fascinating that knowing the truth of the matter, Billy Flynn is controlling everything Roxie is saying and even down to her movements. This moment of control makes it evident that the patriarchal stereotypes are strongly displayed as the musical portrays Roxie as gullible. This refers the similarities between Roxie’s characters and how women were controlled by men in the nineteenth century. Even though in this scene Roxie is acceptive of Billy Flynn having empowerment over her by dominating her physically, regardless she disregards these elements where she allows this as she knows it will gain fame for her. History has

Read More

Real Women Have Curves Play Analysis

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

Essay On Lynn Nottage's Poof

960 Words | 4 Pages

Patriarchy presents the roles of men and women in a distinct form. Men are expected to be the dominant leader, strong, protector and sole provider where as women are subverted to the role of domestic duties, raring of children and fulfilling her man’s every desire without question or comment. In Lynn Nottage ’s play Poof! , she brilliantly portrays the roles of men and women, and experiments with the concept of changing gender roles that are characteristic of our society.

Read More

As You Like It Rosalind Misogynist Quotes

807 Words | 4 Pages

Shakespeare's portrayal of Rosalind reflects the societal prejudice towards women during the time and Rosalind is a perfect example of a misogynist. Rosalind's behavior, actions, and speech reveal her internalized misogyny. While Rosalind may seem like a leader and a feminist

Read More

Essay On Gender Roles In Kurt Vonnegut's Player Piano

1883 Words | 8 Pages

Writing post World War II, Kurt Vonnegut’s Player Piano simultaneously works with the established and changing gender roles within U.S. society at the time and creates satirical commentary. Seemingly relegated to a position of powerlessness on their own, Vonnegut uses different female characters to portray how women in that time period could attain power (usually through marriage). Power (synonymously meaning influence) and the desire to attain power is seen in the prominent Player Piano women, Anita Proteus, Dr. Katharine Finch, and “Mom,”-- but also in less prominent female characters as well. Vonnegut’s different characterizations of these female characters reveal how different “types” of women were all oppressed under the collective thumb

Read More

Gender Roles In The Play Fences

2195 Words | 9 Pages

It shows that Troy wants Rose to keep the traditional role of a wife, which is to take care of the children and the house. Later on, Troy proceeded by telling Rose that he will give her a talk later and to finish the chicken that she was currently preparing. This shows that the way he approached his wife was different than the way he approached his male friends and that having a talk with a woman was not the same as having a talk with a man even if that woman may be his wife. Another example of masculinity in the story can be seen in Act 1 when Lyons asked Troy for ten dollars. However, when Troy refused Rose was willing to lend him the money he needed.

Read More

Rise Of Enlightened Sexism Analysis

485 Words | 2 Pages

She discusses misrepresentation with a list of “ten enlightened sexism…pretense of simple, depicting reality.” (198) which reinforces these pop culture into own ideals of what gender roles should be in our society.

Read More

Gender Stereotypes In Mean Girls

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

The Role Of Gender Inequality In Waitress

588 Words | 3 Pages

If you eat, sleep, and breathe theatre the way I do you are anxiously awaiting the premiere of “Waitress”, a new musical by Jessie Nelson and Sara Bareilles. This musical is not only turning heads because of its fabulous Tony Award winning leading actress, Jessie Mueller, but also because it is the first Broadway show with an all-female creative team. Girl power, right? Yes, obviously, but it really got me thinking about why it’s taken so long for something like this to happen. After a little digging, I realized that gender inequality is way more prevalent in theatre than I originally expected.

Read More

Gender Roles In Trifles

1014 Words | 5 Pages

The play “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell is largely based on stereotypes. The most prevalent one explores the difference between gender roles. Glaspell exerts the repression of women in the 1900s. During that time, women were highly looked down upon by men, and were only seen as the housekeepers and child bearers. This example is displayed throughout the play with the men, however, the women in this play prove that the stereotypes of gender roles held against them are completely wrong, which is shown through the characters, set design, and symbolism.

Read More

Trifles Gender Roles

823 Words | 4 Pages

The one-act play, “Trifles,” by Susan Glaspell, has several themes that are incorporated within it. There are several dominant ideas such as female identity, patriarchal dominance, isolation, and justice are themes that are all reflected in different ways throughout the play; however, gender is the main theme of “Trifles.” There is a considerable difference between the roles of the men and the women in this play. The men are expected to act in a more controlling, dominant way, while the women are expected to act in the typical ‘housekeeper’ fashion. The theme of gender is brought out through the play in many dramatic elements such as character, tone, and dramatic irony.

Read More

Theme Of Gender In Twelfth Night

938 Words | 4 Pages

This love triangle, and Viola’s disguise, explores gender interiority and emotional intimacy, while thereby allowing the play to overturn the gender conventions and “expectations” established at the time of it’s conception. In the early Renaissance period, relationships were strictly men and women. People did not go around that, and nobody tried to change it, because that is just the way it was. Women were objectified by society and were not seen as being dominant.

Read More

Analysis Of Short Story 'Boys And Girls' By Alice Munro

1091 Words | 5 Pages

This proved when the narrator’s mother always tried to get the narrator to do work that appropriate for a lady instead of outside work, however it was not something that she enjoyed. The narrator also was not considered of real helper to her father because she was a female. This proved when her father introduced the narrator as ‘his new hired hand’ to a salesman, he replied, “I thought it was only a girl” (line 76, paragraph 10).This shows how the society view girl as ‘just a girl’ at that time and it means that their roles are not really significant in the society. As being said by Alexander Pope (1688-1744), “Most women have no character at all.” (Bressler, C.E., 2011).

Read More

Feminist Theatre History

1521 Words | 7 Pages

Feminist theatre was a voice raised against this perspective. It was the construction of a counter cultural politics where women pushed themselves towards the subject position. Feminist theatre argues in favour of the potential of theatre to revise representations of gender differences on the

Read More

More about Marilyn Frye's View Of Sexism

Related Topics

Open Document