The Breadwinner Gender Feminist Lens

“‘She's only a child, she meant nothing by it.” ‘She drawing attention to herself, she should be at home, not displaying herself at the market.’” (The Breadwinner). Nora Twomey, the director of “ The Breadwinner” tells the story of 11-year-old Parvana and her family during life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. A life where women are not allowed outside of their houses without a man, or else they will be beaten. After Parvana's father is wrongfully arrested, Parvana and her friend, Shauzia, make a plan to rescue him. To do so, Parvana dresses up as a boy and sees a whole new world of opportunity. After many hardships, her father is found and rescued. “The Breadwinner” Is best read through the Gender Feminist lens. The gender feminist lens is crucial

Parvana and her mother are in desperate need of food and water from the market after the arrest of her father. Afghanistan during this time did not allow women to show themselves without a husband, son, uncle, etc. Women are also not allowed to show any skin of any kind. Parvana and her mother stopped while out getting food. A man began to yell at them, telling them to go home. The man grew angrier and angrier and began shouting at Parvana. Parvana's mother tried standing up for her daughter, but it only angered the man more. The man began to beat the mother aggressively before she and Parvana went home. "She's only a child, she meant nothing to it.” ‘She drawing attention to herself, she should be at home, not displaying herself at the market.’” (The Breadwinner). In relation to the gender/feminist lens, Parvana and her mother were being treated differently only because of their gender. Women are not only expected to hide and cover up, but also forced to. Parvana and her mother obviously did not want to stay inside because they needed food to survive, but they were forced to