Femininity in the Society - Essay Example

Femininity in Society Femininity in the society Introduction Feminine can be defined as a belief that attributes women with certain roles,attributes, and behaviors. It also tends to limit women on what they are supposed to do and how they are supposed to carry out themselves. Femininity is usually perceived like a social construct that encompasses both biologically created and socially defined factors. Feminism can be defined as the collection of ideologies and movements sharing a common goal in defining, establishing and achieving equal economic, political, personal, social rights and cultural for women. It entails calling for the establishment of equal opportunities for women in opportunities such as employment and education.1 Several films and books have been developed in all corners of the world trying to stereotype femininity. There has been a consistent struggle for the equal rights for women in the feminist movements. The situation has improved to some extent, but femininity is yet to be dealt with in the society. Some of the rights that the feminist movements have been fighting for include women holding public office, the right to vote, to education, equal pay or fair wages, equal rights within marriage among others. Since 1960s, there have been radical campaigns that have been advocating for equal rights for women. It is worth noting, however, that women are still facing discrimination of job opportunities, and they still face sexual harassment, rape, and domestic violence. The films ‘Bend it like Beckham’ (2002) and ‘A Taste of Honey’ (1961) are some of the films that clearly reveal the femininity aspect in two distinct social contexts. The document below analyzes how femininity aspect is revealed in these two films as well as tries to understand how femininity has been changing since 1960s. Discussion ‘A Taste of Honey’ can be termed as the kitchen sink theater. This is because it incorporates domestic and family settings so as examine some social and class issues. This film portrays the lives of people leading a deprived life as well as people living in a working class. The film, however, addresses some aspects that are linked to femininity. The film depicts Jo and Helen as impoverished, hopeless and helpless. This is one aspect that expresses women as a disadvantaged group of people by their living conditions. Helen is the mother to Jo. These two characters are depicted in the film in a constant argument. This is an aspect that shows women as disrespectful to each other.2 Jo, however, reveals the potential of making more of herself that Helen had. Helen is also depicted by the film to be less caring of what was happening to Jo. This is another aspect that is stereotyping women’s behavior in the society. By this, the film depicts that women are never concerned about each other. Helen is Jo’s mother but never cares for her. In later chapters we see her minding about Peter a guy who they fell in love with. The director of the film was trying to show that women in the society are concerned with men alone specifically their husbands. This is a very high level of stereotyping since Jo is not just another lady but Helen’s daughter. Peter is introduced in the film which is depicted to be in love with Helen, Jo’s mother. Peter demands sex with Helen although Helen is revealed as uninterested about it. The fact that Peter was demanding for sex shows the position women are put in the society. They have no right at all of making any decision rather men total power over women’s life. Sex matters are too personal to be demanded for especially in the modern society. However, since the society had termed women as weak and disadvantaged while men as their masters, this gives Peter strength to demand for sex. The power men were given by the society gave them an opportunity of gaining whatever they want from women. Peter then shows his interest in marrying Helen. Although it seems a hard gesture to be taken, Helen is revealed as considerate of this idea. This reveals how helpless women are in the society. According to the social set up, women should listen and adhere to men’s directives. Jo ends up falling in love with Geof, who is a caring homosexual who moves to live with her in their flat. Jo, however, assumed that Geof was kicked out of the house by the landlady for entertaining male lover although the truth of this is not known. Geof reveals intentions of tidying up the flat. Jo is attacked of self-pity and claimed of hating babies as well as the motherhood aspect. The main reason as to why pity was attacking Jo is the notion that cleaning was supposed to lady’s but not a man’s role. This is stereotyping of gender roles where the society has outlined specific roles for men and other of women. This is one degree of femininity. For long, cleaning duties have been attributed to ladies.3 This was the main reason as to why Jo was feeling pity when Geof offered to clean the flat. Peter then arrives drunk and unpleasant to every person there insulting Geof, mocking Jo and quarreling with his wife. Helen offered to take Jo home, but Peter revealed some fury and gave Helen an ultimatum to either go home with him hence leave Jo or to stay away. She eventually chose to go home with Peter. This reveals how Helen had no power and right to make any decision rather she had to adhere to any directive of his husband. This is another degree of femininity where women are believed to submit to every directive of the husband The film’s cinematography was designed so as to show femininity clearly. Women in the film are revealed as impoverished especially Helen. This is gender stereotyping in the sense that women are dependent on men the reason that contributed to the poverty that was revealed in the lives of the female characters in the film. Women are shown wearing indecently in the film as opposed to their male counterparts. This is another aspect of gender stereotyping. Women are also revealed as fearful especially when they are dealing with men. Helen is showing a great level of fear and submissiveness to Peter. This reveals how women are helpless in the society.4 ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ is another film that addresses femininity. The film is primarily about soccer. The film’s protagonist is from a traditional Indian family where food is believed to play a very crucial role. Jess is the film’s protagonist. She enters into a great conflict with her family especially the mother over her soccer love. She meets Jules, who encouraged her to join their team, the Hounslow Harriers. Jess accepted the offer and joined the team irrespective of her mother’s wishes. This is the aspect that revolves around the entire context of the gender roles. This society believed that playing football was for men only and women were supposed to concentrate on kitchen affairs which could be termed their gender roles.4 Jess and Jules were sailing in the same ocean irrespective of different cultural background. They found themselves in a situation whereby their mothers failed to approve their dedication in sports. The film’s title cues the viewer in the tension of both Mrs. Paxton and Mrs. Bhamra and their daughters. This film does very well in stereotyping the gender roles. The two women appear with food in the film. According to Uma Narayan, a then feminist philosopher, cooking was symbolic especially in the Indian culture. It was hence mandatory for an Indian woman to know how to cook. Mrs. Bhamra is revealed in the film as an excellent example of a perfect Indian femininity. She is shown almost every time preparing, eating or serving food. Preparation of these meals marks the culture’s continuity as well as her attempts of teaching this to her daughter. Jess is revealed as acting contrary to the set gender roles as well as jeopardizing her future as a result of showing no interest in learning how to cook. It is perceived as a shame to the family. This is a typical example of gender role stereotyping where Jess’s mother believes cooking is the only way would assure her daughter a bright future.5 An argument is revealed in the film between Jess and her mother. This was after the mother discovered that Jess had joined a girls’ team. Jess is revealed sitting on a couch while her parents are looming over her. Mrs. Bhamra expressed worry about the future of Jess, her daughter. She was greatly concerned with whether her daughter would get a person to marry her. She is revealed wondering whether there is any family would accept a daughter in law who will always be running around kicking football all day long, and she cannot make a round chapatti. After an appeal to the father had failed, jess’s mother declared that there was no football anymore. Bhamra is, however, motivated by the desire of passing on the traditional Punjabi culture and perceives cooking as a way that will enhance Jess will have a good future. This was more so in terms of her marriage. Jess considered the cooking lessons as a way being used by her mother to control her future. She also perceived it as a way through which her mother was trying to force her into a particular feminine ideal. When Jess brought soccer in the kitchen as her own identity’s assertion, it is perceived as a real threat to her culture. Jules’s mother, however, started understanding the obsession to soccer of her daughter. In the film, Jules’s mother started revealing this via the use of food. Another scene reveals both Mr. and Mrs. Paxton at a patio table enjoying wine while waiting for Jules to get home for dinner. All types of spice bottles and condiment are arranged on this table the way football players arranges themselv6es in the soccer field. When Jules entered, she saw her mother being taught the game’s rules and noticed that her mother had read a stack of soccer magazines. Jess’s mother, however, ended up understanding her daughter’s obsession with football. This reveals that before the films end both daughters had managed to bend the gender rules so as to pursue their dreams of becoming professional football players. Mrs. Bhamra was initially a roadblock to the future of Jess to become a soccer player. She believed that the future of her daughter was supposed to be rooted in the kitchen. Eventually, Jess’s mother is very much willing to let her daughter pursue her soccer dream. This, however, was after she was convinced that Jess was capable of continuing the Indian heritage as it was symbolized by the Indian cuisine. Mrs. Paxton had been an obstacle to Jules career for long. Her conflicts with the daughter continued to alienate her from her daughter. Eventually, she uses food in making efforts of understanding and supporting her daughter. The film airs the gender role stereotyping perfectly. However, the two girls on subject managed to break-through the opposition they were facing. It is of importance to note that irrespective of the fact that the parents resolved to support their soccer career they used food in expressing their support. This indicates that they would not run away from their gender roles although they have been given an opportunity to continue participating in a men-based role. Writers in the world have written numerous works that aimed to enlighten people on gender stereotyping. Monica Sjöö is one of the writers who wrote works which addressed gender stereotyping in the society. “God Giving Birth” is a perfect example of her works. She revealed God as a black woman. The works partly aimed at empowering the women of color. In the works, she developed a picture that seemed somehow pornographic. She depicted this divine woman as attractive to men. This revealed how women should look like and behave so as to fulfill the societal standard. She also revealed God as a woman a perception contrary to many people’s perception who thinks God is a man. The works hence were challenging people that women are also potential, and they are not the way people perceive them. This calls for changing people’s perception of women.7 Since 1960s to date, femininity has been undergoing a consistent change both in meaning as well as its manifestation in the society. Before the year 1960, women were not supposed to serve in a jury, get a credit card, experience equality in a workplace as well as get an Ivy League education. This means that femininity could be defined as women have no right at all. They should, therefore, stay at home or do petty jobs and if they get work they should be ready to be marginalized. In 1960s and 70s, there were radical feminist movements. They focused on dismantling inequality in workplaces. The inequality entailed the denial of accessing salary inequity and better jobs.7 The movement gave rise to anti-discrimination laws. These laws proposed prohibition of gender discrimination. This hence changed the meaning of femininity in that women could now be employed in decent workplaces. Femininity, however, has not been handled satisfactorily in the society. It is evident that laws have been formulated that advocate for equality in both family affairs and employment aspects. However, gender stereotyping is yet to be handled fully. Activities such as sexual harassment, rape and beating of women are still evident in the modern society. They are done irrespective of the rules and laws that have been laid down. This indicates that people need taught on how handle women.8 This gender stereotyping can easily lead to the violation of women’s rights. These rights include right of making decisions on their own. They can also be easily misled by men since the social set up dictates whatever men says to them is right and should be strictly adhered to. They will also be denied from participating in things which mean a lot to them. Jess and Jules were almost locked out of pursuing their dream and passion by the social set up or in other words gender stereotyping. This indicates that a lot need to be done especially on educating members of the society on how they need to treat women. Gender stereo typing has potential of ruining the lives of both women as well as the entire society. This is in the sense that women might be locked out in participating events that can be of great benefit to the society such as medicine. This indicates that gender stereotyping need to be abolished in the society. Conclusion The discussion above has revealed that femininity has been in existence for decades now. It has improved for that matter. This indicates that there is hope in femininity aspect improving. However, a lot need to be done so as to ensure that gender stereotyping has been tackled the way it ought to. Gender stereotyping in terms of behavior and roles is a jeopardizing activity, and thus the society need to develop means and ways of fighting it completely. The girl child is a child with equal rights as the male children. The society should, therefore, be encouraged to offer them equal rights as the boy children. Bibliography Delaney, Shelagh. 1961. A Taste of honey: a play. London: Methuen. Delaney, Shelagh. 1997. A taste of honey. London [u.a.]: Methuen. Dhami, Narinder. 2005. Bend it like Beckham Hauptband. Hauptband. Stuttgart [u.a.]: Klett. Dhami, Narinder, Paul MayedaBerges, GuljitBindra, and GurinderChadha. 2007. Bend it like Beckham. London: Hodder Childrens Books. Freedman, Estelle B. 2002. No turning back the history of feminism and the future of women. New York: Ballantine Books. Read More