GENDER Flashcards
(32 cards)
what is Priestly’s main message about gender
that traditional gender stereotypes are damaging and stop society progressing
what is the contextual information
Play written in 1945 - women had gained more rights than when the play was set in 1912
audience would be shocked to see this treatment of women
how does Priestly use women in the play
1 to show the different roles women have in society and how they were expected to act
2 they all represent women with different positions in society
what is the purpose of the inspector
1 to slowly break down the gender stereotype.
3 Although male he is not overly masculine
“Need not be a big man but creates an impression of massiveness
shows that masculinity does not need to depend on violence
2 He takes over Mr Birling as the dominant male figure - foreshadowing Priestly’s hope for a more progressive future.
What does Mrs Birling stand for
1 symbol of 1912 traditional woman
2- sees herself as inferior to men despite being opinionated -
3 only has opinions about other female characters and doesn’t get involved in mens business
4 She is from the class above Mr Birling but as a woman is seen as inferior
5 Her views on women are directed at lower classes
what does Mrs Birling try to do
pass her traditional values to her daughter
give an example of a time when Mrs Birling shows she believes men are in charge
when the inspector left she said “now just be quiet so your father can decide what we ought to do”
suggests that women invalidate themselves and other women and let men take control
how does she pass her traditions to her daughter
1 by teaching Sheila to be dependent on and loyal to men
“when you are married you will realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all of their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that just as I did” - she is saying to Sheila to get used to and accept mistreatment and neglect. It implies men’s work is more valuable
How does Mrs Birling reinforce belief that women are to stupid to be involved in business matters and that is is unlady like to comment on politics or world affairs
1 “I think Sheila and I had better go into the drawing room and leave you men”
she physically separates the 2 genders
what is Mrs Birling’s attitude to other women
1 mocking , she refers to Sheila as being “over excited…. a hysterical child…… and childish” terms all commonly used by men to undermine women
2 She uses this description to put down women
3 She uses the terms to present Sheila as irrational and immature
what happens to Sheila’s character throughout the play
1 she transforms from a stereotypical upper class girl into an assertive independent woman
2 more liberal than her mother
3 seems to be entering a relationship out of love not a formal arrangement
4 Her character reflects womens sufferage 1912-1945
throughout play
How is Sheila presented at the start of the play why
1 naive, maerialistic, spiteful greedy -
2 Priestly shows women had to rely on clothes and jewlery for self expression
What is Eva like
1 opposite to Mrs Birling
2 she works and isn’t afraid to voice her opinions to men
3 she is not portrayed as a weak, self pitting victim She is assertive, outspoken, determined
4vPriestly suggests this is why she is treated badly by Birling because she defied his expectations of a working class women
what does Eva do that shows she is a leader How did Birling react
1 she is a ring leader in the factory strike
2 Mr Birling said “She had a lot to say far to much so she had to go” he wanted to shut down her opinions
what other issues regarding women does Priestly explore
1 pregnancy outside the marriage - seen as a scandal
2 her story about being abandoned by her husband was her attempt to make her story respectable
why did Sheila treat Eva as she did
1 she was jealous of Eva because she has been taught she needs to be the most beautiful woman in the room -
what do Sheila’s interactions with Gerald tell us about her
1 at the start she appears respectful and conforms to social norms
2 when she interrogates Gerald about last summer she is “half serious and playful” suggesting inner conflict
3 after her interrogation with Inspector she voices her frustration “why you fool he knows of course he knows” shows she will no longer tolerate his lies.
4 This behaviour would have been shocking challenge her fiance
when does Sheila start to challenge her family
1when they try to exclude her from the conversation !i want to understand exactly what happens” she has recognised her own self worth
2 when she hands back the ring she is rejecting his control and lies - she sees marriage as a way to control women
3 Sheila can be seen as a reflection of the suffrage movement
How is Mr Birling presented
1 has traditional sexist values and expects to be unchallenged
2 He treats women in a disrespectful manner and is blind to how cruel his actions to Eva are because he doesn’t recognise her as an equal human
How does Mr Birling show he prioritises mens interests over womens
1 He does this because he only sees men as his equal
during the toast he addresses Gerald directly rather than Sheila implies he cares more about Gerald’s than Sheila’s happiness
2 He also makes the engagement all about himself - he is self obsessed
3”shell make you happy” demonstrates his belief that it is a wifes only duty to please her husband and suggests he views Sheila as a gift he is giving to Gerald because he referenced Gerald’s happiness before Sheila’s
after Gerald’s affair is discovered Mr Birling sides with Gerald what does this tell you
1 Mr Birling does not care his daughter has been hurt as the engagement is the most important thing to consider “I am not defending him but” - suggests he thinks women should tolerate a husbands mistreatment
2 It shows males stood together to dominate and isolate women
what does Mr Birling do to Eva’s character
1sexualises her “she was a lively good looking girl
I fancy - country bred “ portrays her as an animal or livestock I fancy suggests he fantisises about her
How does his treatment of Eva contrast with that of Sheila
1 it is in contrast he tried to exclude Sheila from discussions about Eva’s death and Gerald’s affair to protect her- highlights the treatment of women depended on their social class
what does Eric represent
1 younger generation of men who are taught misogyny by their fathers
2 also to explore the damaging effects of masculinity
