In class essay (feminintiy) Flashcards
(26 cards)
Which Character sparks a feminist reading of Billy Elliot?
Mrs Wilkinson
understand
Why is her character analyzed through a feminist lense?
To understand how she both conforms to, and challenges traditional gender roles.
business
How does Mrs Wilkinson challenge prevailing patriarchal norms of her context?
In the small mining town of Everington, she challenges prevailing patriarchal norms because she is a working mother who owns and runs what appears to be a thriving small business, her ballet school.
teacher
commitment to profession
Professional ambition (Mrs Wilkinson)
Mrs Wilkinson is portrayed as a dedicated and passionate ballet teacher. Her commitment to her profession challenges the traditional notion that a woman’s primary role is in the domestic sphere. She is a working woman who takes pride in her career and strives to make a difference in her students lives.
pursue ballet despitediscourage
barriers
potential
Mentorship and empowerment (Mrs Wilkinson)
She recognizes Billy’s talent and encourages him to pursue ballet, despite the societal expectations and gender norms that discourage boys from dancing.
This mentorship role highlights her belief in breaking down gender barriers and supporting individual potential regardless of gender.
exudes
stron-willed
confidence defies traditional expectations
Independence and Strength (Mrs Wiklinson)
Mrs Wilkinsons character exudes independence and strength. She is depicted as a strong-willed woman who stands up to Billy’s father and tempestuous, challenging their narrow-minded perspective of gender roles and the arts. Her assertiveness and confidence are traits that defy the traditional submissive female stereotype.
mother
guidance
dual role
Maternal Intincts (Mrs Wilkinson)
Despite her professional ambitions, Mrs Wilkinson also exhibits maternal instints, particularly in her relationship with Billy. She becomes a mother figure to him, providing emotional support and guidance.
This dual role of professional and nurturer reflects the societal expectation that women should balance career and caregiving responsibilities.
S
D
P
P
E
B
D
Key aspects of historical patriarchal femininity
- Submissiveness and Obedience
- Domesticity
- Purity and chastity
- Passivity and Gentleness
- Emotionality
- Beauty and appearance
- Dependence
surrogate
caregiving
“I’ll give you the money for the fare”
Mrs Wilkinson becomes Billy’s surrogate mother, providing his with emotional support, guidance and ultimately exhibits caregiving/nurturing responsibilities, stating to Jackie that she would pay for his trip to London.
provider
autonomy&rejection
How does “I’ll give you the money for the fare” subvert feminine expectations?
Her willingness to financially support Billy’s trip to London further subverts traditional expectations, as she assumes a provider role typically associated with men, especially in the 1980s mining community where the film Billy Elliot is set. This act demonstrates her autonomy and rejection of the idea that women should be financially dependent on men.
fulfills
independent
nuanced engagement with gender norms
How does “I’ll give you the money for the fare” conform to feminine expectations?
At the same time, she also conforms to traditional gender roles through her nurturing, caregiving nature. By stepping in as Billy’s surrogate mother, she fulfills the role of an emotional supporter, guiding and encouraging him to pursue his passion. Her dual role as both a caregiver and an assertive, independent figure reflects a nuanced engagement with gender norms—she both challenges and conforms to them in different ways.
When she reads the letter from Billy’s late mother, and he recites it alongside her from memory, it….
it creates a deeply intimate and emotional connection between them
Mother
bridge
personal/intimacy
nurturing - mtrait
nond, shots
How does the letter scene show conformity to gender roles.
This scene highlights how Mrs. Wilkinson steps into the role of a mother figure, providing Billy with the emotional support and reassurance he lacks from his own family.
By sharing this moment, she not only acknowledges the significance of Billy’s mother in his life but also becomes a bridge between his past and future.
Her willingness to engage with such a personal and vulnerable part of Billy’s life reflects her deep care for him, reinforcing her position as his surrogate mother.
This scene showcases her nurturing nature, a traditionally maternal trait, further solidifying how she conforms to certain aspects of traditional gender roles while also challenging them in other ways.
Non-diegetic music is poignant, the shots cut between a medium closeup of Billy to a full shot of Mrs Wilkinson, with Billy positioned closer to the camera but without focus, so he is like a silhouette and then to a medium closeup of Mrs Wilkinson, reinforcing the intimacy of the moment.
equal
mutual joy
actively engages
‘I like to boogie” duet
Rather than simply nurturing Billy in a conventional motherly way, Mrs. Wilkinson treats him as a dance partner, an artist in his own right.
This moment showcases mutual joy, creativity, and shared passion, suggesting that their relationship is built on more than just emotional support—it’s about empowerment and inspiration.
Unlike a strictly maternal figure who might simply encourage from the sidelines, Mrs. Wilkinson actively engages with Billy in his journey, reinforcing the idea that she challenges traditional gender roles by fostering his talent in a non-traditional, male-dominated environment.
Evidence for patriarchal context: power differential between men and women in society. Does this through the signs.
Sandra Wilkinson’s dance school (red sign), is of negligible size in comparison to the boxing sign (clearer and above). Colour is associated with gender binaries, Billy wears the same colour as the ballet sign, and the door could be a symbol of a pathway to a new identity. Also, she has been coaching ballet in the basement, whereas the boys partake in boxing on the second floor.
stands up for herself
resist
How does Mrs. Wilkinson challenge male authority in Billy’s house?
She stands up for herself and Billy when criticized, loudly and passionately defending the arts. She refuses to back down to Jackie and Tony, showing that women can resist patriarchal control.
defense of autition
broader
What does Mrs. Wilkinson’s argument evolve into during the confrontation? (Billy’s House Scene)
It begins as a defense of Billy’s audition but shifts into a broader critique of the town’s restrictive masculinity and limited opportunities for boys like Billy.
piss
stifling
lack of opportunity
condemns
What quote from Mrs. Wilkinson directly criticizes the town’s expectations of masculinity? (Billy’s House Scene)
“He’s not destined to grow leeks and piss his wages up the wall.”
This condemns the stifling expectations placed on boys in the mining community, highlighting the lack of opportunities for self-expression.
close-up shot
wider shots aggressive
How does the cinematography emphasize the conflict in this scene? (Billy’s House Scene)
Close-up shots of Mrs. Wilkinson highlight her defiance and articulate speech, while wider shots show the aggressive and violent responses from Tony, reinforcing the power struggle.
How does the scene reflect dominant masculinity in Billy’s household? (Billy’s House Scene)
The aggression from Tony and Jackie reflects the town’s rigid ideas of masculinity, where art is dismissed and violence is normalized as a way to assert dominance.
strong, articulate
question
How does this scene invite the audience to view masculinity differently? (Billy’s House Scene)
By portraying Mrs. Wilkinson as strong and articulate against the town’s oppressive masculinity, the scene encourages the audience to question rigid male roles and consider more positive expressions of masculinity.
provokes
tempestuous
punished
How does Mrs. Wilkinson’s role in this scene compare to traditional gender expectations? (Billy’s House Scene)
She is tolerated when teaching young girls ballet, but when she trains a boy, she provokes male anger. Tony, in particular, is tempestuous, reacting aggressively, showing how women who defy gender roles are often punished.
How does this scene relate to Boy Swallows Universe? (Billy’s House Scene)
Like Mrs. Wilkinson, Frankie Bell defies patriarchal norms but is brutalized by male aggression. Frankie’s life is shaped by male violence, from her abandonment by her father to the abuse she endures from men like Teddy. However, both women are resilient, with Frankie ultimately reclaiming her life, much like Mrs. Wilkinson refuses to submit to the men in Billy’s household. The texts critique hegemonic masculinity, showing how women who resist are punished, yet persist.
Progressive
unapologetically outspoken
broader feminist movements
How does Billy Elliot reflect gender progressiveness in the early 2000s through Mrs. Wilkinson?
Billy Elliot challenges rigid gender roles, not just through Billy but also through Mrs. Wilkinson, who embodies a progressive form of femininity. Unlike traditional female figures, she is assertive, ambitious, and unapologetically outspoken, rejecting the expectation that women should be gentle and nurturing. Her role as Billy’s mentor reflects the shifting gender norms of the early 2000s, aligning with broader feminist movements advocating for female authority and leadership in male-dominated spaces.
