Key Themes - Attitudes Towards Women Flashcards
What was expected of upper class women?
To be well educated
To make their fathers and husbands look good.
To dress well
To throw social events.
What was expected of women in certain conversations?
They couldn’t hear serious conversations, and were supposed to leave.
What is the first example of the divide between men and women in the play?
The women leave to let the men speak about serious conversations.
Mr Birling tries to send Sheila away when the Inspector comes.
How did society treat Eva Smith?
She wasn’t valued because she was a lower class women.
What were the employment struggles of women?
Many lower class women were forced into prostitution if they couldn’t get a job.
What was the male treatment of women?
Many men viewed women as objects, not as human beings.
How was the theme of inequality presented by Erics treatment of Eva?
Eric uses is physical power of a man and his status to force himself onto Eva. He treats her as if she is an object to be used and doesn’t think about the consequences it has on her.
How was the theme of inequality presented through Mrs Birlings treatment of Eva?
Mrs Birling turns Eva away because she doesn’t believe that lower class women would ever refuse money just because it was stolen.
How was the theme of inequality presented through Mr Birlings treatment of Eva?
He sees women as expendable and feels like he can just hire new ones when he fires other workers.
How does Priestly use Geralds treatment of Eva to present the idea of inequality?
He takes Eva in as his mistress because she is young and pretty and then he just throws her away when he is done using her.
How was the theme of inequality presented through Mr and Mrs Birlings relationship?
Even though Mrs Birling is a higher class than Mr Birling he has all the power in the family because he is a man.
How was the theme of inequality presented through Geralds and Sheilas relationship?
Sheila is expected to marry Gerald even though he’s had an affair,people didnt think it was a big deal if the man was cheating, because they were ‘having fun’.
She is meant to be decorative for him,bear his children and to make him look good.
