Gender Flashcards
How is gender presented?
AIC used as vehicle to place focus on differing treatment of characters based on gender.
How is this done?
Mr B, Gerald & Eric reinforce stereotypes of women being predominantly valued for appearance. Despite gender, Mrs B supports approach in treatment.
Why did Priestley do this?
In order to condemn the objectification of women by society.
At the beginning of the play…
“I think Shiela and I had better go…leave you men-“
“talking about clothes again […] women are potty about ‘em”
(Clothes are)
“a sort of sign of token of their self respect” (patronising, clothes display worth)
“Men … spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You’ll just have to get used to that”
As the play progresses…
“Miss Birling ought to be excused”
“women of the town”
“She’s nothing more to tell you” (Gerald speaking for Shiela)
“any man would’ve enjoyed” (treatment Gerald received from Eva)
At the close of the play…
“in that state where a chap easily turns nasty” (men’s atrocities are commonplace)
“I wasn’t in love with her or anything” (no emotion, women seen as vessels for men to dismiss casually)
“She was pretty and a good sport”
