Gender Flashcards
How is Gender shown in the play
how Mr Birling and Gerald Croft view women
how Mrs Birling treats Eva Smith
how Eva Smith is portrayed as independent and outspoken before her death
How Mr Birling refers to women
When Mr Birling is telling Eric and Gerald about women’s attitudes towards the clothes they wear.
“…not only something to make ‘em look prettier - but - well, a sort of sign or token of their self-respect.”
Mr Birling shows that he has a patronising view of women, making the suggestion that clothes are a sign of self-respect for them. He has a stereotypical view of women here and does not see them as individuals but suggests that all women think in the same way.
How Gerald refers to women
Gerald makes sexist and superficial comments about the women in the bar he visits.
“I hate those hard-eyed dough-faced women.”
Gerald shows that he can be very superficial in his view of women. If they don’t meet his standard of how they ‘should’ look, he dislikes them.
How Mrs Birling treats Eva Smith
When Mrs Birling suggests that Eva is incapable of having feelings.
“She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position.”
Priestley shows that even women like Mrs Birling can be just as cruel and old fashioned as the men are. She does not try to empathise with a member of her own gender. This also highlights her negative attitude towards the working class
