GENDER Flashcards
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
