GENDER (theme)

Question 1

How does Priestly use his gender in his characters?

Answer 1

The behaviour of male and female characters are used to comment on the damage the patriarchal society causes

Question 2

How are women of working class and upper class treated under a patriarchal society?

Answer 2

• Priestley depicts women as vulnerable in patriarchal society

.

• Poorer women are unfairly used for labour & sex due to their gender. (-Eva)
  .
• Wealthy women are sheltered & uninformed which leads them to unknowingly harm others. (-Sheila)

Question 3

What are some of the main effects on children raised under a patriarchy?

Answer 3

GIRLS:

1. shielded from real world issues = making them naive, bratty and unaware of real life struggles
2. Reinforced genter roles = lack of agency/indepentence and focused on apperance and reputation

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BOYS:

1. Emotional Repression = Causes toxic masculinity and internilised inferiority which causes lash outs/ violent tendencies.
2. Entitlement/privilege = taught they should be in charge - so when they aren’t - they find it where they can (over women, drinking, money, ect)

Question 4

• Mrs Birling plays into her steryotypical role as a wife and obeys Mr Birlings commands for her to leave the room.
  .
• She is above him in class but chooses to submit to him –> Suggesting that most women will play into the patriarchal structure set for them.

Answer 4

“Yes, of course, dear” -Mrs Birling (Act 1)

responding to her husband

Question 5

• Shows the stereotypical view of women - believes attractiveness iscrucial for women’s self-respect.
  .
• Speaks for all women - suggesting he believes they are all the same.

Answer 5

“clothes… not only something to make ‘em look prettier, but a sort of sign or token of their self-respect.” -Mr Birling (Act )

Question 6

• Sheila is superficial & concerned with her appearance, as a result of Edwardian expectation of women to appear pretty.
  .
• Her insecurity, due to this upbringing, leads her to question her self-worth and results in her causing damage to Eva.

Answer 6

“She was the right type for it, just as I
was the wrong type.”- Sheila (Act 1)

Question 7

* Alderman Meggarty sexually assaults Eva Smith in the Palace Bar.

• ‘notorious’ - suggests he is well known for this —> but never challenged, due to his status.
  .
• Shows how upper class men exploit working class women for sex.

Answer 7

“a notorious womaniser” -Gerald (Act 2)

Talking about Alderman Meggarty

Question 8

• Mr Birling believes Sheila, (as an unmarried girl) should be kept innocent of knowledge of working-class life.
  .
• Suggests young women were sheltered and treated as children. –> This ignorance contributes to Sheila’s harmful behaviour towards Eva.

Answer 8

“a young, unmarried girl, is
being dragged into this” -Mr Birling (Act 2)

talking about his adult daughter - Sheila

Question 9

” For a girl in her position”- Mrs Birling (Act 2)

talking about Eva

Answer 9

• ‘postion’ could mean class or unmarried pregnancy.
  .
• Does not empathise with Eva and instead is judgmental of her situation as a single mother - as it was seen as disgraceful in society
  —> Despite Eva not choosing to have the child, she is still treated harshly due to the sexist society she is in which blames the girl.

Question 10

• Very rude to the older married women in contrast to the ‘pretty’ younger, working class women in the ‘Palace Bar’

–> could suggest the superficial desire for women to stay young, attractive and desireable.

Answer 10

“I hate these fat old tarts round
the town” -Eric (Act 3)