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Explore the ways in which Priestley presents women in An Inspector Calls -…
Explore the ways in which Priestley presents women in An Inspector Calls
stereotypes
housewife:
household chores, cooking, satisfying the husbands needs
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 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.
must stay obedient to fathers or husbands
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
protected:
Mrs Birling was also protected from outside affairs, such as the knowledge that many upper class men attended prostitute bars (the ‘stalls bar’) and that her son drank excessively. These leads to conflict within the family.
adjectives
hysterical
giddy
naïve
inferior to men
toys to be used then thrown away (eva)
decorations not humans
delicate
fragile
innocent
seen as possesions of their husbands or fathers
context
many men went away during ww2 so women had to fill their positions whilst they were gone
gained a new sense of power
quotes
not only something to make 'em look prettier - but - well, a sort of sign or token of their self-respect
she had alot to say - far too much - she had to go
freedom of speech wasn't taken seriously when it came to women, men didn't think it was a necessity for women. p presents the lack of importance given to women (eg. Birling cutting in before Sheila is about to make a point devaluating Sheila's freedom of speech.) Birling doesn't think Sheila can handle the inspector and wants to 'settle it sensibly' for her which he doesn't offer for G or E
EBI
gender norms
political ideaology