The Women - Film Viewing

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We viewed the 2008 film The Women in class which is a modern adaption of the 1930s play in the same name. I focused on many aspects on the film as I want to focus on women's representation and gender in my project.

- Most women in the film were very classic ideas of what it means to be female eg. likes shopping, gossip etc.

 - Idea throughout that you can't be with a man if your more successful than him?

 - The young girl worries she's fat, idea must be inspired by the role models and women she has around her?

 - women from lots of different job roles - high fliers, charitable ladies, nannies, cleaners etc.

 - Awareness of the trappings of women's magazine. They put a perfect image of women that impossible to achieve in them and although we know this we keep reading and buying them.

 - Story line hinges on women's tendency to gossip - what does this say about women even if they're meant to be 'good'

 -  Different ideas of motherhood - the hectic mother with many children (loves them a lot but very tired from them all) main character whose own problems cause her to ignore her child's problems

 - Men are there in spirit throughout the film but they are never actually present. We as an audience build an idea of their characters based on stereotypes we know without ever meeting them. These women's lives hinge on men that are never present - how much influence men have whether they're in our lives or not.

 - Idea of reinventing yourself is strong - finding self-love, changing hair = embodies identity change, finding a true passion when free from man.

 - Although the women all work different jobs they are all still stereotypical 'womens' jobs. the high flier works in fashion which is a female industry, the mother then goes onto work in fashion designing, housekeeper, beautician, sales assistant etc.

 - The reinvention of the main character means she comes out more feminine. Does dressing more sexually mean more empowering? Message is to succeed we need to act more feminine?

- The high powered career character in the end gives up her job to find love - message that women can't find love when they're more successful than men? That women can't succeed at the top? There is never a man present and yet the male is the reason she leaves her job.