I have a favorite author, William Shakespeare, and his work has been read the world over and replicated frequently. Known as one of his common themes, gender mix ups make many of Shakespeare’s comedies and some of his tragedies potential texts to be viewed with a feminist lens. One of my favorite modern adaptations of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is Andy Fickman’s 2006 film She’s the Man. When analyzed with a feminist perspective, this film has it all.
Shakespeare and Fickman do an excellent job challenging feminine and masculine traits as a sociocultural construct, because the main character in She’s the Man, Viola, quite easily passes herself off as her brother’s male gender both in his school dormitory and on his soccer team (Sellnow, 2017, p. 140). This challenges the idea that predominantly male activities are not just for males, thus contesting the enduring gender stereotype around sports. Viola finally finds some empowerment as a female, but only after she has proven her skills on the field as male. Because she has to hide behind the masculine mask she wears to prove herself, this an oppositional reading, not truly demonstrating that females are fully empowered as themselves, but only empowered when they attempt to participate in sports the way a male would.
Because Fickman doesn’t make Viola’s story all about the romance she feels for her male teammate, Duke, the male dominance is not reaffirmed in this text (Walsh et al., 2008, p. 123). As a truly round character, the storyline sticks with Viola’s true friendships with other females, as well as her development and acceptance, again, of her truly feminine identity.
Of course, by the end of the film, the boy(s) gets the girl(s) and everything turns out just fine for everyone involved. Rarely is that the case in real life. Why is it that women must act like men in order to be seen?
References
Sellnow, D. D. (2017). The rhetorical power of popular culture: Considering mediated texts. SAGE Publications.
Walsh, K. R., Fürsich, E., & Jefferson, B. S. (2008). Beauty and the Patriarchal Beast: Gender Role Portrayals in Sitcoms Featuring Mismatched Couples. Journal of Popular Film & Television, 36(3), 123–132. https://doi-org.proxy.li.suu.edu:2443/10.3200/JPFT.36.3.123-132
I work in a profession that is historically male dominated, only 5% of a 20,000 person organization are women. When I examine current and past leaders it's also male dominated at the executive level. I've recognized that the women who do rise to executive level leadership positions have commonalities, no children, moved locations multiple times, and have adopted leadership styles emulating the male leaders. Instead of a fresh perspective and highlighting their unique qualities, they have chosen a path of conformity so their male peers and deciding official on promotions will notice them assimilating to the dominant culture.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your thoughts! I feel like I have a two part answer to your question. Since the majority of businesses have historically been run by men women must play that role to be taken seriously. This is in part to expectations that are set which generally fall into traditional masculine qualities.I do want to make note that the women who are taking on these masculine qualities to excel in business have to tread lightly. I say that because they are not viewed the same. A male CEO who takes business lunches with women all the time is seen as strategic and a power move. Though, if a women CEO was to do the same, many would imply she is sleeping around.
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