Implications about Gender in The Devil Wears Prada.
In the movie, the main character (Andy) takes a job as the assisstant to a powerful business woman (Miranda) in the cutthroat world of fashion. The implications present in the film address ideas about women in the workplace, the relationship obligations and duties of men and women, gender roles in society, and women in places of power/control. Miranda has marital problems and undergoes a divorce in the movie. Her husband feels she spends too much time working, and is severely immasculated when she repeatedly fails to show up for their dinner dates leaving him to sit alone in the restaurant. Their relationship suffers because they cannot work out their problems together and he cannot accept having a wife who is more powerful and makes more money than him. He probably feels that it is his responsibility to be the primary "bread winner" of the household, to take care and provide for his family and cannot handle that Miranda is the provider in their relationship. Andy has her own relationship problems with her boyfriend when she starts working for Miranda. She has less and less time to spend with him and her personality and character changes drastically, physically and mentally. Andy's boyfriend does not like the person she is becoming but Andy must put her relationship on the "back burner" and concentrate on her career, a concept that was unheard of before women's rights movements. The definition of femininity has changed much from that time. Its more socially acceptable for women to be the primary providers, make more money than their spouses, and hold high career positions. However, many people still cannot shake the old sentiments and beliefs. As in the movie, many women in powerful positions end up feeling guilty for not being a better wife or mother according to societal standards. Fortunately, as more and more women take on the business world, the crippling and sometimes absurd standards of our culture are becoming less of an issue and source of pressure/stress on both men and women alike.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
First Post
Implications about Gender in a Popular Youtube video.
In the infamous Youtube video "Unforgiveable," a young male is shown rambling and babbling completely random things, some of which are extremely violent and vulgar towards women in general. His comments demoralize women and portray females as inferior to men and ultimately disrespects them to an unacceptable extent. The video contains negative undertones and ideas such as women should be submissive to men, act a certain way, be indifferent when subject to disrespectful comments, etc. Though it seems the video was meant for humorous purposes (which is visible because the guy can't keep from laughing), the type of humor in it is not exactly what many women would appreciate. "Unforgiveable" has unfortunately been viewed over 12 million times and continues to be circulated amongst adults as well as teenagers and children, whom I believe should not be able to access it so easily.
In the infamous Youtube video "Unforgiveable," a young male is shown rambling and babbling completely random things, some of which are extremely violent and vulgar towards women in general. His comments demoralize women and portray females as inferior to men and ultimately disrespects them to an unacceptable extent. The video contains negative undertones and ideas such as women should be submissive to men, act a certain way, be indifferent when subject to disrespectful comments, etc. Though it seems the video was meant for humorous purposes (which is visible because the guy can't keep from laughing), the type of humor in it is not exactly what many women would appreciate. "Unforgiveable" has unfortunately been viewed over 12 million times and continues to be circulated amongst adults as well as teenagers and children, whom I believe should not be able to access it so easily.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
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