essay plan (kind of all over the place :|)

Detailed Essay Plan

*To what extent is the female portrayed as the more dominant and responsible figure in comparison to her male counterpart, with regards to the film "Knocked Up", and how does this challenge traditional stereotypes promulgated by other film texts?

Introduction
• Women in previous years have been ideologically stereotyped as “the traditional housewife”- briefly discuss the women’s movement and how it changed- introduction of contraception etc. made women more libertine
• Two fundamental stereotypes of women, that of “purity and innocence” and the idea that women are perceived to be “sexual objects” – “Throughout much of film history, women have been depicted as manipulative, sexually repressed, or sexually overt.” (women in film)
• Women are subliminally objectified in films and considered subordinate to men examples of some films I will be looking at.
• Focus on the question, the film depicts Alison as being a strong and independent individual- "Katherine Heigl plays Alison (blonde, beautiful, focused)"- *Reviews” however this is important as it illustrates that she is still objectified as her appearance is the most significant when it comes to her job.

No she is not dominant, objectified- Arguments

• “Alison, the film’s obvious projection of its female ideal, combines the boring-as-cardboard stereotypes of knock-out blond beauty and girl-next-door goodness”

• “In the absence of male domination, she wasn’t allowed to be feminine and submissive the way she becomes in this final scene.”- women need to be controlled (Debbie)

• Alison is placed on television predominantly due to her appearance....thus suggesting image matters more which implies that she may also be considered inferior within the household.

• Ben gets a job and attempts to be involved in the baby's life- however lack of responsibility when he doesn't read birth books.

• maternal instinct- shows less dominance and thus opposes idea as the women is naturally considered to be more emotional.

• “Debbie begins as an embodiment of everything women supposedly become if men “subject” themselves to marriage; she is nagging, cold, annoying, controlling, obsessive, uninteresting, and superficial.” (quote from a review) this suggests that the film portrays the women as coforming to their “nagging”, “housewife “ stereotypes.

• In the scene where Ben shouts at Debbie- male domination


Yes she is more dominant- Arguments

• Alison has a job and is career focused- which challenges the traditional stereotype of the woman as the “housewife” and the man as the “breadwinner”

• Alison's sister is more controlling over her husband and makes all decisions....which contrasts with the ideological superiority of the male in the household.

• Alison takes responsibility in trying to make the relationship work

• Ben’s utmost stupidity reflects his inability to take responsibility for his actions therefore emphasizing Alison’s maturity and portraying her as more dominant.

• Alison always has the final say!!! – refer to parts in the film

new man- a term used to describe a new type of masculinity identified and developed by advertising media in the 1980's in line with lifestyle marketing strategies.- refers to Ben

Feminist films strongly and seriously approached matters of women’s social and economic status, gender characterisation and the struggle of juggling both family and career roles.


Other texts which can be compared and contrasted with knocked up,

Basic Instinct, Fatal Attraction

“Although they use their sexuality, they derive power from it and use their intellect to get what they want. They represent strong, active women and these virtues override the male-centered moral it is to enforce upon the audience.” (women in film)

The sound of music, gone with the wind


SHEP

“Feminism became a movement of liberation rather than reform, a movement of breaking away and creating the new.” (Feminism and the Women's Film Movement)