gender

• Priestley's main message in "An Inspector Calls" is that traditional gender stereotypes are damaging and actively stop society from progressing
• Different female characters in the play represent various roles women have within society and how they are expected to act within a patriarchal society
• The Inspector in the play is introduced to break down gender stereotypes; he is not a hypermasculine character but presents a powerful alternative through his impressive, intelligent, compassionate, and patient behavior
• Priestley suggests through the Inspector's behavior that masculinity doesn't need to depend on violence, aggression, or intimidation, advocating for a more progressive future
• In the 1940s, society's understanding of gender had progressed significantly due to the World Wars, challenging conservative notions of gender and leading to women taking on roles traditionally done by men
• Priestley confronts the audience with the harsh reality of gender stereotyping and the conflict and suffering that result from upholding traditional gender norms, advocating for open conversations and progress made in the 1940s
• Mrs. Birling in the play upholds traditional values of the subordinate female, representing those who wanted to return to old ways and actively working to suppress other women within societal gender norms
• Mrs. Birling teaches her daughter to be dependent on and loyal to men, passing on internalized misogyny through generations of women, suggesting that women invalidate themselves and other women when they believe the narrative of male dominance
• Mrs. Birling's attitude towards other women is mocking and reductive, using terms commonly used by men to undermine women, presenting Sheila as irrational and immature
• Eva Smith in the play is assertive, outspoken, determined, and righteous, subverting stereotypes and gender roles surrounding women, which leads to her mistreatment by the Birlings
• Eva in the play symbolizes working class women as a whole, outlining different ways women are oppressed through her story
• Eva's strong opinions and leadership in the factory strike were censored by Mr Birling, reflecting societal expectations for women to be demure and soft-spoken
• Mrs Birling's refusal to help Eva and her judgmental attitude towards Eva's moral decisions highlight the societal expectations for women to conform and not show independent thought
• Eva's experience with pregnancy outside of marriage explores the taboos and stigmas women faced in society during that time
• Eva's lack of support after becoming pregnant reflects the stigmas surrounding unmarried women and marriage between classes, trapping many women without help
• Sheila's character transformation from a stereotypical upper-class girl to an assertive and independent woman mirrors the progression of Women's Suffrage from 1912 to 1945
• Sheila's initial portrayal as naive and materialistic reflects the typical traits attributed to female characters in literature, showing how women were conditioned to rely on material possessions for self-expression
• Sheila's treatment of Eva and her jealousy towards her demonstrate how women were pitted against each other for beauty and societal acceptance
• Sheila's interactions with Gerald show her progression in finding her own voice and challenging societal norms, particularly in her refusal to tolerate lies and her empowerment in facing the truth
• Sheila's defiance towards her family and her determination to hold Gerald accountable suggest her recognition of self-worth and her refusal to conform to societal expectations
• The repetition of “supposed to be” presents the engagement between characters as a hollow myth or obligation
• When Sheila hands Gerald the ring, it symbolizes her rejection of his lies and control over her, showing her ability to see through patriarchal inventions like marriage as tools to control women
• Priestley suggests that systems of inequality depend on the silence and compliance of the oppressed to survive
• Sheila's character progression can be seen as an allegory for Women’s Suffrage, reflecting how conventions and stereotypes surrounding gender can change with time
• Mr. Birling symbolizes traditional patriarchy and sexist values, treating women in a condescending and disrespectful manner, which blinds him to the cruelty of his actions towards women
• Mr. Birling prioritizes the interests of men over women, showing his misogyny and belief in male dominance
• Mr. Birling's celebratory toast focuses on Gerald's happiness, implying ownership over Sheila's actions and successes, reflecting his narcissism and lack of concern for mutual and equal relationships
• Mr. Birling's reference to "a lot of young men" perpetuates the idea that women should tolerate their husband's mistreatment, showing society's acceptance of men's infidelity
• Mr. Birling's treatment of women reflects the misogynistic culture of the 1910s, portraying women as superficial and materialistic
• Mr. Birling's sexualization of Eva Smith and protection of Sheila highlight society's obsession with female purity and virtue
• Eric's tension with Mr. Birling showcases the pressures of masculinity and the damaging effects of toxic masculinity, preventing men from supporting each other
• Eric's treatment of Eva symbolizes how upper-class men abused and exploited women, reflecting the societal view of women and sex
• Eric's bigoted description of women, using the profanity "tarts," shows how he shames women for sex work and displaying sexuality
• Eric's actions demonstrate his hypocrisy as he justifies sleeping with Eva by describing her as not the "usual sort," implying she was a more respectable option
• Priestley illustrates how upper-class men condemned prostitutes while simultaneously using them, suggesting women were scapegoats used to disguise men's mistakes or flaws
• Eric objectifies and sexualizes women, describing Eva as "pretty and a good sport," implying his attraction to her was superficial and suggesting she tolerated him while he took advantage of her
• The Inspector emphasizes how Eric dehumanized Eva by treating her as an object at the end of a drunken evening, showing how men's desires were valued more than women's
• Eric's refusal to take responsibility for his actions, claiming his violence was natural for a man, reflects how society treated violent masculinity as natural or even desirable
• Gerald, in contrast to Eric, symbolizes refined, cultured masculinity of the upper classes, being well-liked and respected, making him the perfect respectable gentleman and son-in-law
• Despite his polite and charming demeanor, Gerald's misogyny is shown to be insidious, manipulative, and selfish towards women, revealing the corruption even in respectable men