Gender

• As a summary, how is gender presented in the play?

  -Priestley shows how the ideas and constructs behind gender and gender roles within society influence the ways characters interact with each other and view themselves.

  -Priestley’s main message is that traditional gender stereotypes are damaging and actively stop society progressing.
• As a summary, how does Priestley present gender roles within the play?

  -Within the play, different female characters are used to show the different roles women have within society and how these women are expected to act within a patriarchal society.

  -Priestley uses the interactions between the male and female characters within the play to comment upon traditional gender roles and how he thinks society should progress in the future.
• Why doesn't Priestley present The Inspector as a typical masculine man?

  -The Inspector is introduced to the family to slowly break down the gender stereotypes.

  -Although he is male, he is not a hypermasculine character; he “need not be a big man but he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness,” (Act 1).

  -Therefore, he does not have the physical attributes associated with dominant masculinity, but his presence and “purposefulness” present

  a more powerful alternative.
• Why doesn't Priestley present The Inspector as a typical masculine man?

  -Priestley suggests through the Inspector’s behaviour that masculinity doesn’t need to depend on violence, aggression, or intimidation.

  -The Inspector is impressive, intelligent, compassionate, and patient - the opposite of typical, toxic masculinity.

  -He takes over from Mr Birling as the dominant male figure on stage, foreshadowing Priestley’s hopes for a more progressive future.
• How had women's roles improved by 1945?

  -When Priestley was writing in the 1940s, society’s understanding of gender had progressed massively compared to when the play is set.

  -The two World Wars challenged conservative notions of gender. With so many men sent to war, women took on jobs which had previously been done by men. This revolutionised the way women were viewed and also made them realise how much they were able to contribute towards society.

  -When the men returned from war they found women reluctant to go back to domestic roles.
• How were women's roles still the same as 1912 in 1945?

  -The Women’s Suffrage movement had caused a lot of hostility towards

  suffragettes, with men and women disapproving of their demands because they threatened tradition.

  -By focusing on the dark side of this era, illustrating the conflict and suffering that was a result of gender stereotyping, Priestley confronts his audience with the harsh reality of what it would be like if these traditions were upheld.

  -He suggests that the open conversations had and progress made in the 1940s is beneficial for everyone
• As a summary, how were female characters presented in the play?

  The female characters within the play all represent different versions of women within society:

  -Mrs Birling upholds traditional values of the subordinate female

  -Sheila develops into the ‘New Woman’ with strong opinions she’s not afraid to share with the men in the play

  -Eva is a lower class woman who is taken advantage of by men.
• As a summary, how is Mrs Birling presented in the play in terms of her gender roles and opinions?

  -Mrs Birling is symbolic of the traditional 1912 woman, when in the presence of men she acts as their subordinates. She only has opinions about other female characters and is careful not to get involved in any men’s business.

  -She is judgmental and strict, a representative of those in the 1940s who wanted to return to the old ways. Her conservative views uphold patriarchal rule and her misogyny is particularly targeted at lower class women.
• How is Mrs Birling presented as dependent on male character?

  It is made obvious to the audience that Mrs Birling doesn’t have any legitimate power within her life:

  -When she introduces herself to the Inspector, she references her “husband”and his position as “Lord Mayor only two years ago” (Act 2).

  -This shows the audience that a woman's status in society was dependent on her husband’s position.
• As a summary, how does Mrs Birling uphold patriarchal values?

  Mrs Birling not only adheres to strict gender conventions but she also actively works to suppress other women and keep them within the constraints of societal gender norms.
• How does Mrs Birling attempt to pass her patriarchal views onto Sheila?


  She teaches Sheila to be dependent on and loyal to men, suggesting internalised misogyny is passed on through generations of women:

  -“...men...have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I did” (Act 1). She teaches her daughter to resign herself to mistreatment and neglect because it is ‘necessary’.

  -“just as I did”: presents it as a tradition through generations and it is

  evident that Mrs Birling thinks this is the way things should be.
• How does Mrs Birling attempt to keep female and male roles seperate?


  Many believed that women were stupid and unable to understand practical business matters and politics. It was seen as ‘unladylike’ to comment on politics or world-affairs. Mrs Birling accentuates this belief.
• How does Mrs Birling attempt to keep male and female roles seperate?

  “I think Sheila and I had better go into the drawing room and leave you men -” (Act 1):

  -By suggesting the women move to the “drawing room”, Mrs Birling wants to physically separate the two genders.

  -Men were expected to occupy the public sphere, with discussion of politics and business, while women were confined to the private sphere of the household. Priestley is outlining these two spheres in a visual way.
• How are Mrs Birling's attitudes towards Sheila presented as misogynistic?


  -Mrs Birling’s attitude towards other women is mocking and reductive

  which mirrors her husband’s sexist condescension.

  -She refers to Sheila being “over-excited” (Act 2), “a hysterical child”, (Act 2), and “childish” (Act 3). These were all terms that were commonly

  used by men to undermine women:

  -She uses these descriptions to invalidate Sheila’s concerns, presenting her as irrational and immature. Priestley shows how women also used misogynistic or ‘gendered’ language to dismiss others.
• As a summary, how is Eva Smith presented in the play?

  -Eva Smith is the direct opposite of Mrs Birling, she works and isn’t afraid to voice her opinion to the men.

  -Priestley does not portray her as a weak, self-pitying victim: instead, she is assertive, outspoken and determined. She subverts the stereotypes and gender roles surrounding women.

  -Priestley suggests these qualities were part of the reason she was treated so poorly by the Birlings: she defied their expectations of working class women being respectful and passive, thus angering them.
• Why does Mr Birling fire Eva?

  -Eva was a ringleader of the factory strike which shows she has a strong

  voice and is a leader.

  -Mr Birling says he fired her because “she’d had a lot to say - far too much - so she had to go,” (Act 1). This shows how he wanted to censor her rebellious opinions:

  • If Eva had “far too much” to say, this suggests Mr Birling did not like how Eva was disagreeing with him and questioning his authority. He views this as her acting out of line.
  • Priestley shows how women were expected to be demure (reserved and modest) and soft spoken.
• Why did Mrs Birling dislike Eva?

  -Mrs Birling refuses to help Eva because she acted with “impertinence” (Act 2), suggesting she was not as kind and respectful as a woman should be.

  -She claims Eva’s choice not to take stolen money was because of “ridiculous airs [...] elaborate fine feelings and scruples” (Act 2), suggesting women shouldn’t make moral decisions or show any independent thought.

  -She expected Eva to follow the path given to her by taking the money and not causing any problems for others.
• How were unmarried pregnant women treated in 1912?

  -There were loads of stigmas and taboos surrounding unmarried pregnant women. Unmarried women were viewed differently to married women, and having a child as an unmarried woman was a huge scandal.

  -Eva’s story about a “husband who’d deserted her” was an attempt to make her story sound more respectable and pitiable. If she admitted to being pregnant without being married, others would view her as lustful and irresponsible
• How and why does Priestley show that Eva was treated differently because she was an unmarried pregnant woman?

  -Mrs Birling recalls how "...she had no claim to the name, that she wasn’t married, and that the story she told at first - about a husband who’d deserted her - was quite false,” (Act 2). This outlines various

  societal views on marriage and motherhood.

  -Eva had “no claim to the name” of the Birling family, but felt she needed to introduce herself as “Mrs Birling” (Act 2) to improve her chances of receiving aid. This reflects women’s dependence on their family for security.
• How does Priestley show the gender inequality with the use of Eva's pregnancy?

  While Eric, an upper class man, could sleep with a working class girl and not face consequences, Eva was left with a baby she couldn’t support. Priestley shows how the stigmas surrounding unmarried women and marriage between classes meant many women were trapped without help.
• As a summary, how does Priestley represent Sheila's transformation?

  Sheila’s character acts as a bridge between the conservative Mrs

  Birling and the assertive Eva Smith. During the play we see Sheila’s transformation from a stereotypical upper class girl into a woman who is assertive, self-assured, and independent.
• As a summary, how does Sheila act towards gender inequalities in the play?

  -The Inspector enables Sheila to construct and voice her own opinions, by doing so she becomes self aware. This empowers her, showing how respecting women and their intelligence gives them autonomy and a confident sense of self.

  -Priestley suggests the ways in which society treats and portrays women makes them appear weak because they haven’t been allowed to explore their own identities.

  -Her character arc can be seen to imitate the progression of Women’s Suffrage, as a representation of the New Woman.
• How is Sheila represented in the beginning of the play?

  Sheila is presented as naive, materialistic, and spiteful - all

  traits that would be typical of 1912 females. Her fascination with clothes

  and jewellery, and being stereotypically feminine, suggests she is greedy and shallow:

  -She is excited to an almost unbelievable extent by her engagement ring, declaring, “It’s wonderful! [...] Mummy - isn’t it a beauty?” and claiming, “Now I really feel engaged,” (Act 1).

  -The use of “Mummy” infantilises her, furthering her role as the stereotypical naive girl of the upper classes.
• Why does Priestley present Sheila as naive and materialistic at the beginning of the play?

  -Her materialistic behaviours may be used by Priestley to show how women were conditioned to rely on clothes and jewellery for pleasure and self-expression.

  -Priestley suggests women were so restricted in their lives that they had to rely on material possessions.
• In 1912, what defined a woman's worth?


  -Women only had worth if they were deemed beautiful; they had to rely on attracting a husband to support them.

  -Priestley demonstrates how men made beauty something women had to compete for, pitting them against each other in order to get a

  husband and be financially secure.

  -Sheila’s jealousy towards Eva is a result of being taught that she needed to be the most beautiful in any room. Eva, as a working class woman, was the only person Sheila could be angry with in a socially acceptable way.
• How did Priestley present how women treated each other based on beauty in the play?

  -When Sheila describes how she was “in a furious temper” and took it out on Eva because she was “jealous” (Act 1), this seems to present women as petty and cruel.

  -It can also be interpreted as how women are conditioned by society to act in a certain way. Sheila admits how Eva “was a very pretty girl too [...] if she’d been some miserable plain little creature, I don’t suppose I’d have done it,” (Act 1). This implies she viewed Eva as a threat because of her beauty.
• As a summary, what do Sheila's interactions with Gerald have to do with gender inequality?

  Sheila’s interactions with Gerald reflect the progress she makes in finding her own voice within the play. Initially, Priestley shows how Sheila has to repress her own feelings to appear respectable and conform to societal norms.
• How does Sheila talk to Gerald at the start of the play?

  She speaks “with mock aggressiveness”, and when interrogating Gerald about last summer, she does it “half serious, half playful” (Act 1):

  -The way she interacts suggests she is afraid of questioning the men.

  -The duality in “half” may also connote internal conflict between wanting to be assertive but also being unable to be assertive due to being a woman.

  -Priestley suggests she uses a mask to disguise her true feelings, ensuring she remains likeable.
• How does Sheila talk to Gerald after encountering the Inspector?

  She voices her frustration with Gerald, “Why - you fool - he knows. Of course he knows” (Act 1), suggesting she will no longer tolerate his lies:

  • This behaviour would be particularly shocking because she is challenging the dominance and intelligence of her fiance, which goes against the values of patriarchy.
• What is Sheila's and Gerald's relationship like after the Inspector's encounter?

  Priestley describes how “She looks at him almost in triumph. He looks crushed” (Act 1), suggesting the power in their relationship has shifted. By facing the truth, Sheila is liberated, and Priestley shows how this empowers her, making her stronger and more capable than those who are still trapped in their lies.
• How does Sheila begin to challenge the systems she had previously obeyed?


  Sheila complains that she is “supposed to be engaged to the hero” of the story (Act 2).

  ➔ Priestley suggests she has recognised her own self-worth, as she is determined to hold Gerald accountable for his actions rather than excusing him.

  ➔ The sarcastic “hero” suggests she no longer respects Gerald, and sees him for the pretender he is.

  ➔ The repetition of “supposed to be” presents their engagement as a hollow myth or obligation.
• What does Sheila do to Gerald that shows she has broken from the patriarchal rule?

  When she “hands him the ring” (Act 2), this is a symbol for how she is rejecting his lies and his control over her:

  -Priestley suggests Sheila is able to see through patriarchal inventions, such as marriage, to see that they are tools to control women.

  -Priestley illustrates how these systems of inequality depend on the silence and compliance of the oppressed in order to survive.
• What were the 'New Women', and how do they relate to Sheila?

  The progression of Sheila’s character can be interpreted as an allegory for Women’s Suffrage. Her newly gained independence and sense of self also show how the conventions and stereotypes surrounding gender can change with time. Sheila and Eric break away from their parents’ beliefs, showing how traditions can be reforged.
• As a summary, what is Mr Birling's attitudes to gender?

  Mr Birling is a symbol of traditional patriarchy and sexist values. He expects to be unchallenged in everything he does, emulating the dominance men had in 1912. He treats women in a condescending, disrespectful manner, even with his own daughter. Priestley shows that Mr Birling’s misogyny blinds him to the cruelty of his actions towards Eva Smith, because he doesn’t recognise her as a human of equal worth.
• How does Mr Birling show that he thinks men over equals over women?

  Mr Birling addresses Gerald directly rather than Sheila. He tells Gerald, “Your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me. She’ll make you happy, and I’m sure you’ll make her happy,” (Act 1):

  • The phrase “she’ll make you happy” alludes to the belief that a wife’s only duty was to please her husband, and suggests Mr Birling views Sheila as a gift he is giving to Gerald.
  • He references Gerald’s happiness before Sheila’s; Priestley suggests Mr Birling is only concerned with pleasing Gerald.
• How does Mr Birling defend male actions?

  He doesn’t think a woman should have the right to object to a man’s desires. He says: “I’m not defending him. But you must understand that a lot of young men -” (Act 2). This perpetuates the idea that women should tolerate their husband’s mistreatment rather than standing up for themselves:

  ➔ Mr Birling’s reference to “a lot of young men”shows how men’s

  infidelity was an accepted part of culture.

  ➔ Priestley shows how society has taught women to always be subservient to men and their flaws.
• How does Mr Birling talk about women?

  Mr Birling treats women in a condescending manner which reflects the misogynistic culture of the 1910s. He explains to Eric, “Clothes mean something quite different to a woman. Not just something to wear - and not only something to make ‘em look prettier - but - well, a sort of sign or token of their self-respect,” (Act 1, pg 9). This portrays women as

  superficial and materialistic:

  ➔ The phrase “token of their self-respect” suggests a woman’s worth is dependent on how she looks.
• How does Mr Birling sexualize Eva Smith?


  Mr Birling’s treatment of women is shown to be hypocritical. He sexualises Eva Smith when he recalls, “She was a lively good-looking girl - country-bred, I fancy,” (Act 1), suggesting her appearance was more important to her identity than how good a worker she was:

  ➔ The adjective “lively” infantilises her, while “country-bred” portrays her as an animal or livestock, not a human being.

  ➔ The phrase “I fancy” suggests Mr Birling is fantasising about her as a sexual object.
• How does Mr Birling attempt to 'protect' Sheila?

  He attempts to exclude Sheila from all discussions of Eva’s death and Gerald’s affair in order to protect her. He declares, “There isn’t the slightest reason why my daughter should be dragged into this unpleasant business,” (Act 1):

  • He is happy for Eva to be sexualised and left out on the streets, but wants to preserve his daughter’s innocence. This reflects how the treatment of women varies based on their class.
  • The adjective “unpleasant” and the verb “dragged” connote filth, showing his fear about tainting Sheila’s naivety.
• WHY does Mr Birling attempt to 'protect' Sheila?

  His attempted censorship of sex and prostitution and his focus on Sheila being a “young unmarried girl” reflects how society obsessed over female purity, virtue, and chastity:

  • Priestley suggests upper class women were only respected if they were still ‘pure’ - typically, whether they were virgins or faithful in marriage. Lower class women were viewed as prostitutes, so were abandoned.