gender

• Mrs Birling is a symbol of the traditional 1912 women when in the presence of men she acts as their subordinate. She is judgmental and strict which is representative of those in the 1940s. Her conservative views uphold patriarchal rule and her misogyny is targeted at lower class women.
• Mrs Birling is dependent on men by adhering to the traditional view of family where the man is in charge. Once the inspector left she says 'now be quiet so your father can decide what we ought to do'

  Priestley suggests women invalidate themselves and other women when they believe the narrative of male dominance
• Mrs birling actively works to suppress other women and keep them within constraints of societal gender norms. She teaches Sheila to be dependent on men suggesting internalised misogyny and complicit of her own subjugation.
• Mrs birling says to sheila - 'when you are married ... just as i did' - she teaches her daughter to resign herself to mistreatment and neglect is necessary .

  'Just as i did' suggests that it is tradition through generations

  ' important role' suggests only a man's work is valuable
• Mrs birling refuses to help Eva as she acted with 'impertinence' which suggests Eva wasn't kind which is ironic and claims that Eva's choice not to take stolen money was because of 'ridiculous airs ... elaborate fine feelings' which suggests women shouldn't make moral decisions but take the easy path with no bother to others
• Initially Priestley shows how sheila has to repress her own feelings to appear respectable and conform to societal norms
• At the start, Sheila speaks with 'mock aggressiveness' and when interrogating Gerald about last summer she does so in a 'half serious, 'half playful' way.

  They way she interacts suggests she is afraid of questioning men, the duality in 'half' connotes internal conflict between being assertive or not

  Priestley suggest she uses a mask to disguise her true feelings and ensure she remains likeable
• Sheila starts to challenge systems that she previously obeyed. When her family tries to excuse her from the conversation she refuses and says 'I want to understand ... supposed to be in love with' and 'supposed to be engaged to the hero'

  Priestley suggests she has recognised her own self worth as the sarcastic 'hero' suggests she no longer has respect for Gerald and the repetition of 'supposed to be' implies the engagement is a myth or obligation
• the progression of sheila's character can be interpreted as an allegory for women's suffrage. Her newly gained independence and sense of self reflects how conventions and stereotypes surrounding gender change with time
• Mr Birling is a symbol of traditional patriarchy and sexist value. he expects to be unchallenged by everything he does, emulating dominance men had in 1912. He treats women in a condescending manner. Priestley shows Mr birling's misogyny blinds him to cruelty of his actions to Eva
• Mr Birling treats women in condescending manner which reflects misogynistic culture of 1910s . He says to Eric - 'clothes mean something ... token of their self respect'

  this portrays women as superficial and materialistic

  'token of self respect' suggests that a woman's worth is dependent on how she looks
• Mr birling's treatment of women is hypocritical. He sexualises Eva - 'she was a lively good looking girl- country bred I fancy'

  'lively' infantilises her but 'country bred'- is animalistic

  'I fancy' suggests Mr Birling is fantasising her