Gender

• Inspector is introduced to the family to slowly break down the gender stereotype

  • male but not hyper masculine

  "needs not be a big man but he creates at once a impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness"

  • does not have physical attributes associated with dominant masculinity
  • but his presence is more powerful
  • Priestley suggests through the inspectors behaviour that masculinity doesnt need to depend on violence, aggression or intimidation
  • intelligent, compassionate and patient - opposite of typical toxic masculinity
  • takes over from Mr Birling as the dominant male figure on stage
• two world wars challenged conservative notions of gender

  • women took over jobs previously done by men
  • revolutionised womens view in society
  • proved they could do more than they realised
• Mrs Birling symbolises traditional 1912 women, when in presence of men she is seen as a weak and submissive figure

  • only has opinions about other female characters and doesn't get involved in men's buisness
  • in a class above Mr Birling but still lower because she is a woman
• adheres to traditional view of family

  • the man is in charge
  • "now just be quiet so that your father can decide what we ought to do"
  • invalidate themselves and other women when they belive narrative of male dominance
• Shows a womens status in society is dependent on her husbands position
• tries to pass down tradition to Shiela

  "When you're married you'll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their buisness. you'll ahve to get used to that, just as I did"

  • 'just as I did' presents tradition through generations evident Mrs birling think this is the way things should be
  • 'important work'
  • only a mans work is valuable
• "I think Shiela and I had better go into the drawing room and leave you men"

  • 'drawing room'
  • wants to physically separate genders
  • occupied public sphere upheld by men (politics and buisness discussions) while women confined to there private sphere of the house hold
  • outlining these spheres in a physical way
• mocking and reductive

  "over-excited"

  "hysterical child"

  "childish"

  • all terms used by men to undermine women
  • Mrs B uses these to invalidate Shiela
  • showing how women also used mesogenic language to dismiss others
• Eva Smith contrasts Mrs B

  • not afraid to voice her opinion to men
  • despite her enduring a lot of hardships Priestley portrays her as assertive, outspoken, determined and righteous
  • subverting stereotypical gender roles
• Eva is a strong voice of a leader

  "shed had a lot to say - far to much - so she had to go"

  • disliked her disagreeing with him
  • questioned his authority
  • acting out of line
  • women where expected to be reserved and soft spoken
• Mrs Birling refusing to help Eva shows she is not as kind and respectful as a woman should be
• having a child as an unmarried woman was a huge scandal

  "husband who deserted her"

  • attempts to make her more respectful and pitiful
  • if she admitted to the truth others would view her as lustful and irresponsible

  "she had no claim to the name, that she wasn't married and the story she told at first - about a husband who'd deserted her - was quite false"

  • womens dependence on family for security
  • Eric could sleep with a women and not face consequences
  • Eva however was left with a baby she couldn't support
• beggining Shiela is seen as naïve, materialistic and spiteful

  "it's wonderful … mummy - isn't it a beauty?"

  "now I really feel engaged"

  • women conditioned to rely on clothes and jewellery for pleasure
  • restricted to material possessions
• Women where only worthy if they were deemed beautiful

  • couldn't get education of work for a high wage
  • relied on a husband to support them
  • men made beauty something women had to compete for
  • Shiela's jealousy portrays this
  • she needed to be the prettiest person in the room

  "If she'd have been some miserable plain little creature, I don't suppose I'd have done it"

  • threatened
• "half serious, half playful"

  • doesnt know how to confront a man
  • duality connotes internal conflict
  • masks her true feelings so she can remain likable

  In contrast "why - you fool - he knows. of course he knows"

  • no longer tolerates his lies
  • challenging the dominance and intelligence of her fiancé

  "she looks at him almost in triumph. He looks crushed"

  • power in relationship shifted
  • by facing the truth Shiela is liberated and empowered
  • stronger and more capable then those trapped in there lies
• "I want to understand exactly what happens when a man says he's so busy at the works that he can hardly ever find time to come and see the girl he's supposed to be in love with"

  • recognised her own self worth
  • hold Gerald accountable
  • no longer respects him
• "hands him the ring"

  • symbol of rejecting his lies and his control over her
  • able to see through patriarchal intentions, marriage, that aim control women
• Mr Birling is a symbol of traditional patriarchy and sexist views

  • expects to be unchallenged
  • treats women in condescending, disrespectful manor~
  • doesnt recognise Eva as a human of equal worth
• Mr Birling prioritises interest of fellow men over interest of the female charachters only sees men as his equals
• "I'm not defending him but you must understand that a lot of young men - "

  • women dont have the right to object to a mans desires
  • should tolerate husbands mistreatment
  • 'young men' uncontrollable sex drive was accepted as part of the culture
  • male dominance isolates women
• "Clothes mean something quite different to women … token of their self respect"

  • womens worth is dependent on her looks
  • condescending
• "lively good looking girl"

  • appearance was more important to her identity than how good a worker she was"
  • 'lively' infantilises her
  • sexual object
• Attempts to exclude Eva from discussions of death and affair to protect her

  "there isn't the slightest reason why my daughter should be dragged into this unpleasant buisness"

  • happy for Eva to be sexualised and left to the streets but wants to preserve his daughters innocence
• "young unmarried girl"

  • societies obsession over female purity
  • only respected if they where till pure
  • Lower class where viewed as prostitutes and abandoned
• Eric is a symbol of how the younger generations pf men were taught the misogyny of their fathers

  Misogyny is tradition

  Eric and his relationship with his father represent the damaging effects of masculinity
• "not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble"

  • emotional detachment and aggression
  • Mr Birlings views as masculine has distanced them from each other
  • Toxic masculinity prevents men from supporting each other, and instead makes them fear others
• "was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty"

  • wont take responsibility
  • violence was natural for a 'chap'
  • couldn't restrain himself
  • violent masculinity was treated and normal or even desired
• Gerald symbolises the refined, cultured masculinity of the upper class

  • isn't dandy but his well liked and well respected
  • perfect respectable gentleman and perfect son-in-law
  • Priestly reveals how his misogyny was insidious
  • manipulative and selfish in his behaviour toward women
  • even respectable men where corrupt
• Gerald uses gender stereotypes to his advantage

  • "I think Miss Birling ought to be excused"
  • "she's had a long, exciting and tiring day"
  • symbolises men stole womens voice
  • he knows her better than she does
  • tone is patronising and belittling
  • presents women as delicate and childlike
  • invalidates her before she reveals his secrets
  • sexist stereotypes where invented and used to benefit or protect men
• hypocritical

  "young women ought to be protected against unpleasant and disturbing things"

  "We know one young women who wasn't, don't we"

  • double standards for Upper class women
  • lower class women are disregarded and abandoned
  • pretending to care about womens fragile innocence
  • pretends to care about Shiela's state of mind to get her out of the room
• "set her up as his mistress and then dropped her when it suited him"

  • object that Gerald controlled