Battle Of The Sexes
Everyday, we see, hear, read and experience various degrees of discrimination based on gender and sexuality. These ideas influence our perception of reality and what attitudes to expect from our peers and colleagues. Literary works often focus on these aspects of society and how they are portrayed in film. In Signs of Life: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers, authors Deborah Tannen and Susan Douglas contribute articles which strongly support gender discrimination in society and in television and women's inability to be fairly judged and represented in today's world. More than often, the portrayal of women in television is seen in a less positive light than that of their male counterparts. In the movie, Election, Mr. McAllister's dilemmas and emotional struggles are a direct result of his resentment and frustration based on his student Tracy's gender and sexuality. In the film Election, Mr. McAllister's dislike of Tracy is clearly based on her gender and her doomed relationship with his close friend that resulted in his termination. Mr. McAllister's suggestion that a popular male football player run against Tracy for the presidency was a clear indication that he resented the over-eager strong wom
In her article "Signs of Intelligent Life on TV," Douglas contends that men on TV are more sensitized, while women have taken stronger, more negatively viewed roles in society. Despite the fact that more films and TV programs have presented woman characters with more respected and professional roles, there is still evidence of cultural bias. Douglas presents that these more powerful roles come at a price. Although many teachers would admire Tracy's enthusiasm and hard work, Mr. McAllister takes some sort of offense to it and seems to find it annoying. It is evident that he prefers the more sensitive male to the outgoing and independent female as is evident by his recruitment of the football player for class president. Tracy is a self-reliant, self-confident and hard-working woman that every woman should aspire to be like. But, her character is presented in a negative light because of Mr. McAllister's opinion of her. Her desire to win the election overcomes her at moments in the movie, for example, when she tears down the competitors posters. Mr. McAllister seeks out to find the culprit, knowing all the while that it has to be Tracy. Seeing her as both a 'marked' and over-bearing woman, he finds nothing but faults in her character. an she represented. Mr. McAllister preferred that a less-qualified, less-intelligent male run the student government than an independent woman with good ideas. He even assured the boy's victory by throwing two ballets away that proved Tracy was the winner. In Mr. McAllister's eyes, Tracy is a direct cause of his good friend being fired and having to get a divorce. Similar to Deborah Tannan's article, "There is No Unmarked Woman," Tracy had been "marked" by her relationship with her teacher and McAllister's view of her had been forever changed. Society's view of women put in compromisin
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1241
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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