Gender Roles in Society

Gender roles are growing less and less defined as today’s society is becoming more tolerant of different sexualities and different family structures. The two short stories “Odour of Chrysanthemums” and “The Blooding” portray gender assumptions relative to the time of when they are set, being the mid 20th century. Both “Odour of Chrysanthemums”, by D. H. Lawrence, and “The Blooding”, by Peter Goldsworthy, use characterisation and setting to convey the gender assumptions of their time. “Odour of Chrysanthemums” is set in the highly class based society of Underwood in England.

England was and still is a very class based society. The upper-class marry the upper-class and the lower-class marry the lower-class. That’s why it seems strange that in the storey Walt of a low, working class background is married to Elizabeth of a relatively higher class. The gender roles are representations of the setting though. Walt is the stereotypical father/husband figure of the time and society. He worked hard at the coalmine, working a double shift the night he

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He never missed a Saturday in the clubrooms either – the weekly drunken wallow after the game. ”

Drinking was also a large part of being a man to Jack. died, being the breadwinner of the family while Elizabeth stayed at home with the children.

“It is a scandalous thing as a man cant even come home to his dinner!”

This shows Elizabeth’s anger at Walt going out to the pub after a day at the mines. ”

The son though rejects his father’s cruel and violent world perspective and has a different view of masculinity that him. Both males portrayed in the stories come from working class background and convey a similar value on gender roles and masculinity. He never missed a Saturday in the stands – hurling abuse and empty bottles, picking fights, generally raising hell. Also, similar to “Odour of Chrysanthemums” Jack doesn’t act as a father towards his son and fears his father like the children. The narrator, Jacks son, often mentions Jack with a drink in hand. Society is straying from the forced traditional gender values and incorporating a compromise for what best suites the couple’s situation. Like many men of Walt’s class, he enjoyed having a few drinks after work, which infuriated Elizabeth because she expected him at a reasonable hour, in a sober state, which he rarely was after a night at the pub. Brompton to be exact, with the storey based around Jack Abbott, a foundry worker and greyhound trainer. The complete athlete, especially where football was concerned. As society evolves over time are traditional values continuing to reign or are people more open minded to change?

Approximate Word count = 707
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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