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 . . .
He was running from the self-absorbed and independence of each woman. He preferred that a football player with average intelligence and no qualification take a position that Tracy would evidently be the best person for. This resentment is a clear source of anger and frustration in his life and a direct cause of hasty and mean actions made on his part. 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. Her relationship with Dave, her over-participation and her flawless appearance ‘marked’ her as an obnoxious demon in Mr. McAllister’s escape to the arms of another woman was an escape into the arms of everything that he found annoying in his wife and especially Tracy. Questions arise as to why men are so profoundly affected by strong, independent women of the opposite sex and how men come to make such hasty and unrealistic decisions on how to handle these emotions. The articles written by Douglas and Tannen have supported the facts that women are thought to be the weaker sex and strong women are seen in a more negative light. To his wife, he was only there to make a baby.
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