Audiences views/examples

Character stereotypes can influence an audience views on society, deciding whether something is socially correct or unacceptable.  Three main stereotypes that women are portrayed through are a mother, a sexual object and dependant on men.  Depending on the audience member the views or acceptance on these stereotypes can differ.

Mother – This character is portrayed to cook, clean and look after children like a good mother should.  This can create an expectation on women to be influenced by the characters on screen.  This character affects the audience by making the female viewers think that this is how the media sees women and this is how society should become. Audience members who are not mothers may feel there is pressure to be a certain way.  Actual mothers could relate to the situation on screen this could either be a positive or negative as some women may feel that their family life is more in control that what is being portrayed (dysfunctional screen families) or feel their family is not what society expects (portrayal of a traditional family.)  Men in the audience may see these mother figures and think that this is the correct and traditional way that women should act in the home.  This portrayal shows that women should not be allowed in the work force and be stay-at-homes mothers.  As a whole audience people have very different views on the Mother character.  From a feminist point of view the mother character is more of an expectation that a stereotype, a way the media is trying to change the way that women should act which is quite degrading as it is enforcing a certain way of life instead of giving women a choice.

An example of this character in the film is Marion.  She has a job, no children and is not married.  Her death is seen as a punishment for not abiding by society’s ‘rules’ being a traditional mother figure.  

Sexual Object – This stereotype is quite new into the women characters as this is becoming the future of women portrayal.  This character is seen to be a pleasure object for the male audience.  This can encourage voyeuristic behaviour that is considered derogatory towards women.  Because this character is becoming more accepted in society and becoming the norm in the media it is making the behaviour that use to be frowned upon more acceptable which is increasing the negative portrayal of women.  To women this character is very belittling as they are being shown in a disrespectful way.  Women may think that if others see them in this way in the media it could encourage a false perception in real life.  Putting the thoughts into people’s minds that women are only good for pleasure on screen may make viewers (especially men) think that it is ok to treat women in their lives the same.  Still in society today this inappropriate behaviour creates and unfair interpretation of women that can been seen as quite misogynistic. 

In the film Marion is seen in just a bra and underwear with Sam suggesting they have just sleep together.  At the beginning of the film she has already been given a negative portrayal.  This is used to instantly engage the audience and keep them interested for the rest of the film.  Her death symbolised a punishment for tempting/ encouraging inappropriate thoughts. 

Dependant on me (Week/Vulnerable) – This stereotype makes women look helpless and needy.   It is a way to show that men are the dominant gender and that they are the one with the power.  It portrays women to be week and this character is the one that usually needs to be saved or gets herself into trouble.  An audience watching this could find this character annoying and disruptive on a story line.  It shows a lack of independence from women as the expectation of these characters are to not have jobs and depends on the men for money and a good life style.   Men in movies who act this way to women could be seen as a role model to younger audience members with sets bias opinion and may alter peoples own decisions.  Women seeing these portrayals many find them to be offensive as it suggests women cannot cope without men   

The first part of the film centres on Marion not being able to handle life without Sam as she steels money to be with him.  This foolish act gets her murdered while she is on her way to be with him.