Ideology in Robert Benton`s `Kramer vs kramer` (title of the movie)

Student 's Name

Street Address

City , ST ZIP Code

e-mail

phone

fax

Kramer vs . Kramer

Student 's Name

Kramer vs . Kramer is the story of a custody battle , but in its time (1979 ) and place it becomes a battle of mothering vs . fathering and over how men and women should lead their lives . Ted Kramer , a Madison Avenue art director is so consumed with his career that he doesn 't understand the basic needs of his son or even the grade he is in school . Joanna Kramer , a

former employee of Mademoiselle , had left her career to care for their son , Billy . Joanna finds herself overwhelmed with feelings of worthlessness and leaves her son and husband to find herself . Ted is forced to learn to be a parent and Billy loves being with his father more . After a period of fifteen months , Joanna returns . She is not looking for forgiveness but rather to obtain custody of their son Their battle leaves us questioning the very definition of gender in our society

Ted and Joanna Kramer had a life that was defined as our society would have seen fit . Joanna , being biologically suited , would remain at home and care for their son . She provides for the emotional needs of the family . Ted , operating in the public sphere , would provide for the families material needs . This is what American culture has defined as the nuclear family . This is the standard that our society would define as desirable

This ideology is so clearly spelled out in the courtroom . Part of the case that Streep

presents for herself during the custody trial is a simplistic appeal-to-the fact that motherhood is

powerfully persuasive as a social institution "I 'm his mother . He 's my child . I love him . He needs me more

than he needs his father . I 'm his mother

The simple fact that Streep as the boy 's biological mother is supposed to outweigh , in

court , any particularities of their individual case . And on the basis of this argument the court

grants custody to Streep . As Hoffman 's lawyer says "They went for motherhood right down the

line " The movie insists that gender is the primary factor in child custody determinations at the

time of divorce . Having established gender as the key , the movie then goes to court , where

proceedings are seen from a distinctly male perspective

Attorney Shaughnessy warns Ted Kramer that courts favor mothers in custody battles over young children . The task , Shaughnessy is certain is to prove Joanna is an unfit mother . Shaughnessy also apparently overlooks the fact that the parties had already divorced , and Ted had custody , so the issue was not custody but rather custody modification Even assuming a maternal preference rule , modification hearings place great weight on maintaining child care continuity . fictional Judge Atkins sees things the way attorney Shaughnessy does . Atkins ' award of custody to Joanna Kramer relies almost completely on the "tender years

When the Kramers do in fact have their day in court , viewers...