The Philadelphia Story movie

The Philadelphia Story as a Feminist Film

The Philadelphia Story came out in 1939 . At the time , although women had the right to vote , it was still largely agreed that women were to be viewed and treated , not as independent actors , but as defined by their position as part of a family unit . Although the war broadened America 's horizons in terms of what women were capable of - everybody is familiar with Rosie the Riveter - it was widely assumed that everything would go back to normal ' when the boys came home . Viewing The

br Philadelphia Story from the present time , the themes tend to present more as issues of class , or even issues of self-awareness , than issues of gender politics , however , one may argue that The Philadelphia Story qualifies as a feminist movie , within context

Feminism is one of the fields of critical studies that arose along with studies about race and class : this category of critical studies flattens issues of class , as does Tracy . Tracy inhabits her class because she was born there her definition of class is behavior-oriented , not wealth and family oriented . As one example , there is an Uncle Willie floating about , pinching women 's bottoms , and while in one of today 's movies , the pinch-ee would punch him , and in The Philadelphia Story he is tolerated in a conversation with Mike about class , Tracy compares Uncle Willie unfavorably to the night watchman , using `class ' as the value by which she is judging him . So while Uncle Willie isn 't flattened by a punch his class-status is flattened by Tracy

It 's also clear throughout The Philadelphia Story that Tracy is very strong willed : her ideals are of paramount importance : when Dexter , as her husband , didn 't appear to hold to her ideals , she divorced him . Her value structure changes throughout the film to embrace true nature over appearance , but she embraces this value structure just as passionately once again booting out the man in her life (Kittredge ) in favor of it This emphasis on her values coming before her relationship with a man is a feminist ideal

The Lord family is basically composed of women : the adult women are living fairly happily on their own , because of their values . If they miss the men in their lives , it is because of their affection for them not because they need them . They may prefer them , emotionally . But preference is a matter of choice and the power of choice in a relationship is the definition of power , even if it is equal power Tracy assumes her power to choose , and to state what she wants : when her fiancye refers to her as a Goddess , as someone to worship , she demurs , and states that she wants to be loved . Similarly , after the party , with Mike , she has the power to state what she wants as well as with Dexter . Her ability to choose denotes a condition of power , or at least of equal power , which is a feminist ideal

Tracy...