Women's Wants

Essay # 61023

Film > Analysis, Criticism, Etc.
Gender and Sexuality > Gender Studies
Sociology > Media and Society

Women's Wants

Explores what women should want as suggested by the two films, "Mona Lisa Smile" and "Stepford Wives."

1,800 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2005 Philippines

Paper Summary:

The exploration of the the concept of a woman's wants in the two films, "Mona Lisa Smile" (directed by Mike Newell) and "Stepford Wives (directed by Frank Oz)," leads to the discovery that just because women want certain things like being free thinkers or equal in status as men, it does not necessarily mean that women will be getting these things. Women have wanted things since the word "want" became what it is. The paper shows that the challenge is not in identifying what we as women want and what we as women need. The real challenge lies in doing something about these wants, fighting for whatever "wants" we have gained and for future "wants" we may need to gain in order to ensure harmony in society. In modern society's confusion between family and career, this paper examines what women should want as suggested by the two films.

From the Paper:

"The movie then tries to warn us that a one track mind set on making only career advancement is not only disastrous to the woman but also the family and ultimately, society. It takes a major nervous meltdown and a threat of separation from her husband for Joanna to "wake up" and realize that her career has taken its toll in her family life. So, she willingly dons the non-black, insanely brightly colored clothes and whips up a hundred cupcakes to appease her loyal husband and redeem her role as caretaker of the family. If the movie were to stop at that point, we would be forced to believe that it is necessary for women to give up everything they have worked hard for and revert back to the '50s image of women as housewives because doing such an act of sacrifice would be the only solution to solving the family crisis."