An Analysis of Several Teen Movies

Paper Summary:

This paper studies the movies "Rebel Without a Cause" and "Welcome to the Dollhouse" which portray teenagers who are struggling with gender roles and outcast status. It details the main characters and their problems with their undecided sexual identities. It compares and contrasts the qualities of the main characters in each movie. It also describes society's reaction to these characters in both cases.

From the Paper:

""Big boys shouldn't cry." "Little girls shouldn't get angry." From the moment of birth, children are socialized to know exactly what the world expects of them as girls or boys. Many people, however, are unable or unwilling to fit neatly into pink or blue boxes. People who challenge gender expectations, especially teenagers, often find themselves facing rejection from peers and family. The movies Rebel Without a Cause and Welcome to the Dollhouse show teenagers struggling with gender roles and outcast status. The main characters, Jim Stark and Dawn Wiener, respectively, have some similarities: both long for acceptance and are willing to pay a high price for it, both occasionally lash out with violent, hurtful behavior, and both make dramatic gestures to attract the attention of their parents. These characters also, however, have some important differences in their in their treatment of other outcasts, in their abilities to express their own needs, and in their outcomes."

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