Brendan OConnell WR 300 11/1/11 Essay #2

The Roles of Gender in Film

Men and women are different. Its a fact of life that is difficult to ignore. In the movie Children of Men the role of gender is skewed by catastrophe and global failure, and shows that in certain areas, the two sexes carry the same role and responsibility. Stereotypes of both men and women are generally shown and split between the two film genres known as Action and Chickflicks. By creating an action-drama, the movie shows people in a realistic view which notices that while men and women are different there are aspects of life where it doesnt really matter. This movie finds a future in which the potential downfall of humankind forces people to unite or die. When there are moments to fight, they all fight, and when there are moments of compassion and caring, everyone is involved. Breaking down these preconceived notions about men and women is difficult and is executed in a way that forces viewers to rethink how they look at gender roles not only in the movie world, but in the real world as well. We think and act in a world that sees the two genders as complete opposites instead of seeing capabilities and options. Part of this movie is meant to show how people need to change, while another part is meant to show that perhaps there are instinctive sections of human nature that we can never really change. While gender is a role in film that is constantly questioned, its important to realize that the concept of what gender really is, is always changing. The need to differentiate man and woman is a part of our society and culture; there will always be some sort of division of equality in the human race. From a story that was originally written in a journal style, this movie takes and creates a character driven action story that makes any viewer really notice how people interact in the movie. The fact that this is an adaptation is not really important, thought the book does show

many of the same ideological principles and ideas that are seen in the movie. Because of the subjective nature of all forms of art, and the ideas that most people already have about gender differences, the role of gender might not seem like a big deal. While some people might say that there are not ideological messages in this move, it's most likely that they don't notice them because of what our culture has developed as the norm for gender roles in movies. The important part in this movie is showing the change that has occurred. Sometimes the fact that people don't notice shows that we have changed and no longer need to analyze and see these things in movies. While the film has the feeling that it is generally trying to throw some sort of meaning at your face, the movie is made in such a way that still makes it entertaining. While most people want to live in a world of tolerance and understanding, there must also be people that like segregation of peoples and want division in our world. Though the segregation of gender, class, and race has disappeared for the most part in this movie, there is fighting between the government and the rebels. There will always be some sort of conflict as long as we have divisors like man and women, straight and gay, democrat and republican, or rich and poor. This movie shows that change can happen and perhaps a disaster is the only way to destroy preconceived gender roles. As the movie unfolds, we learn that it's 2027 and humankind is infertile, whether it's men, women, or both, that have a problem is never answered. With this news, people started to immigrate and new laws were created by a government that really only cares about crushing any resistance and having everyone act in the same way. In this movie there are multiple scenes where we see the moment when the lead character changes from one gender role to the other. After some exposition into the story, there is a point in which, at a stronghold for the rebel group, the main character finds out that the rest of the group wants to hold the pregnant woman and use her baby to show that new immigration laws are unjust. After escaping with her, he takes on a

midwife kind of role that isn't really normal to see an action star in. Showing the difference and change in character is something that the movie uses to make us see their ideology and understand the message that they want to send. Women are shown in aggressive action parts, and also in comforting roles. As the main characters walk through a hotel of refugees there are men, women, and children hiding out as tanks role through the streets trying to find these two people. Showing all people in all ways shows us that there are no expected roles of gender anymore and that if people continue to think that certain people have certain roles, it will lead to chaos, fighting, and destruction of a society that people generally like. The difference between gender roles and the role of gender is that the latter gives the idea that men and women are supposed to do certain things and fulfill a sort of unwritten contract. The role of gender in film does not separate, but notices that men and women are different, have parts that they are expected to play, but often break the rules. Since the late 1970's women have been given larger roles in movies and have been shown as strong independent people that are capable of more than what was previously thought. Similarly, this movie shows that men are capable of more than just blowing things up and fighting, though there is a good amount of that shown in the film Because the role of women for a time was to stay at the home cooking and raising children, we still have a hint of that stereotype engraved in the way that we think now. The differences between men and women are slowly becoming smaller and smaller, and this movie shows women in a role that we expect men to carry in an action movie. On the contrary it also shows the women in a motherly position where they only take care of the child while the men have to protect and fight. Its a new type of thinking, especially in this view of future society, where people are unsure of the future and their own roles in society. Because there are no

children to take care of, and most people are individuals now, this version of the future gives men and women an equal playing field and attempts to get rid of the stereotypes that are known. The lack of a family dynamic with children means that people think for themselves and rarely care what anyone else thinks or does. When a child is introduced to this society, people seem to revert to old ways, raising the question of what is in human nature and what if men and women are supposed to have different roles? The idea of gender becomes a sort of idea about power and why exactly people behave the way they do. Attempting to show the altered role of gender in this time period, the story shows people that have never had to do anything with children, care for a baby that has the ability to restore humankind. Though this brings up further questions, mainly the one saying that humans are born with instinctual ways of dealing with things and moments, the movie is also trying to show how people have changed in the futures and have adapted, instead of reverting to earlier behaviors. Men and women are shown doing the same tasks instead of having jobs divided, they are equal. When the child is born, it's not in a hospital with people that know what they are doing, it shows grittiness and what life could be like. This message, that change is necessary in order to thrive as a species is an important one that could be overlooked when watching the movie for fun. While we have changed the ways that we look at many topics, like gender or race, people still divide themselves and are forced to pick sides. In this movie, the role of gender becomes almost a non issue because they are able to do the same things. Though it's a broken and terrible world that they live in, the loss of importance of gender is an advancement that has happened. People have preconceived notions that men and women are supposed to do different things, but this movie is able to show that there is no need to have those differences as long as we get to the final point which is continuation of the species. Hopefully, that doesn't spoil the movie

for anyone. Showing people of all sorts in almost exactly the same light gives the impression that the filmmakers ideology was to show that we need to start thinking and fighting together as one instead of purposefully dividing us. Showing that gender, although an important part of life, is really not that important to what we all are living for is an idea that has the potential to bind people, but also divide them. In an attempt to create equality, the story has to show unfairness and the destruction that can be caused if we continue to live the way we do now. The real message of the movie is about hope, It's hope that things and people will change and realize that we need to fight as one instead of fighting each other. The segregation of anything will cause fighting and make everyone weaker. The ideology of this movie, like many other movies, is not just to say something that the filmmaker believes in, but to persuade the audience to think about how they act and behave. Children of Men attempts to show a world with strong women, strong men, and a sense of equality. A hope for change is what the world needs and if we refuse to change, there will be an oppressive government, war, and the general downfall of humanity. Or at least that's what this movie shows.