Essay #3 Draft

The norm of America women during the 1950's was changing drastically. Women were gaining their right to participate in politics, joining the work force, and beginning to be viewed equally to American males. In reaction to this new change, many women had a hard time figuring out who they were and what they wanted to be in this new stage of American life. This resulted in women struggling to define themselves, women in the 1950's longed to find a good man to spend their lives with like they had in all the years before. However, in the 1950's women had a harder time finding that man of their dreams. Women weren't sure what kind of women men were interested in now that the norm was changing. Men could be interested in the traditional woman or the more modern rebellious type. These struggles are displayed in many films made during this time era. Three good films that display this struggle appropriately are 'Splendor in the Grass,' 'Rear Window,' and 'Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman.' All of the women in these films struggle with identity. This is due to the lack of a solid norm in the woman's role during 1950's America.

In the first film, 'Splendor in the Grass,' the lead women is Deanie. This film is made up of sexual tensions between teenagers during the 1950's. Before the 1950's families and couples had viewed the action of sex as one only used for marital purposes. However, many teens had begun to experiment with premarital sex during this time with others that they knew they were going to marry eventually. Many teenagers were on the border line about premarital sex. They grew up knowing it was just for married couples, but now that the norm was changing there was a lot of thoughts floating around from couples to couples. In this film, Deanie takes the side of the older traditions, waiting until the married life to have any sort of sexual actions. However, due to Bud not taking the same side, he has sex with another woman. Deanie is now overwhelmed with emotions. She was not stable in her identity and she did not for sure which type of woman she wanted to be. She was confused and therefore was unable to be confident and certain on her views when her boyfriend Bud pushed her in ways she was uncertain of.

In another film, 'Rear Window,' the main character, played by Jimmy Stewart, has a broken leg and has nothing else to pass the time by with except observing his neighbors and how they go about their daily routines. In this film the leading lady, Lisa, struggles with her identity as well.