Sexism

Stanley:

1. Master Sergeant (pg. 18)

2. primitive (pg. 39)

3. animal thing (pg. 62)

4. madman (pg. 73)

5. ape-like (pg. 83)

6. pig (pg. 131)

7. king (pg.131)

Stanley is portrayed as a very masculine figure. He is the Alpha male, he is strong, muscular and attractive. All words related to him make him look like an animal, like something overpowering and unpredictable. He is described to be a Master Sergeant and a king, he is the ruler of his household as well as of all his friends. Everybody listens to Stanley, the everlasting leader of the crew. There’s something about him that makes him so primitive and almost ruthless. He is certainly attractive but he also comes from a working class and he is foreigner. This gives him something exotic, something women are looking for. The language associated with him shows that men are supposed to be the man of the household and the more powerful sexe.

Stella:

1. honey (pg. 12)

2. as fresh as a daisy (pg. 49)

3. old maid (pg. 60)

4. canary bird (pg. 127)

5. queen (pg. 131)

Stella is mostly portrayed as something sweet and breakable. She seems fairy like but at the same time weak. To be called an ‘old maid’ isn’t exactly flattering. Though the language associated with her seems sweet and innocent (like sweet and daisy), it isn’t in her favor. She doesn’t get to have a say in anything and she can’t really be someone even though her and Stanley have fights often. She argues with her husband to gain some sort of power, but in the end she is still called a sweet little woman, a canary bird. The language related to her is certainly sexist and makes her look like she isn’t of a big value but more like something nice to look at.