Shawshank Redemption (Gender Roles)

Is the society patriarchal or matriarchal?

Patriarchal

Masculinity portrayed by the men in the film

Unhealthy portrayal as power and control are shown to be of utmost importance. Any threats to their authority are responded to with violence. This is shown when Andy asks Hadley if he trusts his wife and Andy’s final encounter with Bogs.

Gentleness and Betting

The prisoners prey on the most vulnerable, the newest prisoners. The “fresh fish” have bets placed on who will cry first. Fatass, the unfortunate soul who was the first person to cry, is beaten to death by Hadley due to crying being deemed as a feminine trait. Fatass is also threatened with rape, which is also used to assert dominance in Shawshank

Objectification of women

They whistle at Rita Hayworth. Andy uses the girls for literal escape and not escapism from his situation. While the sexuality of women is shunned and shamed in Sive and STLT, it’s embraced more in the liberal America