Perception of Women in Society in Films - Essay Example

Full Completion Society's perception of women in the film "Raise the Red Lantern" and "Joy Luck Club" Women are very important in life. As the pop singer Shaggy has in one of his song, a woman can "put a smile upon your face and take you to a higher place". There are a lot more that a woman can do. Let us take this unique role of women shown in the film "Raise the Red Lantern" and "Joy Luck Club". Over the years, Asian women have viewed by many as "submissive sex objects" (www.boston.com). There are a lot of glossy magazines all over the world depicting the beautiful, seductive, and outstanding figures of Asian women. Not only have that but there were a lot of films produced, western and eastern, showcasing Asian talents in sexual arena. "Raise the Red Lantern" is not an exception to this. The film reveals of China's culture on marital arrangement way back 1920s. This Asian country has made a unique identity in connection with their outstanding obedience to customs and regulations. Strict conformance to traditions is really important in China that time as what the film illustrates. With the culture they have, their women be likely to be submissive in the society more than any other women in the world. It is in their belief the acceptance of polygamous marriage arrangement. This kind of culture allows men to marry as many wives as they want as long as that the man can provide all the needs of his big family. The story revolves around this type of marital arrangement. An old wealthy man, although already having three wives, then chose a fourth wife, in whom the story mostly rotates. The fourth chosen wife is Songlian, a 19-year-old beautiful college student. Still young, she has many dreams yet to be fulfilled but all those were gone when she had decided to marry the wealthy landlord after being forced to by her stepmother. This formerly independent woman enters this great mansion of a rich man that forbade her of any independent acts anymore. She has to stay in her own quarter, have been provided a servant and many rituals to follow or perform every day. Worst of all, she is forced into rivalry with the other wives. Aside from that, she got a very treacherous servant who wished to marry the rich man and this later on gave a sturdy headache to her. As the film lay bare, all the four wives must fight for the crown. They are to struggle to win the "masters'" attention. "Master" pertains to their husbands. It is customary to these Chinese women to call their husbands "master". They do this struggle to give their master the pleasant evening he wants for the day. It is this masters' custom to choose a wife for a night where he would gain his sexual satisfaction. And it is the women's duty to do their very best in order for them to be the chosen one every night. In doing so, they will gain the masters favor and have the incentive to rule the rest the household the rest of the day. The master has to show off his decision by lighting a red lantern going to the door of the lucky wife for the night. It must have been a lonely environment for these women, trapped inside their master's cage waiting to be picked up for a night. It looks like their nothing but similar to a whore. They obey everything their master wants for them. It is no longer her who has control over her self. Yet, as what the film reveals, it is a woman's glory to be the lady of the night. It means a step higher than the rest of the wives. It is exultation on their part to please the master and always gain his favor. "Raise the Red Lantern" seems to blurt out the role of women in the society as submissive to man's desire. Women are nothing but for quarters. They do not have a place in the workplace. She's a do-no-better ignorant than staying at home and pleasing his husband the master. All she has to do is to execute her expertise in whatever field her master commands to gain herself honor as a pleasant wife. And mind you, she must do it with all of her best. Asian women are presented in the film with a blend of traits going for one purpose. Women's portrayal in here seems to agree to the stereotyped of their being. Though the film showed culture of longtime China, it outraces the motive and is somewhat selling Asian women for sex. It has been a long time belief of many nations that Asian women are easy to get because of their ignorance, especially lack of education. Also, Asians' cheap standard of living such as what the film reveals of ancient China add to the factor of women going for sex trade. The film has an aura like telling everyone to get one Asian woman for himself and be satisfied. It shows that Asian women are great sex partners. Yet, if it has been their culture what else can we do Besides, the story also points out many things. It shows that a woman can do something better in a family more than anyone else. She can manage even the hardest and toughest situations she is to be facing. Asian women are hardworking one. They do not get easily discouraged but fight for something better. This is clearly seen of Songlian's character in the movie. This film has been a phenomenal success. It was filled with great figures heading the cast. Songlian played the fourth beautiful young wife that was forced to be in rival with other wives. She has to play games with anybody including her own servant or else she will be left useless. She has a strong personality to fight for her side. As a new arrival, she is firm and distant. She somehow learns to fight fire with fire with the three other wives. She has a great character not giving up to whatever danger she will face. It was a touching moment when she struggles to get firm with her emotion but still could not stop but allow a tear pour down to her cheek. He Caifei being the wife number three is a former opera singer that has manage superbly in playing games with Songlian by using Songlian's own servant, Kong Lin, which proves to be more deceitful. She is tough in trying to dislocate the rest of the wife. She has a real deceitful identity. A malicious lady and spoiled wife, she can control a moment. She really thus posed a great threat to Songlian. On the other hand, the first wife is of less trouble to Songlian while Cao Cuifeng, the second wife tend to be just as cunning as He Caifei. They are both outgoing and friendly to Songlian compared to the first wife but prove to be very spiteful. Imagine the identity of all of these women has in them, treacherous, jealous, vindictive, and fraudulent. They have done all this to win one mans' love and favor. How loyal and devoted are they! But, there are still many facts to know about an Asian woman characters and traits. If we see some different angle of the story, we can see that these women are more loving than anybody else is. Sex can be a factor in loving someone. In the film, these women did there part or role as a wife with all their best to please their husbands. Yet, they are obliged to do the act since it is their culture. It has always been an accepted concern in some nations, mostly to Christian country, that once a woman is married to a man she is no longer deciding for herself but her husband will and likewise with the husband. For some countries that don't recognize this fact, broken family occurs in haste. The culture shown in the movie is building a big family together. Yet, there is also one thing noticeable in the film. The house is full of jealously and pains that add up to an odd surrounding. Although everyone is together, there is something wrong that is going on. Worst, the husband seems has nothing to do with it. Fortunately, these women got used to this type of living and just managed to survive in this type of surrounding. Troubles, as some say, are spices in a relationship. A more perceptive view of women, preferably Asian women, is seen in the movie "Joy Luck Club". The film shows a blend of a woman's character although it still has the stereotype being of Asian women as "hypersexual" (www.wikipedia.com). It reveals of an Asian woman's concern and interest in that she could even loose her life for it. If you really internalize the movie, expect a tear coming out from your tear ducts. Or if not, at least you expect to get carried away with the situations. It is really for real. To say, Asians genuinely are loving person. It is apparently seen in the film. Some are willing victim for the sake of love and family while some are just physically powerful to fight for what they believe is right to give happiness to someone. Asian women are not the only ones that have experienced matching feelings as what is seen in the movie, but all if not most of mother. The film is more of a mother-daughter story. The women in the movie live their lives in full struggle and pains. Living in China that time is really difficult for a woman's physical, mental, and social growth. Women were not given equal treatment with men. They had no place in the society. They had to obey to their husbands and honor them as their master. They must always listen to their master's voice since all of them are nothing but little ignorant. They were not given the right of education. As what was stated about, it is their culture that hinders women from interacting in the society. They believe that men are more useful than women. Women are for home and not for any other thing. Women can't do good business, men can. The fact about their culture is narrowing the women's social exposure and it cost them to lose their self-esteem. Women do not hold a self-identity in the society. It is very common to hear the words "I am your husband and your master" in the movie. This only proves the subservient individuality of women as what the society perceive them to be. With all these factors, most women wished to escape from this painful fact and look for a better place to stay. This is where the film Joy Luck Club" begin to enter. "Joy Luck Club" is the story of four unlucky and unhappy women, Suyuan, Lindo, Ying-ying, and An Mei. All four were raised up in China. Sooner than ever, each of these women made a family of own but with all having the same fate as one another. They all are their husband's slaves. These women are docile only to win their husband's love. It can be noted in the film the women's lack of sense of self. They can even dare to consume and bear their husband's wrong acts such as what Ying-ying has experienced. She tolerated her husband's cheating deed on her wedding day. She tried to carry on her sorrow to herself until she fell down to extreme anxiety and drowns even her own son. It must have been a torturous yoke for these women is their everyday living! This is really a typical scene in Chinese country way back 1920s having this type of culture. Then the four women tried their best and finally find their way to America, which they did carrying full hope to have a better life. These women then have produced kids and they do not want their kids to experience the same thing as what they have been through. Yet, each woman has a daughter that happens to experience the same thing they had before. Suyuan has June. Lindo has Waverly. Ying-ying has Lena. An Mei has Rose. A woman's motherly instinct will surely move her to do anything for her daughter's betterment. This is clearly illustrated in the movie. Sacrifice is the all-time motto of these women. At first, sacrifice for their love to their master then later sacrifice for protecting their daughter to get away from bad luck. Worst in all! These women's masters were unfair to them. Then add their daughter's ungratefulness to the protection their mothers tried to do for them and worst, they viewed it as their mother having no understanding with the American culture they have grown up. It must have been a depressing fact when their children ignore their mothers' guidance and in the end follow their mothers' tract. The daughter also find themselves suck in an untruthful relationship. They likewise strive to gain their husbands love not minding their selves. Unluckily, they seem to loose their self-identity the same as their mother. Guessed it is just an Asian culture that tends to be numb to the real situation that is going on. Yes they are sensitive to somebody's feeling yet tend to expect something more than what is real. Asians are more heart-directed than wise thinkers. Emotion rules in their being with little minding of the future consequences. Yes, it is great that Asian women learn to value love. It is far more important than anything else. Truly, women are different. They offer an undying and unfathomable love to someone. They have created a great perception of society as women of faith, strong and courage. Women do manage the toughest situations that would come upon her way. She is not only good in making love but also great in building good love and respect. She rest upon her hopes that somehow enables her to conquer fear of sinking forever. A woman tends to stand up with all the rocky roads she is running to for her to reach her dreams and aspirations in life. These women, as approve by the film, do give real inspiration to everyone to strive harder while living the toughest storm of life. The film showcases great talent artists. Suyuan made a hurtful self-sacrificing act when she decided to abandon her twins. She had a very tough character, because a mother will never ever abandon her children no matter what. It is really a stirring painful feeling deep in her heart. Yet, it just point up that she has a powerful, tough, and exceptional character. On the other hand, Lindo manage to hold her child. Yet, she finds to have a daughter, Waverly, who is rebellious and headstrong just like her. Strong personality is what this mother-daughter has shown. It was really a great impact on emotion the moment when Waverly decided to marry the guy whom her mother disapproves and they were set in a hot confrontation. In fact, Waverly was able to despise her mother by saying that her mother does not know the power she has over her! It was a typical scenario over a mother-daughter relationship, even in modern days. Ying-ying is a more lot different from the rest as she has this self-regulating feeling. She kept her emotions deep inside her. It is really very dangerous since emotions kept inside would really blast off from within just like what had happened. She eventually drowned her own son due to intense depression she has concerning her husbands' betrayal to her. An Mei's generation beyond doubt shows selfless love. It started from her mother giving off to death her own life just to give An Mei a place in a polygamous family. Then it also reflect in An Mei daughter, Rose, who give everything to her husband. Although she has given all the selfless and supportive love for his husband, yet, she feels it is nothing compare to what her husband has for her. The fact is reverse at all! Rose has developed a submissive character which she gets from her mother An Mei who has experience this in their native Chinese culture. Asian culture is full of dramatic and surprising tale to tell. They really have a rich culture and a unique heritage of things to contribute to the world. Their women are really outstanding and game. More than else, you can guarantee them loyal love. The two films mentioned above establish the fact that women deserve to be honored in return to their loyalty. Asian women's representation in the film may seem odd and cheap but it has indeed given us some worth information about their character and identity. No individual was ever been cheap or will ever be cheap for as long as she lives the virtue of life that she believes is right. Although they are submissive to men, sure they have proved their worth. Truly, women can do something better any one can! References: 1. Raise the Red Lantern Movie. 2. The Joy Luck Club Movie. 3. Asian Boston magazine gets new look after first issue criticized. http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/08/20. 4. Stereotypes of Asians. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_Asians Read More