The film The Day of the Outlaw was released in 1959, just around the time women were feeling "caged in" at home and searching for an escape. This issue was portrayed in the film when all the women in the film are separated from the men and forced to live in a different house. Women were clearly treated with disrespect and their feelings were ignored. The women were also treated as objects when they were forced to dance with the gang. The gang members again showed disrespect for the women further proving their ignorance in this film. In the 1950's women were trying to make the transition from the house to the workplace and this film shows that they were having a difficult time doing so. Men showed no respect towards women and felt that they were superior in every aspect. Men controlled women and the women were finally deciding that a change needed to happen. In the upcoming years the Civil Rights and Equal Pay Act would emerge and women would start proving themselves in society.
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ReplyDeleteThe film The Day of the Outlaw, filmed in 1959, displays unique women’s issues as a result of the events going on in society during the making of the film. The film parallels the beginning of the women’s movement, and women gaining more legal rights allowing them to have more power in society. Although on paper it seemed women were legally equal with men, men were still seen as superior to women in society. This created a distorted image of the success of the women's movement by making them appear to be equal with men. In The Day of the Outlaw, the blizzard symbolizes the distorted image by, covering the ground and hiding the truth of the inequality of women and lack of respect towards women. Women were clearly treated with disrespect and their feelings were ignored. The women were also treated as objects, for example, Bruhn has the women herded into a room and forces them to dance with his gang. Some of the men of the town are afraid for the women and their safety, but Bruhn assures the men they will not be harmed or raped, unless Bruhn tells his men to do so. While dancing with the men, the women are being thrown around by the outlaws, looking more like rag dolls than fully grown females. The dance scene depicts the women as truly helpless. The gang members again showed disrespect for the women further proving their ignorance in this film. The women are saved by Blaise, the alpha male cowboy, when he leads them away from town. marriage. Although the women prove to be somewhat strong and courageous they are still dependent on men and society is completing disrespecting their knowledge and abilities. In the upcoming years, women would emerge as stronger individuals with the help of the Civil Rights and Equal Pay Act.
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