Sexism In Whale Rider

Niki Caro's stoical mystical charming movie Whale Rider introduces newcomer Keisha Castle Hughes in her acting debut as Pai. Gender and Sexism are entrenched in many of the scenes in this movie. For instance, in the very first scene, it shows Pai’s family waiting for the birth of Pai and her twin brother. Koro, Pai’s Grandfather and the current Chief of the Maori People waited with bated breath for the next male to be born who was destined to become the future Chief of the Tribe.
However, the Mother and the Male child died during childbirth, only the Female child lived. In one of the following scene’s Koro, the Grandfather is seen standing over the Male child, devastated that the Male child has died while the Female child lives. Anyone who …show more content…
In the scene after his wife and son died he chose to give his daughter the legendary ancestor’s name Paikea. Koro was angered that a male name was given to a girl. It is in this scene, that we see cultural values, behavior patterns, and norms, beginning to shift. Later, in a scene, in the movie Koro, the Grandfather is explaining to Pai about the legend of Paikea and how he was transported to New Zealand’s east coast on the back of a whale. Within many of the scenes in the movie, the interaction between Pai and her grandfather shows Koro adverting his power of Pai. Koro never listens to her he ignores the things that Pai says that messes with his belief system. Koro in his own mind is convinced that the social norm is that males are natural born leaders. In the movie, it shows us that there is a Hierarchy in the Social Order. We see Koro as the leader, second would be his first-born son Pai’s Father, then his second born son Pai’s Uncle. However, neither of Koro’s Son’s want anything to do with traditions. We see how quickly Koro is willing to change the Social Order of things to please himself. Koro knows in his heart that Pai is the next in line but will not even entertain the thought because she is a female. Koro is not about to break tradition not even for the Granddaughter he …show more content…
We see that Koro has two sons Pai’s Father Porourangi and her Uncle her Father’s Brother. Neither son wants to become Tribal Chief, preferring to choose their own paths and break away from their Maori traditions. Porourangi chose to go study art in Europe, while his Brother Rawiri the second born Son of Koro who can never be the next Tribal Chief because that spot is reserved for his Brother the first-born Son. Rawiri chooses a more relaxed existence and in one of the scenes, he is seen with his girlfriend drinking alcohol and doing drugs. This being done in the presences of children is not a social