Gender Inequality In A Streetcar Named Desire

The text is interpreted by different readers of opposite backgrounds differently. Some people may understand why one of the main character, Stanley, has such strong dominance. Some might understand another main character, Stella, and why some people may sympathize with her roles involving feminism. In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams shows how Stanley reflects masculine stereotypes about traditional gender roles, protecting his wife, and commanding other people; because of this, readers that carry different family backgrounds are able to interpret Stanley’s behavior and reflect on is a treatment of women. People are capable of even disliking the amount of dominance that is directed towards women in the household. Determination …show more content…
He portrays the masculinity of his character and showcases it towards his group of friends, his wife and his wife’s sister. Stanley tends to boss around his friends and family and expects everyone’s coolness with it because he is the head of the household while the wife, Stella, is at home cooking and cleaning and waiting for his arrival awaiting the service. On the other hand, Stanley has a soft side for Stella and never wishes a dreadful soul to her which involves his attitude at times when interacting with Stella. The way his attitude sometimes shifts when interacting with Stella may shift back when he is out with his boys because of the sense of masculinity in him. These different traits may be interpreted as aggressive and rough or it may be interpreted as subtle and caring by readers from different backgrounds. Readers with a background that involves both parents as a child may think the way Stanley is acting is great and kind. Readers that hold a background with one parent or have lived in violent foster homes experienced violent actions in the family may understand the aggressiveness of Stanley and the rise of masculinity when around certain