Real Woman Have Curves

2 Pages 425 Words

I believe that the film Real Women Have Curves delivers a powerful message within our cultural society. The ideas expressed by the female protagonist; Anna, are believed to be immoral and bizarre by her mother. Many controversial issues surface throughout the film which are considered dominant ideas of our cultural society. Such ideas are those of gender and supremacy and their impact on todays society.
Gender in Real Woman Have Curves is portrayed in several ways. The mother is portrayed as a stereotypical Mexican American woman with traditional family values. The mother is very superstitious in their religion and believes that turning their statue of St. Anthony upside down will help marry off her daughters. She also takes the figurine’s baby way from it because she heard it makes St. Anthony work faster. The mother is a stereotypical female because she says that women should act like “ladies” and walk in a certain way. They should always listen to their mothers and she sees it as a necessity to get married. She sees a woman’s worth through her husband and having a family. In spite of her mother’s pressure, Ana sees her gender in a different way. Ana is an independent woman and sees beauty in having knowledge and confidence in yourself. She values her mind and body and encourages her mother to do the same.
Masculine gender is portrayed in Real Women Have Curves as well. Mr. Guzman, Ana’s father, is portrayed as the head of the household. It is Ana’s father who she turns to when her sister needs money to save her dress factory. In this sense the masculine gender is portrayed as the rescuer, provider, and decision-maker. Mr. Guzman, though he is a “strong” man of the house, has a gentle side. He is the one who Ana goes to, to tell her true feelings about college. This is an almost feminine side of him. This movie also shows that Ana’s father is the one who gets the final say. He is the one who allowed Ana to he...