Which challenges does the mere concept of pursuing playing chess as a woman involve? Can chess be seen as a metaphor the series' creators wish to convey? Subsequently, the perspective of the creators of the series will be taken into account, specifically focusing on the portrayal of feminine characters in "The Queen's Gambit".
"The Queen's Gambit" is a 2020 American Netflix miniseries based on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis. The story follows the life of Beth, a smart girl who seems to have ambitions that were too high for a girl in the 1950's. Her story depicts a constant battle on her beloved chess field, but also on the grounds of a conservative society that does not make it easy for her to follow her passion.
Beth has to overcome Christian and social ideals of femininity that were prevalent at the time, both images of femininity including similar characteristics that deviate from Beth’s interests in the masculine activity of playing chess and that are discouraging women to go an individual path that diverges from an image of a supporting (Christian) housewife whose only goal is to care for their family and taking care of domestic duties.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Post-war society and culture in the US
3. Femininity and what it means to (not) be feminine
3.1. Femininity in post-war America
3.2. Femininity according to Christian belief
4. Post-war images of femininity in the series The Queen’s Gambit
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives & Topics
This thesis examines the representation of post-war images of femininity in US-American society through the lens of the Netflix series "The Queen’s Gambit". The central research goal is to analyze how the protagonist Elisabeth Harmon and other female characters navigate, comply with, or challenge gender roles and societal expectations within the context of the Cold War era, Christian traditionalism, and a male-dominated competitive environment.
- Historical and cultural construction of post-war feminine ideals in the US.
- The influence of Christian beliefs on defining femininity and gender roles.
- Transformation of the protagonist's identity from passive societal adherence to resistant femininity.
- The role of chess as a metaphor for power dynamics, gender, and individual agency.
- The impact of institutional and domestic environments on female self-determination.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Femininity and what it means to (not) be feminine
Femininity can only be defined by initially taking into consideration that most experts on gender studies differentiate between the term sex and gender when discussing issues surrounding topics like feminine and masculine characteristics (Soh 2020: 16f.). Soh argues that the (biological) sex is innate and is defined by the biological nature of our bodies either producing sperm or eggs (ibid: 17). Thus, differences in the biological sex are predetermined by mature reproductive cells, known as gametes that can either be egg or sperm and which seem to be the central marker to define if a person is classified as either female or male (ibid). In reality, the biological sex is mostly determined by the genitalia, assigning the term male to individuals with a penis and its female equivalent to individuals with a vulva (Charlebois 2011: 5f.). The counterpart of the biological sex can be determined as gender (identity), which expresses with which sex an individual can identify the most with (ibid).
Thus, a person can either relate to features of masculinity or femininity, or to features that belong to both sides of the spectrum (Soh 2020: 17). Williams therefore argues that gender is a social construct, which is created by society and which is established by the individual and its social surroundings, as well as the individual’s cultural environment (Williams 2012: 10). It can be argued that many experts on the field of sociology and anthropology have the opinion that feminine or masculine traits are a part of one’s gender identity, which cannot be physically defined but rather determined by the person’s social embedding and by how far the individuals strive to adapt to the social images of the society they live in.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of the post-war US and introduces the series "The Queen's Gambit" as a case study for analyzing feminine imagery.
2. Post-war society and culture in the US: Discusses the conservative social climate, consumerism, and prevailing gender hierarchies that marginalized women and racial minorities.
3. Femininity and what it means to (not) be feminine: Explores theoretical definitions of gender and femininity, distinguishing between sex as biology and gender as a social construct.
3.1. Femininity in post-war America: Analyzes the rigid separation of gender roles and the societal pressure for women to conform to the ideal of the "caring housewife".
3.2. Femininity according to Christian belief: Examines how Christian denominations reinforced binary gender roles and traditional subservience while framing femininity as an ambivalent attribute.
4. Post-war images of femininity in the series The Queen’s Gambit: Analyzes the character development of Beth Harmon and other women in the series to identify manifestations of traditional and resistant femininity.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, confirming how the series highlights the constraints of the era and the struggle for individual autonomy in the face of societal boundaries.
Keywords
The Queen’s Gambit, Femininity, Post-war America, Gender Roles, Social Construct, Christian Belief, Elisabeth Harmon, Resistant Femininity, Cold War, Patriarchy, Identity, Gender Norms, Chess, Socialization, Empowerment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper fundamentally investigates how post-war US images of femininity are portrayed and negotiated within the Netflix series "The Queen's Gambit".
What are the primary thematic fields addressed?
The study centers on gender studies, post-war American cultural history, sociology of religion (specifically Christian ideals), and literary/media analysis of character development.
What is the primary research objective?
The aim is to identify how the series depicts the conflict between traditional feminine expectations and the protagonist's desire for independence and agency.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a qualitative approach, analyzing existing social, sociological, and gender theories to evaluate the portrayal of characters in the series as mirrors of historical reality.
What does the main body primarily cover?
The main text covers the theoretical foundations of gender, historical perspectives on post-war domesticity, the influence of Christian values on gender roles, and detailed case analyses of female characters in the series.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key concepts include Femininity, Gender Roles, Social Construct, Post-war America, Empowerment, and the specific narrative analysis of "The Queen’s Gambit".
How is chess used to challenge traditional gender norms in the series?
Chess serves as a male-dominated domain; by succeeding in it, the protagonist Beth Harmon defies the expectation that women exist only in the domestic sphere, utilizing logic and dominance rather than passivity.
What role does the "problem that has no name" play in the analysis?
The author uses Betty Friedan's concept to illustrate the underlying unhappiness experienced by characters like Alma and Margaret, who, despite fulfilling the "ideal housewife" roles, suffer from a sense of trapped existence and lack of self-purpose.
- Citar trabajo
- Anonym (Autor), 2021, Post-war images of femininity in US-American society and their representation in the series "The Queen's Gambit", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1357855
