Date sent:        Sat, 13 Apr 1996 11:15:55 -0500 (CDT)
Subject:          Showgirls and Present day Gender Role Construction


 Showgirls is a definite backlash to the typical woman's role in 
society.  It is very interesting to me that a movie with this message is 
set in a normally deviant setting, when it is trying to portray the 
strength of a woman.  I feel this is the reason that many woman did not 
see the film.  They are offended, disgusted, and maybe even a little 
jealous of strippers.
 Strippers are able to be in control of the customers at all 
times.  They have the power to switch the standard gender roles.  For a 
moment, I thought differently when Nomi was forced to give a lap dance, 
but she turned the situation around when she gained part control over 
Crystal's man.
 I admire the character Nomi for her strong will, but I am also 
disgusted by her.  She uses every single woman stereotype to get her 
way.  She flirts constantly, wears skimpy or no clothing, she sleeps with 
Crystal's man as a retaliation toward a woman who has more prestige than 
herself, and many times during the movie she showed a definite fake lack 
of intelligence around the opposite sex.  
 I was also offended that every single scene with two woman in it 
was filled with so many lesbian connotations.  During scenes with Nomi 
and Molly, Nomi was batting her eyelashes constantly at Molly.  She even 
came on to Crystal at times to try and gain power in the dance world. It 
was not relatable to anyone at all, except for perhaps the Las Vegas 
dancers who have experienced this type of life.
 The men in Showgirls definitely had control over the women. There 
was no reversal in standard gender roles in these clubs. The men even 
acted stereotypically in revelling in their overpowerment of the norm.
Also, besides the instance when Nomi beats up the rock star, men use and 
abuse their status over these scantily clad women throughout the movie.
 Nomi tried to gain control in certain situations by seducing the 
people she wanted to have power over, but they always turned around and 
Knocked her back down to her stereotypical deviant status.  Also, when 
the rock star was part of a gang rape with Molly as the vicim, no one 
even thought of calling the police.  The men patted Nomi on the head and 
told her they would get Molly enough money to start a shop instead of 
acknowledging Molly's feelings in this life shattering event.  Yet, when 
Nomi did seek revenge for Molly's rape, she had to leave and give up her 
career.
 The gender roles in Showgirls are all very stereotypical.  The 
women are beautiful, young and barely dressed.  The men are suave and 
handsome with controll over everything.  It was a powerful film about a 
woman's fight against society, but view viewers are going to notice the 
message because of the context it was filmed in.  Many teenage boys 
watched Showgirls over and over again.  They saw only the sexy dancers 
and the sex scenes, they didn't even look for a deeper message.  In that 
sense, I feel the writers failed in portraying a woman's struggle in 
society in a relatable fashion.  They put too much concentration into the 
naked dancers and the sexual tension.  Therefore, if the writers were 
trying to portray the women's plight so that men can understand it, they 
failed miserably.  Give men a movie with exotic dancers and they will 
say, "What plot?"  Women can appreciate Nomi's struggle and even 
sympathize with her at times if they ever get bored enough to 
demean themselves and rent the movie with the naked woman on the cover.


Neely Vacura

Sociology 101

University of South Dakota. USA

(90%)

Gender Roles Essay
