Role+of+Women+(Gender+Expectations)

=Role of Women (Gender Expectations)=

__**INTRODUCTION**__ The role of women in this play is particularly important because all of the characters are women. Federico Garcia Lorca was homosexual and therefore felt repressed by the society that he lived in. He decided to create characters who were women because he understood how women felt in the society as they too were repressed. During this time period, women and homosexuals were marginalised people with little or no freedom of expression.


 * TRADITIONAL DOMESTIC ROLE OF WOMEN**
 * The constant reference to household chores such as **“scrub! Scrub those tiles!”** (p.120) present the reader with a traditional view of women as home keepers.
 * Gender roles are clearly established: **'needle and thread for females; a mule and a whip for males'** (p.126) Whips are a symbol of control. This implies that men wield the power and control. This is illustrated at the beginning of Act 2 when all the sisters are sewing, except for Adela, who is absent (p.137). There is also verbal irony in the fact that Bernada Alba wields her cane as men do their **‘whips’**.
 * Women are supposed to be **'a meek little dog to cook for’** men - women are subservient to men emphasised with the use of animal imagery. 
 * **"To be born a woman... worst punishment"** (p.144) Unlike the men, the women aren't allowed to look outside the house (**'not even our eyes belong to us'**). The men on the other hand **'are forgiven everything'**.


 * WOMEN AS WIVES**
 * Pepe's request for a **"good woman, well-behaved"** (p.138)  shows Lorca's depiction of a traditional man’s expectations of a woman.
 * Most women are submissive: **'Yes, he did all the talking'** (p.139). Angustias says this about Pepe when she is asked whether they are engaged. This is in reference to how the man always does the talking and women were the listeners. 
 *    **"speak if he speaks, and look at him when he looks at you. That way you won't quarrel."** and **"Don't try to find out about them** (Pepe's feelings)**. And above all, don't ever let him see you cry."** (p.158) Bernarda is giving Angustias marriage advice. This shows that the perfect wife should be submissive and only do something once the man has given you permission.


 * WOMEN AS MOTHERS **
 * **'Women sacrificing for their little brats"** (p.143) said by Amelia shows the differences of herself (and Magdalena who doesn't **'plan to sew a stitch'** for Angustias' baby bonnets or **'much less take care of someone else's children'**) in contrast to the other women who care about their children.


 * WOMEN AND SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS**
 * There are expectations placed on women and how they are to appear and behave: **“A woman should look at no man but the priest, and at him only because he's wearing a skirt. Whoever turns her head is on the prowl for a man”** (p.124) This shows that women are supposed to suppress their sexual desires. This is an example of double standards since the men are never judged for doing this but the women are immediately labeled as **'on the prowl'** as if they have a predatory approach**.**
 * (p.131) **"its better never to lay eyes on a man"**, **"I've been afraid of them"** Martirio has been disappointed in love before and therefore prefers not to have any expectations. We later find out Bernarda disapproved of the match because Humanas was of a lower class.
 * Before he passed away Bernarda's husband was having an affair with the maid **'behind the back corral'** (p.122) this shows that men have sexual dominance because even though the maid did not want to do it, it happened anyway. It also shows how men were not monogamous and loyal to their loving wives.
 * Women were innocent and, to a certain extent, naive in their relationship with men **“It was the first time I was ever alone with a man at night”** (p.139). Angustias says this about her first encounter with Pepe when he met her through her window. This shows the strictness of Bernarda through the fact that her daughters were never allowed to be alone with a man. One interpretation of this could be this was to keep the daughters pure and were prevent them from having any sexual contact so they did not tarnish the family name.
 * **"If you want Pepe Romano, control yourself"** (p.141) shows that women were supposed to control their urges whereas it was acceptable for men to express their urges. Poncia is telling Adela to leave Angustias alone so that she doesn't **'go against the law of God'** (p.142)
 * **"My daughter had died a virgin. Carry her to her room and dress her in white."** (p.168) **"The youngest daughter of Bernada Alba has died a virgin."** (p.169) This shows the expectation in society that you are supposed to be a virgin until you get married. Bernada is covering up the fact that it isn't the case for Adela, and dresses her in white which is a symbol for purity. She is trying to protect the family name.


 * FINANCIAL DEPENDANCE OF WOMEN**
 * **"may you continue to reap the harvest of your marriage"** (p.125) One of the mourners is talking to Bernarda and is referring to the inheritance from her husband. This shows that women were financially dependent upon their husbands.


 * ROLE AS DAUGHTERS**
 * **"learn to respect your father's memory!"** (p.126) Bernarda is tallking to Adela when she gives her the wrong coloured fan. Authority the father continues to wield after his death - daughters are forced to observe the long period of mourning.
 * The fact that **"[a] daughter who disobeys stops being a daughter and becomes an enemy"** (p.155) shows how there is a srict restriction on a female child's freedom. This is endorsed by the harsh alliteration of the letter 'd' in '**daughter**' and '**disobey**', further reiterated by the repition of the phrase '**a daughter**' suggesting a certain callous tone in the presentation of this line.


 * BREAKING AWAY FROM THE FEMALE STEREOTYPE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES**
 * Bernarda: **“That’s what it means to be a woman.”** / Magdalena: **“To hell with being a woman'** (p.126) this shows that the female status is less superior to that of males in this particular time period. Links with the idea of rebellion - women are beginning to question the male authority.
 * **"how you'd like to see my daughters and me on our way to the whore-house"** (<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">p.151) T  his shows that if there is no control, the society will force women to become into prostitutes. This could be the reason why Bernarda has taken freedom away from her daughters as she is afraid that her daughters will become prostitutes.
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">**"Any women who tramples on decency should pay for it"** (<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">p.154)   foreshadows Adela’s fate as she doesn’t conform to the standards set by society for women.