The Stereotypes Of Women In The Film Titanic

In the film Titanic, women are seen as below men and are told what to do by men. Women are deemed as helpless without the support of a man, which the main character, Rose DeWitt Bukater, defies throughout the film. Rose breaks many of the traditional “rules” of the time period in which the film takes place. Feminism is seen predominantly in the film Titanic. Women are deemed as helpless in the film. Many instances take place where women are shown as helpless and needy, but Rose ends up breaking through this stereotype of women. Rose is seen as helpless when she attempts to escape her problems by jumping overboard in a suicide attempt. When Rose slips while standing on the railing of the ship, Jack has to save her. This is another example of Rose having to be saved. But Rose also turned this idea around by defying against her mother and her fiancé, Cal Hockley. She goes against her mother’s wishes and chooses to run off with the man she loves, Jack Dawson, and not the one her mother wants her to be with, Cal. Rose also smokes cigarettes, which does not please her
Cal tries to control Rose. This is shown in scene in which Cal acts out in violence to show his dominance over Rose. He says that she should not be seen at any of the lower class parties again. Rose then remarks that she he could not treat her like a piece of property or like one of his workers in the mill. He remarks with “You are my fiancée!” and acting out by flipping over the table and storming away. By saying that he means that he controls her, who she talks to, and where she goes. Lastly, a remark is made to Cal in reference to Rose. A friend of Cal’s says, “Congratulations, Hockley, she’s splendid!” This is portraying Rose as a prize that needed to be won that Cal now has possession over. In this film possession over women is seen as a common