Femininity And Masculinity Throughout The Twentieth Century

I am going to compare these two images and discuss the idea that trousers were such a big step for hegemonic femininity and masculinity at the time and the threat to the ideology that they posed surrounding the idea of gender representation and sexuality throughout the 20th century. I’m going to discuss the way the two photographs are portrayed by poses, clothing and the times they were taken.

Previously women were only permitted by law in some places to wear trousers while cycling and during certain activities. Sport gave freedom to women to wear masculine clothing as they were a lot more practical and didn’t restrict movement. Even though they could wear them for such occasions it was still too much of a big step to the independence of women and the indemnity the gender held at the time even although the wearing for sports was not to rebel against the ideals of gender roles. In the 20th century trousers posed a massive threat to male authority
Yet they have embraced this into their own clothing questioning the gender roles of society. This promotes women to adopt a masculine subjectivity regarding to social order which doesn’t want women to stick with conventional roles of gender. While femininity is often associated with being constrained and passive but not sexually available which is what is shown in the photograph of Ann Sheridan. Furthermore the photograph of Ann Sheridan makes her seem as though she is an object the way she is almost dropped across a plinth to be viewed by whoever is looking, she’s been placed there to be looked at compared to the solidarity of Le Smoking where the model seems very strong and has a feel of belonging yet