Analysis of the Film G.I. Jane Directed by Ridly Scott

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G.I. Jane, a film by Ridley Scott, tells the story of Jordan O’Neill, a female Lieutenant, handpicked to be the test subject for a new full gender integrated service in the Navy Seals Cross Reconnaissance Team. O’Neill is given the assignment but not expected to succeed. Historically, more than 60% percent of men dropout in training due to its grueling inhuman regime. Previously, O’Neill had tried enlisting into the military service during a time of war, but had been denied due to the “lack of female restroom onboard the submarine”. The sexist experience she encountered fueled her to accept the Navy Seals recruitment and vowed to complete it no matter what rigorous training it entailed. O’Neill saw this as her chance to change the discriminating policies of the navy when dealing with woman in service. She was driven to prove everyone wrong and become a female Navy Seals.
The senator that chooses O’Neill as the test case ensures that before O’Neill is to be selected as the top candidate, she fits a certain criteria. She must be a heterosexual female; we can see that even within the female gender, sexual preference separates what is to be considered a real woman. In addition to making sure that the candidate for the new Cross Reconnaissance Team is not a lesbian, the senator also makes certain that O’Neil displays the typical female physique to give a stronger feminine representation.
As O’Neill arrives to the Seals Training facility she is immediately shunned by other male trainees and ridiculed because of her gender. The other male trainees try to make her quit by telling her she is only there to serve as a mere promoting tool by politicians. O’Neill is also given special treatment to assist with her special “needs as ...

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... her and getting her removed from the Navy Seals Training Program. To her surprise, the same person who got her the position was also responsible for her downfall, the Senator. After confronting the Senator of her findings, O’Neill questions the Senator as to her motive for pulling her out of the training. The Senator confidently responds, “ Nobody wants to see a woman die in combat”. O’Neill is then prompted to raise the question of why a man’s life less valuable than a women’s. From this we see how O’Neill questions the double standard argument about gender inequality.
G.I. Jane challenges the discriminating military policies that exist and examines the presence of male dominance, and the consequences when disrupted by the opposite gender. The movie is a good portrayal of the injustice that the female gender faces when she tries to fight for gender equality.

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