Mona Lisa Smile and the 50s

Mona Lisa Smile and the 50s

Introduction;

This film was set in the 1950s and revolves around a woman known as Katherine. This is a woman who has taken a teaching position in “History of Art” at Wellesley College. This is a women’s conservative college that focuses on liberal arts. Girls are sent to this college so that they can learn traditional values, good grooming, and respectable behaviors that are deemed to be appropriate in the society. This notwithstanding, however, Katherine wants to make a difference by influencing the next generation of girls and women. As a result, Katherine introduces Modern Art and encourages women through spirited discussions, and challenges women to seek more than just getting married to eligible men.

There are various social norms which are illustrated in this film. It should be noted that the film depicts the environment of education system of women in the 1950s. During this period, it was believed that an ideal path for respected women in the society is by going through the education system. The education system prepared them for tending a house, marriage and raising a family. Notably, this was the aspiration of the young ladies who joined the Wellesley College. This is what the college prepared them for and was what their families expected of them. Katherine manages to inspire and challenge the young ladies to think beyond such social norms and conventions. Katherine argues that the general outlook of women in the community must be changed if at all women were to achieve better futures.

Girls from Wellesley College who have been married tend to be adapted in balancing their obligations. In this case, such girls could claim that they are able to outline a paper with one hand and baste ch...

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... family setting, they were being regarded as merely bringing certain aspects defined by women. As a result, some women turned into single- parent families hence “it normalizes what is abnormal and redefines the family as a unit without a man” (Jorgen, 29).

In conclusion, the notion that women were repressed in the 1950s until the sexual revolution of 1950s is very absurd. Arguably, there is no evidence suggesting that women were ever anything than passionate and sensual. While women might not have been repressed, they were obviously restrained. Religious and social norms and convections as well as the fear of getting pregnant as well as the tactical games of hooking a husband complicated matters for women during this period of time. Notably, when women went astray, it was to the knowledge of the society that they were transgressing in very strong social norms.