Women going against the stereotypes imposed on them for their personal and social gain
An exploration of the role that stereotypes play for women attempting to affect change.
Danny Pudi, an American actor once said "Stereotypes happen. I try not to embrace them or avoid
them"1. Stereotypes are preconceived ideas and simplistic images that negatively influence how
we see people, interact with them, and treat them. In other words, stereotypes impose limitations
on the people they target, assign them roles that are not necessarily suited to them and make it
harder for them to be their true selves. In a career such as acting, stereotypes can assist the audience
in identifying or empathizing with a character but can also limit the nuances of individuality.
Danny Pudi’s quotation highlights the complexity of stereotypes. This essay explores the role of
stereotypes on personal and social development and how stereotypes can both inhibit and be a
catalyst for change. In the following works of literature: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn,
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Educated by Tara
Westover, as well as the film Hidden Figures directed by Theodore Melfi, gender, racial, religious
and cultural stereotypes have an effect on the different characters’ personal and social
development. The characters in the novels and the film revoke deep-set stereotypes and cultures
to initiate change personally and sometimes at a more significant social level. In The Alice
Network, the character Evelyn Gardiner uses the stereotypical belief that women can only perform
menial and unthreatening roles in the war. She uses the stereotype to her advantage and carries out
significant acts in a secretive manner. She also uses the stereotype as a means of protection. In
Memoirs of a Geisha, the author explores cultural stereotypes and how individual characters
respond to these restrictions. In contrast, Miss Skeeter in The Help goes against her community's
racial and gender stereotypes in a more overt manner. In Educated, the novel shows how power
and control can be limiting and destructive when used to enforce preconceived roles. The novel
looks at how one’s surroundings impact one’s roles and the cost of going against these expected
roles. Finally, in the film Hidden Figures, the stereotypes of gender and race are examined. The
film highlights the madness of believing that capabilities are affected by either gender or race. This
essay explores how the different characters in the novels and the film individually go against
stereotypes and culture for personal development and the development of their greater society. The
stereotypes that the characters have been born into are holding them back from what they can
achieve, and these storylines explore the character's unique way of both " not embrac[ing] [nor]
avoid[ing]"2 stereotypes that limit who they can be.
The Alice Network ‘s inspiration came from the experiences of real-time female spies during
World War l. The character, Evelyn Gardiner, stands against the restricted roles designed for
women during the First World War. Roles such as manufacturing, medical, translation,
administrative and agricultural positions. Evelyn prefers to be in a position “reserved for a fit
man.”3 While living in her boarding house, her roommate proclaims “[Evelyn] should come work
at the hospital. That’s where [she] will find a husband”4 but she “[does not] much care about
finding a husband.”5 Her statement earns her "blank looks from the nurse and the landlady and the
, other two borders”6 because women who have no aspiration to start a family are automatically
assumed to be taking up the role of a suffragette. Both her desire for a non-conventional working
role, together with her lack of interest in finding a husband makes Evelyn very different to the
normal woman. It is exactly these qualities that link all the female-spies working in the Alice
Network, their beliefs and behaviour are considered atypical and even strange. During this time, a
woman who wanted to help in the war, additionally to her given positions, were “considered
suicidal”7. However, “if [she] were a man [everyone would] be calling [her] patriotic to wish to
continue in [her] duty to [her] country.”8 Evelyn’s character throughout the novel sheds light on
all the sacrifices female operatives made in the name of patriotism during the Great War and how
crucial they were to the war effort9. Evelyn sacrifices her” home, safety, virginity, even her name
all for the benefit of her country.”10 She is aware “[women] frequently have the ability to pass
unnoticed.”11 She uses this together with the fact that she has a speech impediment to her advantage
because “people talk around women, and they talk even more around girls, and they will chatter
like geese around a girl who seems half witted.”12 She gains the position of a spy in the Alice
Network in enemy-occupied France, to work in a restaurant owned by a profiteer that serves
German officials. Evelyn is presumably seen as unthreatening as she “[gives] that look of splendid
wide-eyed innocence.”13 Initially, Evelyn uses her hidden ability to speak German to eavesdrop on
conversations between the German officials she serves. However, later she learns that the
restaurant owner, René Bordelon, “likes to talk over a pillow”14 as for him “a mistress was
something pretty that never caused trouble”15 and continues to seduce him. Evelyn gathers
information that she finds even more helpful than the conversations she overhears in the restaurant.
The novel demonstrates that many people, especially men, “[underestimate] anything female.”16
Evelyn is trained by Lili, a character based on Louisse de Bettignies ‘Queen of Spies’, and the real
women who ran the spy ring, right under the enemy's nose, called the Alice Network. Lili is the
perfect example of an unthreatening woman with her docile and harmless looks, nevertheless, she
causes more real damage to the enemy than a bomber squadron.17 Lili has an ability to bluff her
way past checkpoints, whether by juggling packages until an exasperated sentry waves her
through, or by utilizing local children in a game of tag to smuggle her a pass.18 Therefore, the two
female characters in the Alice Network demonstrate how they use the stereotypes against women
during World War 1 to their advantage and to achieve their ambitions.
Similarly, Memoirs of a Geisha explores the idea of how it is sometimes useful to conform to the
stereotypes set out by society as it can lead to individual gain. Geishas are a group of women in
Japan who are hostesses trained to entertain men through conversation, song and dance. Women
become geishas either through passed down tradition in their families or if their families are poor
and need the money. The novel shows that geishas live up to the traditional expectations of their
male clients – which is to satisfy them and entertain them - in order to achieve a modicum of
financial security, personal safety and personal respect. Although the geishas are aware of the
oppressive attitudes towards women intrinsically involved in the geisha system, they conform to
them because they are driven by the practical outcomes of becoming a geisha. Geishas do not
“become geishas so [their] lives will be satisfying. [They] become geisha because [they] have no
other choice”19 The objectification of women is highlighted by the tradition that a teenage geisha
An exploration of the role that stereotypes play for women attempting to affect change.
Danny Pudi, an American actor once said "Stereotypes happen. I try not to embrace them or avoid
them"1. Stereotypes are preconceived ideas and simplistic images that negatively influence how
we see people, interact with them, and treat them. In other words, stereotypes impose limitations
on the people they target, assign them roles that are not necessarily suited to them and make it
harder for them to be their true selves. In a career such as acting, stereotypes can assist the audience
in identifying or empathizing with a character but can also limit the nuances of individuality.
Danny Pudi’s quotation highlights the complexity of stereotypes. This essay explores the role of
stereotypes on personal and social development and how stereotypes can both inhibit and be a
catalyst for change. In the following works of literature: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn,
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, Educated by Tara
Westover, as well as the film Hidden Figures directed by Theodore Melfi, gender, racial, religious
and cultural stereotypes have an effect on the different characters’ personal and social
development. The characters in the novels and the film revoke deep-set stereotypes and cultures
to initiate change personally and sometimes at a more significant social level. In The Alice
Network, the character Evelyn Gardiner uses the stereotypical belief that women can only perform
menial and unthreatening roles in the war. She uses the stereotype to her advantage and carries out
significant acts in a secretive manner. She also uses the stereotype as a means of protection. In
Memoirs of a Geisha, the author explores cultural stereotypes and how individual characters
respond to these restrictions. In contrast, Miss Skeeter in The Help goes against her community's
racial and gender stereotypes in a more overt manner. In Educated, the novel shows how power
and control can be limiting and destructive when used to enforce preconceived roles. The novel
looks at how one’s surroundings impact one’s roles and the cost of going against these expected
roles. Finally, in the film Hidden Figures, the stereotypes of gender and race are examined. The
film highlights the madness of believing that capabilities are affected by either gender or race. This
essay explores how the different characters in the novels and the film individually go against
stereotypes and culture for personal development and the development of their greater society. The
stereotypes that the characters have been born into are holding them back from what they can
achieve, and these storylines explore the character's unique way of both " not embrac[ing] [nor]
avoid[ing]"2 stereotypes that limit who they can be.
The Alice Network ‘s inspiration came from the experiences of real-time female spies during
World War l. The character, Evelyn Gardiner, stands against the restricted roles designed for
women during the First World War. Roles such as manufacturing, medical, translation,
administrative and agricultural positions. Evelyn prefers to be in a position “reserved for a fit
man.”3 While living in her boarding house, her roommate proclaims “[Evelyn] should come work
at the hospital. That’s where [she] will find a husband”4 but she “[does not] much care about
finding a husband.”5 Her statement earns her "blank looks from the nurse and the landlady and the
, other two borders”6 because women who have no aspiration to start a family are automatically
assumed to be taking up the role of a suffragette. Both her desire for a non-conventional working
role, together with her lack of interest in finding a husband makes Evelyn very different to the
normal woman. It is exactly these qualities that link all the female-spies working in the Alice
Network, their beliefs and behaviour are considered atypical and even strange. During this time, a
woman who wanted to help in the war, additionally to her given positions, were “considered
suicidal”7. However, “if [she] were a man [everyone would] be calling [her] patriotic to wish to
continue in [her] duty to [her] country.”8 Evelyn’s character throughout the novel sheds light on
all the sacrifices female operatives made in the name of patriotism during the Great War and how
crucial they were to the war effort9. Evelyn sacrifices her” home, safety, virginity, even her name
all for the benefit of her country.”10 She is aware “[women] frequently have the ability to pass
unnoticed.”11 She uses this together with the fact that she has a speech impediment to her advantage
because “people talk around women, and they talk even more around girls, and they will chatter
like geese around a girl who seems half witted.”12 She gains the position of a spy in the Alice
Network in enemy-occupied France, to work in a restaurant owned by a profiteer that serves
German officials. Evelyn is presumably seen as unthreatening as she “[gives] that look of splendid
wide-eyed innocence.”13 Initially, Evelyn uses her hidden ability to speak German to eavesdrop on
conversations between the German officials she serves. However, later she learns that the
restaurant owner, René Bordelon, “likes to talk over a pillow”14 as for him “a mistress was
something pretty that never caused trouble”15 and continues to seduce him. Evelyn gathers
information that she finds even more helpful than the conversations she overhears in the restaurant.
The novel demonstrates that many people, especially men, “[underestimate] anything female.”16
Evelyn is trained by Lili, a character based on Louisse de Bettignies ‘Queen of Spies’, and the real
women who ran the spy ring, right under the enemy's nose, called the Alice Network. Lili is the
perfect example of an unthreatening woman with her docile and harmless looks, nevertheless, she
causes more real damage to the enemy than a bomber squadron.17 Lili has an ability to bluff her
way past checkpoints, whether by juggling packages until an exasperated sentry waves her
through, or by utilizing local children in a game of tag to smuggle her a pass.18 Therefore, the two
female characters in the Alice Network demonstrate how they use the stereotypes against women
during World War 1 to their advantage and to achieve their ambitions.
Similarly, Memoirs of a Geisha explores the idea of how it is sometimes useful to conform to the
stereotypes set out by society as it can lead to individual gain. Geishas are a group of women in
Japan who are hostesses trained to entertain men through conversation, song and dance. Women
become geishas either through passed down tradition in their families or if their families are poor
and need the money. The novel shows that geishas live up to the traditional expectations of their
male clients – which is to satisfy them and entertain them - in order to achieve a modicum of
financial security, personal safety and personal respect. Although the geishas are aware of the
oppressive attitudes towards women intrinsically involved in the geisha system, they conform to
them because they are driven by the practical outcomes of becoming a geisha. Geishas do not
“become geishas so [their] lives will be satisfying. [They] become geisha because [they] have no
other choice”19 The objectification of women is highlighted by the tradition that a teenage geisha
