Whale Rider Essay

The New Zealand film, Whale Rider (2002) directed by Niki Caro is an extraordinary example of the feminist literary theory. The visual text follows the journey of a young eleven-year-old Maori girl named Pai, shorten for Paikea who believes she is destined to be the next chief in line of the patriarchal Maori tribe she is part of in the east coast of New Zealand. No matter the circumstances her traditional, stubborn grandfather named Koro refuses to accept that a female could possibly lead and guide the people in the tribe. Pai determine to prove to him [Koro] that he is wrong about a few things by questioning his strong beliefs, breaking sacred methods as well as rebelling. She goes as far as sacrificing her own precious life just to gain
appreciation and approval from her beloved grandfather, which is recognised near towards the end of the film. Through the sacrifice Pai made, it taught not only Koro, but others that no one should be discriminated just because of their gender, both females and males should be given the same equal of opportunities since it was demonstrated that women are as capable to do what men are able to. The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir assisted me to get a deeper understanding of the theory. Feminism is the focus of numerous movements which tried to obtain and defend the equality of female political, economic, and social rights. A feminist, which is often a female who promotes or encourages the rights and equality of women (or both sexes and other gender identities). I will be looking into the patriarchal society, feminist rebellion and gender stereotypes. Through analysing and studying this text as well as the theory, I hope to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the theory and society as a whole. We don't often see female role models who are in charge and are in power but if there are, they are often portrayed in a way it is accepted by society. Throughout the film, it's clearly displayed that males are the dominant gender. This is described as a patriarchal society which is when males are in authority over females in all aspects. The male gender is the leader, controllers, and decisions makers. Simone de Beauvoir on her text, The Second Sex (1949) says "In the past all history has been made by men. At the present time, when women are beginning to take part in the affairs of the world, it is still a world that belongs to men." I see why a feminist will hold such a viewpoint, especially how the chief of the Maori tribe (Koro) is obsessive over seeking for the next strong, intelligent, brave, young male to take his place since his oldest son (Porourangi) refused to pursue the role due to the lack of interest. The strong disagreement between the two males is shown on the scene where Porourangi had just come back from overseas, then he reveals that his love interest is a foreign woman and not of Maori decent to his entire family which Koro does not approve. "You've got the privileges but don't you forget you also go the obligations" yells Koro. "Look at me dad. For once in your life, come on. Nah, you don't even know who I am" yells Porourangi. "I know who you are meant to be, who you are born to be" yells Koro in response. "Yeah right but I failed you aye dad. Yeah because I had a daughter, well probably going to have another daughter and you know what? I'm not going to let you treat another child of mine like that" shouts Porourangi lastly. By studying this dialogue, I was able tell that Koro thinks about females in a very low manner and was very upset that the person he strongly desired to take his position does not hold the same perspective. No one really ever questions his actions or decision making, this could be because they are scared of him and what he is capable of or they might not see what in reality is happening. So when Porourangi speaking out he does not like the idea, being over powered or told how things would go like. Everything that we know of today revolves around male viewpoints, knowledge and assumptions, its men whom decide what is heard, seen, and portrayed. There is not a time where men ask woman what they want. De Beauvoir addresses, “How it is that this world has always belonged to the men…?' Standing up to what you believe, and being resistant of control from male authorities or higher ranks in society. De Beauvoir shares with readers 'Some years ago a well-known woman writer refused to permit a portrait to appear in a series of photographs especially devoted to women writers; she wished to be counted among the men. But in order to gain this privilege she made use of her husband's influence." This shows a woman who desire to be seen and values as much as a male figure; she refuses to let her gender define where she stands in society. This woman was able to speak up and applied actions to change the situation around. Feminist rebellion, this is displayed through the characteristics and actions of Pai's grandmother (Nanny Flowers). In the film, this strong woman illustrates an ideal imagine of rebellion, it is occasionally shown that she refuses to let her unappreciative, clueless husband manage her. This could be because though he may be the ruler/boss she deeply knows that once she allows to be dominated she loses her voice, her freedom. On the scene where Pai is upset after witnessing the argument between her loved ones, and heads to her father's waka which is when her grandmother advices "sometimes you've just got to let him think he is the boss...". "He is the boss" Pai reminds Nany Flower. "Not of me, I let him think he is though" replies Nanny. The grandparents would have being from the same cultural backgrounds but obviously one has dealt with the changes over time in a more comprehensive way by leaving some of the traditional practices which are not as effective to apply on today's era. She is the more understanding. For example there is another scene where Pai, Koro and she are having dinner. Paikea apologises to Koro for not obligating her grandfather's orders but Koro furious, throws a dish shattering it into pieces. "I'm sorry paka" says Pai. "You've gone deaf now, somebody just apologised to you" states Nanny. "You don't mess around with sacred things" yells Koro. "She was just watching" responds Nanny. "She was using a taiaha (a traditional Maori weapon used in combats)" shouts Koro. He throws the dish onto the floor. "Let the girl do it" demands Koro. "You might be the boss out there, but I'm the boss in this kitchen, I'll do it" states Nanny. The grandmother would not allow her husband to manipulate her, tell her what to do because she is a strong independent individual on her own, and would not allow her husband to manipulate and control her. We live in a society where we are given labels as soon as we are out of our mother’s womb; some people allow them to define them as an individual.
For women the word ‘femininity’ is assigned and ‘masculinity’ for men, it differentiates the two genders rather than referring each other as human beings. The word itself is used to portrait ideal ideas of what a woman should be like. Simone de Beauvoir states “We are told that femininity is in danger; we are exhorted to be women, remain women, become women. It would appear, then, that very female human being is not necessarily a woman; to be so considered she must share in that mysterious and threatened reality known as femininity”. Femininity is what makes a woman a woman, there are no other options. Simone de Beauvoir quotes ‘Tota mulier in utero’ from someone else, ‘woman is a womb’. Referring to that if you have ovaries and a uterus you are a woman in the eyes of the world and there is nothing else you could be refer as because there is only two choices you could be, but what is a woman?” what is their purpose in this world? What is an ideal woman? Gender stereotypes are 'generalizations about the roles of each gender'. They could give a positive or negative idea of how a person or a group should be or become. In the film, Pai is expected to do things which are considered feminine. For example she was separated from the other kids from the classes her grandfather was offering. All she could do was sit in the back of the class
and watch. "Pai, you are a girl, go to the back" demands Koro. But she refused to so she was told to leave. Her grandfather refused to permit her to participate as the classes were designed and prepared specifically for males. The boys had to learn to fight like the 'old ways', and seeing a girl using a weapon, fighting, looking fierce would not be something common. It goes against the idea of femininity. The idea that 'females have to dress well, be well mannered, know how to cook and care for their family', is what society makes it seem it is the norms. "Girl aren't allow" says Pai to Hemi when she is caught by her male friend, sneaking around to the lessons. She knows it is forbidden for her to take part of the lesson but she is being discriminated for wanting to learn and being simply a girl, something she had no position of choice. In conclusion, all three aspects which I have written about are related to the feminism theory, the patriarchal society, feminist rebellion and stereotypes were on a feminist’s viewpoint.
Therefore, after learning more about the whole concept, it has changed the way I view society as a whole. This is because when I began to study this theory, I realised women need to be appreciated for all their accomplishment throughout the years, their hard work and efforts on creating an equal world between the two genders. However, I began to question whether feminism is actually revolved around idea of empowerment of female in every aspect whether it is social, economically or politically? And maybe, feminism was never about those things which we’re informed about. It might just be excuses for females to gain power, domination and over throw males of the high power they possessed since they aren’t value as much. Perhaps women are fed up of being referred as the ‘Other’ like de Beauvoir claims. As the ‘Other’ representing less, the inferior, the bad in good, the negative, etc. Or maybe is a way which females could be recognised and be appreciated, like being seen more than what society thinks they are. As humans we are never satisfied with what we possess or given. We always want more and more, which leads to greed, and in general we’re a very selfish species. Equality could not possibly happen, both genders have made it look like they can't stand each other, this is because they’re
obsesses with control. It’s the nature of human beings, to compete with one and another until one gains more dominance over the other rather than finding solutions where they both can collaborate with each other to make the world better. Through having authority (power) comes many benefits, the feeling of having the world on the palm of your hands. We feared of being control too, manipulate by someone greater, more powerful. Fear directs a person to do horrid things which is why the world of today is full of madness, chaos, and a mess that needs desperately fixing.