Mildred Pierce- How Women are Represented in the Media

'Mildred Pierce' series 2011 with Kate Winslet.



The first version of 'Mildred Pierce' filmed in 1945 with Joan Crawford.

The plot of this film follows Mildred who divorces her unfaithful husband and brings up two children on her own. This narrative shows Mildred breaking away from the 'feminine mystique', which was the term Friedan uses to describe the traditional idea that women are to "confine themselves to narrow roles of housewife and mother, forsaking education and career aspirations in the process". Mildred is forced because of her financial situation to do the complete opposite of this. The words on the 1945 DVD version above says 'The kind of woman most men want- but shouldn't have!' This film  has been filmed and out together from a male point of view- 'The male gaze' because the words on the front target men. The fact that some men may like strong willed and independent women is targeted here, hence the statement on the front of the DVD.
Mildred's daughter Veda, is also portrayed through the male gaze. The fact that she goes onto try and blackmail a rich family with a fake pregnancy is using the stereotype that some women are goldiggers and are only interested in men for their money and what they can get from them. Mildred though goes against the stereotype that was prevalent at the time when it was first filmed, in that she isn't the wife that crumbles under pressure, can't do anything for herself and has no beliefs and ideas of her own. She overcomes the death of her younger daughter, stands by what she thinks is right and moves on in life.