MovieChat Forums > To Have and Have Not (1945) Discussion > Female Stereotype?

Female Stereotype?

posted 16 years ago by FredandGinger
1 reply | jump to latest

Hi,
I'm doing my media coursework on the repesentation of women in Howard Hawks films. I was wondering how you think Lauren Bacall's character, Slim, challenges the stereotypes of women, in general and more specifically in the time of the films creation.
I would be really interested in hearing your thoughts.
Thanks

[–] jamesabutler44 16 years ago

I don't think Slim challenges the sterotype at all. She is the archetypical female depicted in films of the 40s. She beautiful and she knows it. She uses her beauty to play suckers as a survival mechanism. However, at her core, she vulnerable and just needs the right man to make her acknowledge it.