Whale Rider and Billy Elliot are the two movies about gender role expectation that happened in a different way. Through the movies, I think it is easier for boys to break cultural / societal gender role traditions than for girls due t for somea few reasons. The first reason is that the society places more gender prejudice against girls than boys.
Girls and women are considered inferior to boys/ men in both ways, mentally and physical abilitiesy.
It is difficult for a girl to choose what she likes and wants to do in comparisong to that of a boy.
If a girl shows physical ability, she is perceived as aggressive because girls should be feminine according to the cultural traditions.
However, a boy is seen as masculine and strong if he does the same. Secondly, girls are taught and trained to play their role as a caregiver for the family but not a leader, and it is impossible for the tradition to accept a girl to be the leader when there are many boys out there.
Going against tradition is not easy and it costs both Pai and Billy for what they choose. For Pai, going against her tradition expectation results in conflict with her grandfather when he discovers Pai learns the chanting and the warrior skills that are for boys only. Similarly, Billy argues with his father who has different gender expectation and does not allow Billy to practice ballet because he thinks ballet is for girls but not for boys. However, they both get what they work hard for. Pai’s ability is recognized and acknowledged by her grandfather and eventually chosen to be the warrior and the leader of her tribe. Also, Billy can do what he is passionate f aborut and make his dreams come true as a ballet dancer; especially, t.
They both are successful in changing the way the tradition perceives about gender roles.
Pai gains her inspiration through her feeling for and connection with the nature and the whales. She also has courage and support from her father, who is also against the traditional expectation, andfrom her grandmother, who believes in her ability, and from her uncle who teaches her the chanting and warrior skills.
For Billy, support from his ballet teacher and his friend, Michael, is a strong encouragement for him to fight for what he wants to do. Also, the feeling for music and dancing is an important inspiration that helps Billy overcome challenges from traditional perception.
These lessons are good examples for those who go against the societal gender expectation to do what they are passionate for. I also learnt that I can do what I like as long as it is right. Particularly, I can participate in activities that are considered as male-dominated and I don’t feel uncomfortable or pressured by others’ perceptions.