True Grit, Mattie Ross and Feminism?

Mattie Ross is the star of the award winning film True Grit. She is a remarkable character being cast as a strong, tough, independent, and determined young woman. While I think Mattie's character is (unfortunately) rare in major Hollywood films, many people have been quick to call her a feminist character... I have a slightly different take.

If you were to create your own fictional female character, what traits do you think a good feminist character would and wouldn't embody?

More information and full transcript available at http://www.feministfrequency.com/2011/03/true-grit-mattie-ross-and-feminism/

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• True Grit
• Mattie Ross
• Female Characters
• Hailee Steinfeld
• Oscars
• Coen Brothers
• Ethan Coen
• Joel Coen
• John Wayne
• Jeff Bridges
• Matt Damon
• Charles Portis
• Kim Darby
• Violence
• Capital Punishment

[RavFlight76]

I think there is an unfortunate misappropriation of ideas here, suggesting that a feminist must be, by her nature "feminine", and that certain roles are to be taken as masculine or feminine behavior. However, would it not be said that this is the very sociopolitical construct being challenged by modern feminism? Is it not the fight of feminist around the world to have women treated equally and have all roles and jobs open to them? Feminists fight for women to be treated equally in the military

[feministfrequency]

@RavFlight76 I am in no way implying that to be feminist you must be "feminine" I am making the case that we have a very binary way of looking at gender roles within society and in the media and that our society and media value roles identified as masculine over those identified as feminine. I'm not saying that inherently one is better then the other but that we should look at and revaluate traits in terms of being positive vs negative instead of masculine vs feminine.

[kyriathalia]

I would disagree a bit on some of your points. Both Zoe and Mattie have logical, character-driven reasons for their attitudes toward violence. Zoe is a soldier and a revolutionary and most of her interaction with others on the show is based upon that aspect of her life because that's her uniform - her public face. Mattie lives in the a rough environment, where corporal punishment is the norm. She upholds a patriarchal norm, yes, because that's the only concept of society she has access to.

[feministfrequency]

@kyriathalia but if your character doesn't evolve out of that, or even start making ripples to identify that then how is that any different then all the other characters/stories that replicate patriarchal norms?

[normloman]

But isn't it also sexist to assume cooperation and empathy are inherently feminine while competitiveness and aggression are inherently masculine?

It's not sexist that our culture values competitiveness per se, since competitiveness is not exclusive to one sex. It's sexist that our culture assumes only men can achieve that competitive ideal.

As feminists, we should seek to cast female characters in all sorts of roles, to challenge the idea that there is any set way a women must behave.

[thejackist]

In many different stories there will be a constant. Usually a character that can be seen as somewhat of a catalyst for others characters development. I've always felt that True Grit is about Mattie being the constant, and observing from her eyes how she affects the people (Rooster and LaBoeuf) around her. It's an interesting take, as you would expect the character of a grizzled old man to be the constant, and for the girl to change.

I've always found it interesting and enjoy that aspect of it.

[nancymergatroyd]

The movie's attitude towards suffering and brutality is more than anything due to the fact that it's a Cohen brothers movie. And actually this movie is a step up for them - in the past they've played suffering and brutality for laughs, and they often seem to have contempt for their characters. So while your points about a male-centered world are correct, not all male filmmakers are in the Cohen brothers league when it comes to this kind of portrayal.

[feministfrequency]

@cthendri Yes, all people are capable of all traits, but that does not mean that we can't ascribe values to them (which we do), I just think that our current value system is wrong. I strongly believe that traits like competition and being emotionally inexpressive should not have a higher value then actually expressing feelings and working and valuing cooperation.

[MissLissaLindsey]

Now, my next qualm is that Zoe is not just a recast of a male role. She is very much a woman. In Heart of Gold, she and Wash argue over having a baby, and she frequently shows emotion. The reason she's not gushing all the time is that she is working. She is the Captain's 2nd in command. She feels a need to be professional. She's also a soldier, which simply reinforces her professionalism.

[MissLissaLindsey]

You had me agreeing (overall) until you mentioned women being "recast" in typical male roles. The issue with this statement is that almost ALL roles are traditionally male. One of the most groundbreaking roles was that of Uhura in the original Star trek. She was not only 4th in command (unheard of at the time for a woman) but she was also the linguistics specialist. So first in her field, and 4th overall on the ship.

[cthendri]

@feministfrequency You do however seem to be saying that the traits traditionally ascribed to men (Aggressiveness, competitiveness & emotion masking) are inherently bad which i do not agree with. Yes these traits do tend to be shown as darker, but to say that they are inherently wrong is to really limit humanity and men. My feminists vision is that all people, Physically male & female, have equal access to both the traits (both typically male and female) & having flat char.s of both genders.

[ermhm]

I completely agree with the video, sadly a lot of the viewers are obviously missing the point. Keep up the great work!

[hazeldelirium]

I really loved this film, and you made very valid points. She does have some steriotypically male attributes, but I don't think that should undermine the fact she is strong, independant and smart. Also this is set in the old wild west, so you could look at it as the only way she can get what she wants is to act like a man. I agree she's not a feminist archetype, but it was refreshing to have a non sexualised female main character who is not defined by the male characters surrounding her.

[RavFlight76]

Also, just as a point of film-literary accuracy, the Coen Brothers have been well documented as saying that their version of True Grit is NOT a remake of the John Wayne film, but another interpretation of the original novel (one, in fact, that they have endeavored to more accurately chronicle the novel's true spirit and storyline.