Off Like a Dirty Shirt

Alexandria Bergeron

Jeannina Perez

2/15/10

WST 3015

"Off Like a Dirty Shirt"

Class oppression in "Pretty in Pink" is clearly the greatest theme throughout this film but it is not the only theme. Sexism and the objectification of women is also a central theme through out this classic coming of age film. "Andy" (Molly Ringwald) displays all the classic stereotypes of a low class family. "Poverty is often described as resulting for low self-esteem, laziness,or dysfunctional families..." (314). This description seems to have been the blue print for the writers of this film. Andy comes from a broken home, in which her mother left her and her father. The father figure is lazy and avoids finding a new job due to his depressed state of losing his wife, and finally, Andy displays sever self esteem issues through her insecurity in the possible relationship with "Blaine" due to his social status. And we think classism is a fading problem.

The sad fact is that this film displays clearly the problems of prejudice that still plagues our country from both sides of the spectrum. Terms such as "Richies", which is the title Andy and her friends give to the other students who come from upper class families in scene 9, is just as much a prejudice term as calling someone "white trash". Though the term is not as negative sounding the negative connotation is understood. The idea of two people intermingling from these two very separate classes is not excepted by either sides peers. In the film both friends on the upper class side and friends on the lower end displayed there dislike for Andy and Blaine to be dating. Their fate of eventually failing to make the relationship work is sealed when all other parties make it their personal priority to state there personal feelings as well as punishing the two with threats and with the loss of friendships.

The negative ideas of sexuality are also displayed throughout the film. The idea that "boys will be boys" (150), is displayed and discussed in the film. The idea that the only possible reason that Blain could be interested in Andy is because he is going through of phase and that the fact that she is poor prevents her from being seen normally as being sexual, is an actual dialogued conversation in scene 11. Through out the film the girls who are seen as being sexy are the same girls who carry the bad girl attitude and who are continually disrespected by men. They are depicted as objects that the guys use but who they have no respect for. These same bad girls are the girls that we see dressing in the very trendy clothing (for the time frame) , while the girls like Andy are depicted in much more covering clothing items that act as a cover to her sexuality or in clothing that really lacks having any female association thus making them asexual in the film. Only when Andy breaks free of the rules and of her own insecurities is she able to be "Pretty in Pink" in a much more feminine outfit, and of course whens her man.

Work Cited:

Works Cited

"Making A Home, Making A Living." Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. 5th ed. New York City: McGraw Hill, 2010. 314. Print.

"Women's Sexuality." Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives. 5th ed. New York City: McGraw Hill, 2010. 150-51. Print.