<Articles>Nurturing Talent: Exploring femininity in This is England

Abstract

This paper explores the portrayals of femininity in This is England and the ways in which these characterizations affect the child protagonist, Shaun. The words “nurturing” and “talent” will be understood, respectively, in terms of their historical contexts of “to nourish” and “inclination, will, desire, balance.” The standard female archetypes of the Mother, the Maiden and the Whore/hag are recognisable tropes in the film, but the female characters do not always adhere to one version of these archetypes, indeed there are times when these boundaries are blurred. In exploring the topic, I will analyse how femininity has been portrayed in the film and the ways in which this affects Shaun’s development. I will also reflect on how rigid interpretations of gender ultimately lead to the tragic consequences of the film, forcing us to question their validity in a wider social context.