Gender Inequality in An Inspector Calls
Ever wondered why the men in your English texts seem so controlling? Priestley deliberately shows us the sexist attitudes that dominated early 1900s society through characters like Mr Birling and Gerald.
Women were judged purely on appearance rather than their character or abilities. This meant they were seen as "objects for sexual pleasure" instead of actual human beings with thoughts and feelings. It's a pretty grim reality that Priestley wanted his audiences to recognise and challenge.
Sheila represents the sheltered upper-class woman - she's described as "happy about life" because she's been protected from harsh realities. That's exactly why Eva Smith's tragic story hits her so hard. She's never had to face the brutal truth about how society treats working-class women.
Key Point: Gerald tries to make Sheila leave the room when discussing "men's business" with the Inspector, showing how women were excluded from important conversations.
Eva Smith's desperate situation forces her into prostitution just to survive. The men constantly abuse her vulnerability - Gerald calls their affair "inevitable" whilst Eric takes advantage of his power to assault her. Eva gets used and then abandoned, showing the cruel double standards of the time.