Othering: One Man's Greatest Gift - How Women are Treated in a Patriarchal World
Othering, as defined by Deborah Walker, is woman being "viewed in opposition to man" (Walker 5). It is the term used to describe how women are treated in a patriarchal world - "as appendages of their husbands" (Walker 7) or significant others.
But what happens when a man is suddenly treated as other? In the movie "Tootsie," because of certain circumstances, a man is suddenly faced with the dilemmas that women have to face every day.
Dustin Hoffman plays Michael Dorsey, an out-of-work actor who is trying to fund a play his friend wrote. He decides to take a chance and audition for a part on a soap opera - as a woman. He transforms himself into Dorothy Michaels and auditions for the part.
At first, Dorothy was turned down, but thanks to Michael's portrayal of her as a "tough woman," she gets the part. This points out one of the dilemmas women have to deal with: If they want to be treated as equals, they must act tough, as men do.
Now Michael is leading a double life: as himself, who has problems with his girlfriend when he begins to fall in love with his costar, Julie; and as Dorothy, who is learning just what it is like to be treated as a woman both by other men and by a good woman friend - Julie.
As Michael learns what it is like to be treated as other, he begins to look inside himself and see how he usually treats women. As he tells Julie at the end of the movie, he was a better man with her as a woman then he ever was with other women as a man.
Throughout the movie, the director, Ron, is portrayed as a womanizer. He is dating Julie but is very condescending towards her and constantly flirts with other women.
The audience first sees Michael as a typical bachelor. While he is at his birthday party, he flirts with all the women, trying to get dates. He tells one of them that he has to break a date with her for that night in order to help his friend work on his play. He asks for her phone number and she reminds him that she gave it to him earlier that evening. This scene portrays the idea that "other was reduced to the status of an object" (Walker 6). Michael is treating these women as things he can possess at his leisure, without considering their feelings.
But what happens when a man is suddenly treated as other? In the movie "Tootsie," because of certain circumstances, a man is suddenly faced with the dilemmas that women have to face every day.
Dustin Hoffman plays Michael Dorsey, an out-of-work actor who is trying to fund a play his friend wrote. He decides to take a chance and audition for a part on a soap opera - as a woman. He transforms himself into Dorothy Michaels and auditions for the part.
At first, Dorothy was turned down, but thanks to Michael's portrayal of her as a "tough woman," she gets the part. This points out one of the dilemmas women have to deal with: If they want to be treated as equals, they must act tough, as men do.
Now Michael is leading a double life: as himself, who has problems with his girlfriend when he begins to fall in love with his costar, Julie; and as Dorothy, who is learning just what it is like to be treated as a woman both by other men and by a good woman friend - Julie.
As Michael learns what it is like to be treated as other, he begins to look inside himself and see how he usually treats women. As he tells Julie at the end of the movie, he was a better man with her as a woman then he ever was with other women as a man.
Throughout the movie, the director, Ron, is portrayed as a womanizer. He is dating Julie but is very condescending towards her and constantly flirts with other women.
The audience first sees Michael as a typical bachelor. While he is at his birthday party, he flirts with all the women, trying to get dates. He tells one of them that he has to break a date with her for that night in order to help his friend work on his play. He asks for her phone number and she reminds him that she gave it to him earlier that evening. This scene portrays the idea that "other was reduced to the status of an object" (Walker 6). Michael is treating these women as things he can possess at his leisure, without considering their feelings.
- Othering is woman being "viewed in opposition to man."
- But what happens when a man is suddenly treated as other?
- In the movie "Tootsie," a man is faced with the dilemmas women have to face everyday.
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