Theme: Gender Differences & Sexism

In the play, all the women are portrayed as delicate characters- particularly Sheila who the men protect from many things including that Eva Smith committed suicide. Set in 1912, the woman in the play were seen as possessions to their husband and did not work or have careers due to the patriarchal society. Mrs Birling was also protected from outside affairs, such as the knowledge that many upper class men attended prostitute bars (the ‘stalls bar’) and that her son drank excessively. These leads to conflict within the family.

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JB Priestley’s message/intended effect on the audience

• The vulnerability of women evokes sympathy, which supports Priestley’s belief in gender equality and community as “one body”.
• Priestley wants characters to take responsibility for not only themselves but for the good of wider society, through the interrelated themes of Social Responsibility as well as Social Class.
• Priestley includes a strong range of female characters in An Inspector Calls from an upper class snob, through a vain daughter to an oppressed factory worker, showing he wanted to convey women from all types of social backgrounds.

For more:
​​Sheila Birling Quotes and Notes
Sybil Birling Quotes and Notes

 Quotes relating to the theme of Gender Differences and Sexism

• Gerald describes Daisy Renton as “young, fresh and charming” which implies that, for him, she was just someone he could amuse himself with until he decided he no longer cared for the relationship. He homes her and looks after her which shows that he knew she was vulnerable and in need of help; however, soon he just abandoned her. This reinforces the power men held over women’s lives regardless of class.
  
  
• “Is it the one you wanted me to have?” Girls are shown to be very passive and submissive and the man was thought to be the leader and decision maker at the time, as well as Sheila abiding to a social superior (this also shows the theme of social class in the play).
  
  
• Mr Birling shows that he does not think Sheila as capable to handle the Inspector and wants to try and “settle it sensibly for you [Sheila]” which he does not offer to do for Gerald or Eric.

• Mr Birling sees Eva as just one of “several hundred young women” who worked at his factory. This shows that in his view, all of his workers have no value. By saying “they keep changing” he shows the audience he did not even care if he dismissed Eva as she was just cheap labour to him. Therefore, by the victim of the play being a working class female, Priestley highlights the vulnerability of women in those times, something that was socially acceptable.
  
  
• The audience is told of how Eric took advantage of Eva when drunk, how Mr Birling forced her out of work for voicing her opinion and of Gerald’s loveless. This shows the men to be callous in many respects and to be exploiting women. However, Eric’s remorse also shows how Priestley believed if the men and women all realised the need of change with regards to attitudes to women, things would become better for everyone. This idea links to the theme of conflict, as well as responsibility in the play.
  
  
• Like her mother, Sheila represents a female stereotype of 1912: she is frivolous, vain and proud, “Very pleased with life.” She is more concerned with the ring than the actual engagement: “I think it’s perfect. Now I really feel engaged.” This demonstrates her superficiality. From the beginning of the play Sheila is seen as an oblivious, self-satisfied lady, unaware of her surroundings. As the inspector’s interrogation begins the audience feels the change taken place in Sheila, from asking “pretty?” to arguing “ But these girls aren’t cheap labour-they’re people.” She therefore progressively shows compassion for Eva. Priestley uses Sheila as an example of the people who exploit their high status to put people down. 

• ​The four other themes of An Inspector Calls discussed on OxNotes are Social Responsibility, Conflict between characters and classes, Social Class and Age Divide Between Generations.

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