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Kerry Zhao

Professor Laury Oaks

Femst 20

2.14.2020

Feminist Threshold Concepts in Marriage Story

How Social Constructs Factor into Divorce Proceedings

A valuable piece of feminist media is one that accurately portrays the discrepancy

between the treatment of males and females. Such a piece of media allows the viewer to discern

where differences in gender roles and expectations arise accurately. One such text is Noah

Baumbach’s 2019 film Marriage Story, starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson as a

married couple going through a divorce. The film is raw and, at times difficult to watch,

highlighting both the difficulties of a divorce and the double standards that arise when a child is

involved. Part of analyzing a feminist piece of work includes juxtaposing how males and

females are treated differently. This is referenced in the textbook via the threshold concept of the

social construction of gender. (Launius and Hassel, 10) Using this threshold concept as a lens,

we see Marriage Story as a commentary on how contemporary notions of marriage and divorce

treat men and women differently, exemplifying the differences and double standards between

the two.

The threshold concept of the social construction of gender focuses on how the “ideas

and constructions of gender change across time, between and within cultures, and even within

one’s lifespan […] they also establish and perpetuate sexism; additionally, racial, ethnic, and

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cultural identities frame expectations for appropriate gendered behavior, as does social class and

sexuality.” (Launius, 54) Marriage Story demonstrates how all these factors play out in a

divorce. Nicole and Charlie Barber are going through a divorce – Charlie is a successful New

York City theatre director, and Nicole is a former teen actress who occasionally stars in

Charlie’s plays. They have a young son, and the film opens with the couple already in marriage

counseling. Baumbach’s film proceeds to follow the two characters in navigating trials and

tribulations in their divorce, which is articulated to be difficult as Nicole relocates to a new

home in Los Angeles.

Perhaps the best example of how social constructs play a role in such a situation is

when Laura Dern’s character – Nicole’s divorce lawyer Nora Fanshaw - monologues about

how Nicole will be portrayed in a trial versus how Charlie – Nicole’s soon-to-be ex-husband,

will be portrayed:

“People don't accept mothers who drink too much wine and yell at their

child and call him an asshole. I get it. I do it too. We can accept an imperfect

dad. […] God is the father and God didn't show up. So, you have to be

perfect, and Charlie can be a fuck up and it doesn't matter. You will always

be held to a different, higher standard. And it's fucked up, but that's the way

it is.

- Marriage Story, dir. Noah Baumbach

(2019)

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This quote perfectly exemplifies how social constructs define how Nicole must navigate

her divorce as opposed to Charlie, who faces challenges that are just as difficult, albeit different.

This is clearly articulated in the counseling session scene. Nicole is encouraged to hold on and

accept the marriage despite the imperfectness of Charlie. This further exemplifies how the

social construct of gender is not only sexist towards females in divorce cases, but potentially

unfair towards men too. Through social construal perspectives, people can form the basis of

opinions based on sexual orientations.

The male privilege, as accepted by society, puts the woman in a disadvantageous

position. The privilege is unacknowledged, granting men power in the family and in society

(McIntosh, 81). This is further portrayed in the culture reinforcement of hierarchies. This is

portrayed through the quote as Nora states that Nicole should accept to be held in a different

standard as it’s a cultural aspect. Even with the privileges been unacknowledged, the social

systems dominate stipulating inequality in gender issues (McIntosh, 82). The male has an

advantage while the female gender is reliant on social systems due to sexual orientation. The

meritocracy positions dominance existence in the system society (McIntosh, 81). Therefore the

dominance based on sexual orientation impacts the social construal of perceptions.

The male advantages protect the men from negative subjects, enhancing power gained.

This is well stipulated as deduced from the counselor’s statement. Alcoholism can be the basis

of Nicole been branded as an irresponsible mother as compared to if the term was used n

Charlie. Changing such privilege systems requires changes in the social construal of genders

(McIntosh, 86). This can be enhanced through a shift in gender assumptions and the distribution

of power through gender relations and freedom of the oppressed (McIntosh, 86).

Acknowledgment of the privilege will also impact new perceptions of gender construal.

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Individual realizations are also imperative in changing the male privilege subjects in

development and positive choices in decisions McIntosh, 88). Ignoring the powers and

perspectives formed on genders and races changes experiences for neutrality, normality, and

universality.

The male dominance of women perpetuates the roles of the female gender in oppression.

The oppression is based on practices in culture, personality, and body experiences (Gray, 102).

This puts the females in an unequal position in social settings. The counseling session

sentiments show how society can accept an imperfect dad but require a perfect mother in the

family picture. The complexity of dominance extends to masculinity symbols and objects in

evoking masculine images (Gray, 104). Power and control from the masculinity identities are

associated with specific roles which, even when not fulfilled, society does not question. Thus

behaving in a masculine manner can be articulated with activities that may result in the

dominance of the wife (Gray, 108). The critique on social construal of masculinity is

highlighted through the marriage lawyer’s sentiments impacting ideologies in social construal

systems. A reflection on Lois’s story shows how parents expect their children to behave in

accordance with gender roles construal. Parents expect to form role expectations by educating

and informing children on gender roles expected in society. Further, the genders are expected to

conform to certain ways during play and education settings.

Media portrayal of social construal on sexual orientation impacts perspectives adopted

in social settings (Gray, 108). This is determined through the different approaches utilized in the

portrayal of masculinity dominance. Conversations, as well as conventions, are geared at

articulating the differences observable in sexual roles (Launius and Hassel, 39). The gender, as

perceived in media, can result in diverse notions in workplaces or education institutions in

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impacting feminism. Additionally, philosophies on masculinity analysis are depended on

experiences (Launius and Hassel, 41). The philosophies critics’ media depiction of gender and

sexual orientations for public literacy. In contemporary society emergence of other sexual

orientations such as the LGBT community has gained media attention (Launius and Hassel, 41).

In the film scene, Nicole is portrayed to view the sentiments from the cultural and media view.

Through this reflection, Nicole can prepare for perspectives expected from the society in

regards to the divorce.

The contemporary social construal further impacts the male sex. Movements formed to

support feminism and activism can result in unfair decisions towards men (Launius and Hassel,

61). Legal systems are more lenient on the female gender through gender norms and ideologies

developed and advocated for through policing (Launius and Hassel, 65). The gender rankings

result in construal of consequences based on gender movements and stereotyping. Adhering to

the gender norms can result in gender stereotyping and movements that aim at changing

traditional norms. This can have lasting impacts on the male gender. Divorce proceedings in the

marriage story can be inclined to consider Nicole’s situation owing to leniency on women in the

social justice system.

The movements collaborate to advocate for female protections, especially those

marginalized in society. The social justice systems consider the movements and advocacy in

reform systems regarding women as compared to all genders in the community as per critical

resistance and incite article (144). This can lead to unfairness in judgments given from the

social justice organizations with more support been articulated to the oppressed. This can be

viewed in Charlie’s perspective through the marriage counselor’s sentiments. Despite having

masculinity dominance and power from social construal, the judgment on the divorce

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proceedings might be lenient to Nicole. This is because, despite her flaws, she is supported

through feminism movements, which hinder victimization through gender justice. The

marginalization of women in society has resulted in movements based on gender justice in

reducing victimization not only in prisons but also in community settings as per critical

resistance and incite article (143). This unfairness can extend to social settings regarding

marriage and divorce, as articulated in the scene.

Marriage Story demonstrates something unique in how it treats both its male and

female protagonists evenly, which is an excellent tool through which we can critique and

analyze the social construct of gender as a threshold concept. I choose this threshold concept

paired with this particular text because it is vital to highlight the differences between how men

and women are treated in situations as common and human as divorce. Analyzing how Nicole

and Charlie are portrayed in the counseling scene differently is crucial to understanding how

this threshold concept applies in such cases.

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Works Cited

Baumbach, Noah. Marriage Story. Netflix, 2019.

Critical resistance and incite. Critical resistance- incite! Statement on gender and the prison- industrial

complex. Social justice 30(3). The intersection of ideologies of violence. Social justice/ global

options, 2003.

Gould Lois. The story of X.

Gray, Kishonna. Masculinity studies. Feminist media histories 4(2). University of California, California,

2018.

Launius, Christie and Holly Hassel. Threshold Concepts in Women’s and Gender Studies: Ways of

Seeing, Thinking, and Knowing, 2nd ed. Routledge: New York, 2018. Print.

McIntosh, P. White privilege: unpacking the invisible Knapsack. ‘White privilege and male privilege.’

Wellesley College center for research on women, Wessesley, 1989.