The Double Standard

The film also covertly represented the double standard for men and women. In the time of the 1950’s, women were said to me stay at home. Women were supposed to stay in the house, with the kids, prepare food for the family, and have it ready for the husband when he walked in from work. Women of this time period were supposed to look beautiful at all times, never have a bad moment, and were not to worry about a thing, especially social problems, but were more like a “pet” for the husband to showcase.

In the clip below, titled, "It'll go away," the father tells Joan Allen, “…now listen to me, your coming to this meeting, your GOING to put on some makeup, your going to be home at 6 o’clock every night, and your GOING to have dinner ready, on THIS table."

It'll go away...




The Mayor of Pleasantville speaks to a few of the husbands of Pleasantville, saying, if George here doesn’t get his dinner, anyone of us could be next…” The men of the town act as though not getting their dinners at the same time, and made by their “women,” is unbelievable, and an emergency for immediate change.