Gender Expectations Expectations due to gender are unfair restrictions placed on women. The interactions of Lizzie Borden and characters around her, in Pollocks Blood Relations prove this point. Emma and Mrs. Borden focused on the social expectations associated with gender. While Miss Lizzie’s interactions The Actress occupied more with what it means to be a woman. Emma is constantly scolding Lizzie for her unladylike behaviour. While Mrs. Borden is a firm believer that Lizzie should do her duty as a woman and marry. The Actress take a different approach on the topic of gender, she allows Pollock to explore what it means to not fit gender norms. Using Emma as a tool to show the unfair expectation in relation to gender Pollock provides a commentary on the expectations of women. Emma has been held to a certain standard her whole life. She has read Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Etiquette many times (Pollock 686) and knows …show more content…
From the beginning Pollock hints at the idea that there is something more then friendship between them “Because…of us”(Pollock 687) says The Actress in reference to why she wants to come to Fall River. That “us” is an indication of romantic involvement, that these two women exist for more then to please a man. That there natural state is not married with kids. Through there interactions we gather a clearer sense of where Lizzie sees herself in society. Lizzie knows she doesn't fit she is painfully aware of that fact and she expresses to the actress. “…do you suppose there is a magic formula for being ‘a woman?’ Do you suppose every girl baby receives it at birth” (Pollock 703). Pollock is challenging the audience to think about what constitutes womanhood. Through lizzie she is asking that if a woman does not fit her social expectation is she defective. More broadly Pollock is asking what constitutes a woman is it just a matter of biological sex or is there some social aspect