Notes on gender in The Godfather.

1. The Godfather: Notes
Questions to focus on:
• How is this media product representing group’s people?
• How is gender represented in the godfather? : Madonna (Mother of god) Or A whore
Women Men
• Vulnerable
• Keeping their honour and pride is important.
• Can’t have sex before marriage.
• Women need protecting by men.
• Women are put through pain and have to endure a
lot.
• ‘Beautiful, young and innocent’- words that is
really pinned on women. It’s how they are
described.
• Women are courted.
• Dressed up in dresses- Very feminine appearances,
the dresses are pink.
• Women are dismissed by the men if they are not
meant to be involved.
• Most of the females are sat together gossiping.
• Girls are fanning over a male singer.
• Women are seen to be used for sexual needs.
• A lot of the time they are pushed aside.
• Michael’s girlfriend is shown to be the ‘Madonna’
type of women.
• Emotional- Connie is mourning for her husband.
• Kay is allowing her husband to oppress her. Taking
on that stereotypical role.
• Men are abused- used of violence to get what they
want.
• Dominant
• Men have more advantages- Sentences suspended.
• Most of the men are dressed smart. They have very
prestigious appearances- wearing suits.
• In the wedding men are mainly sitting next to each
other.
• Men are shown to have a protective role and are
very money and power driven.
• The youngest son Michael Corleone and his
girlfriend are very separated from family and the
family’s violent ways.
• Vito Corleone uses violence- Slaps Johnny Fontane
and tells him to act like a man. Also tells him to
spend time with his family.
• Mainly men are seen on the streets.
• Trying to gain power.
• Always talking about business. Very serious.
• Vito Corleone has a lot of power over different
things.
• Kill to fix problems.
• Can’t show emotions.
• Uses money and power to use the police
department for their advantages.

2. • 2 types of men: Those who have it and those who
don’t have it.
• Michael is taking on a very dominating and powerful
role that gives him a lot of responsibilities. He
understands how important his position is.
• Michael doesn’t let Kay question or know about his
business and his actions.