2. TOMBOYS
“Gender conformity is pressed onto all girls, not just tomboys, and
this is where it becomes hard to uphold the notion that male
femininity presents a greater threat to social and familial stability
than female masculinity” (p. 358).
3. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Because of her tomboyish features, did you automatically assume
that Diana was a lesbian?
Who do you believe will be more acceptable by society, a
heterosexual masculine female or a heterosexual feminine male?
Do you think male femininity presents a greater threat to society
than female masculinity or vice versa?
4. DIRTY DIANA
“During the whole movie Diana is trying to change the
gender norms and understanding of masculinity and
femininity and after all she successfully does so. Her violent
actions, her physical appearance speak for themselves -
those are the things that get her into gender trouble. But
she stands clearly against the idea that human being are
divided into two clear-cut groups - women and men. By the
end of the movie she had already found, formed and
chosen her own individual identity.”
What do you think the author meant by “found, formed
and chosen her own individual identity”?
Do you think that Diana’s mother’s death has a direct
impact on her individual identity? How?
5. MALE FEMININITY (TINY)
Art School Scholarship
Discontent with boxing
“what boy doesn’t like boxing?”
Feminine characteristics such as, timid, submissive, soft, fearful
6. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Does the relationship between Tiny and his father relates to any
other father/son relationship we have seen or read about in the
past? What are some similarities and/or differences?
Do you agree with Diana and her father that boys need to learn
how to protect themselves is more important than accepting a
scholarship for academics?
7. GENERAL DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS
Was it fair for the League to allow males and females to compete
against each other?
Do you feel that Adrian truly “gave it his all” in his last fight against
Diana? Did he lose purposely to save his relationship with Diana?
Do you find it ironic that Diana’s father is heavily construed into
gender social norms, yet both his children behave opposite to
their gender norm? What does that say about his skills in raising
his children?
8. GENERAL DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS
Do you think that because Diana lived in a household full of
males, this had an impact on her masculine dominant behavior?
Does he fit the stereotypical role of masculinity after losing his
fight to Diana?
Do you feel that the social impact of female boxing would have
been affected if the female not Latina?
