CODA Ideology Analysis by Delaney Huneck

Thesis

3002648 — 2023-12-13 23:50:19 UTC

Throughout the film CODA, Sian Heder incorporates a feminist studies perspective to reveal how the character, Ruby Rossi does not fit into the typical gender stereotype displayed in the film. She utilizes setting, costumes, and narrative structure to describe this ideological view of the roles of women.

Costume

3002648 — 2023-12-14 00:42:38 UTC

To begin, in the film, CODA, Ruby dresses in a more masculine way, which deflects the typical stereotype and role of women. As seen in the image above, Ruby is wearing overalls and a red flannel over top. This outfit is very different from what her peers are seen wearing. This style is similar to what someone may wear to do work. This may also indicate that she is doing labor because she has her sleeves rolled up. Ruby continually wears similar, "boyish" outfits, especially after working on the boat, catching fish with her family. In one scene with Ruby and her mother, her mom makes mention that she stinks like fish because she did not change her clothes. While Ruby works on the boat with her father and brother, her mom does not have a job. She focuses on cooking and cleaning, which follows one of the main stereotypes that women should not perform hard labor. The mom judges her daughter for the smelly result of this labor, due to the fact that Ruby does not follow this general role of women.

Setting

3002648 — 2023-12-14 00:46:23 UTC

Furthermore, the reoccurring settings throughout CODA portray the ideology of how Ruby does not follow the typical role of women. One of these settings is the sea and boat that the Rossi family works on. In this image, Ruby is on the boat with her brother, working alongside him. Ruby needs to be on the boat with her brother and father so that she can communicate with people on shore with the radio. As seen in the film, without her there to radio, they were reported for negligence to the coast guard and ended up with a suspended fishing license. Despite how her presence is essential, it is not commonly seen for women to be fishers. When they are on the dock, there are only men traveling on an off boats, reeling in their catches of the day to find out how much money they made. Ruby also handles speaking with the buyer, otherwise her dad and brother would be taken advantage of. Other female characters in the film and never found in this place of work. Ruby's mom does not have a job and her best friend works in a bar. This different setting details how Ruby does not follow stereotypical gender norms.

Narrative Structure

3002648 — 2023-12-15 14:43:01 UTC

Finally, the narrative structure of the film CODA exemplifies the way that Ruby contrasts from typical roles of females. This film surrounds the Rossi family and the ways that they struggle to keep up with a fishing community that does not pay fairly. It also follows Ruby and how she finds that she loves to sing, joining the choir to pursue her newfound passion. Following the fishing situation, Ruby is the only one who can communicate with the community. She ensures that they are paid fairly and when the time comes that they decide to stand up against it, she is the key. Her family creates their own fresh fishing business, which she delegates by interpreting her family's ideas and thoughts to the group. She is almost the head of the household because they rely on her to keep their business up and running. This does not settle well with her brother because he believes it should be the oldest or a male leading their home, however, it is his younger sister instead. In the end, due to Ruby's persistent importance in keeping her family business successful, she does not follow stereotypical roles of women.