Representations of Post Modern Femininity and Girlhood in Juno
The film Juno, tells the story of a sixteen year old high school student who is faced with teenage pregnancy. Unlike in other movies that portray teenage girls as the main character, Juno is independent, witty, laid back, outspoken and action-oriented. Despite facing an unplanned pregnancy, Juno appears to be a "normal" teenager who has it all together. According to Jessica Willis, she was captivated by Juno's character because she challenges past conceptualizations of girlhood (241). This can be seen in many ways within her persona. To put it simply, Juno is different. Willis states, "she is a girl who has neither super-powers nor excessive wealth; her strength is located in her decisive agency and use of voice. Juno is a particularly striking character because she does not fit neatly into the bifurcating model of the 'good-girl/bad-girl.' She is a vibrant, witty and vocal young working-class girl" (243). Willis' thoughts signify the fact that Juno does not fit into the traditional female gender roles seen on the big screen. This is immediately seen in the opening of the film where Juno is in the gas station purchasing her third pregnancy test and telling "how it all started."
When Juno realizes that she is, indeed, pregnant, she stays strong. Unlike characters whom are portrayed in "weepies" Juno does not cry, her facial expression does not change nor does she become overemotional. Shortly after, we see her joking with the baby's father about abortions. This is also where we see the swap in gender roles, as Bleeker is seen as being submissive, a little incompetent and much more "feminine" than Juno. Overall, it is clear that Juno is an extremely unique character because she is clearly unlike the rest. Willis states, "Throughout the film, Juno is shown as agentive in the decisions she makes about her body, sexual desires, and modes of self expressions; her classification as a girl who identifies as a "freak," cares little about what other people think of her, and dresses in grunge style clothing connote an independent self-confidence that is apparent in all of her intimate relationships." (242) These aspects become apparent as Juno makes the decision to keep her baby and begins searching ads in the Pennysaver in order to find a suitable couple to adopt her child. We also see Juno's sexual independence as she describes her encounter with Bleeker to her best friend Leah, calling it "magnificent" and stating that it was "premeditated." Unlike characters of the past, Juno is strong, independent, confident and capable.
Although it is clear that Juno's character is very unique, I am glad that they still portrayed her as a normal teenage girl with semi-normal teenage thoughts. Although Juno seemed to be at peace with her pregnancy, she did appear to be vulnerable and less mature in certain situations. For example, when she heard that Bleeker had asked another girl to prom and confronted him. Although she was not necessarily overemotional or needy in her confrontation, the fact of the matter is she still did it because deep down inside she cared. We also see elements of Juno as being a "normal" teenage girl when she is talking to Leah about how she does not like people watching her stomach grow, though she realizes there is nothing she can do about it. Although Juno maintains certain aspects of maturity in all of her encounters, at the end of the day, it is important to realize she's still a sixteen year old girl with sixteen year old thoughts, even if she does not serve as a representation of "stereotypical" femininity as seen in the past.
Representations of Post Modern Femininity and Girlhood in JunoThe film Juno, tells the story of a sixteen year old high school student who is faced with teenage pregnancy. Unlike in other movies that portray teenage girls as the main character, Juno is independent, witty, laid back, outspoken and action-oriented. Despite facing an unplanned pregnancy, Juno appears to be a "normal" teenager who has it all together. According to Jessica Willis, she was captivated by Juno's character because she challenges past conceptualizations of girlhood (241). This can be seen in many ways within her persona. To put it simply, Juno is different. Willis states, "she is a girl who has neither super-powers nor excessive wealth; her strength is located in her decisive agency and use of voice. Juno is a particularly striking character because she does not fit neatly into the bifurcating model of the 'good-girl/bad-girl.' She is a vibrant, witty and vocal young working-class girl" (243). Willis' thoughts signify the fact that Juno does not fit into the traditional female gender roles seen on the big screen. This is immediately seen in the opening of the film where Juno is in the gas station purchasing her third pregnancy test and telling "how it all started." When Juno realizes that she is, indeed, pregnant, she stays strong. Unlike characters whom are portrayed in "weepies" Juno does not cry, her facial expression does not change nor does she become overemotional. Shortly after, we see her joking with the baby's father about abortions. This is also where we see the swap in gender roles, as Bleeker is seen as being submissive, a little incompetent and much more "feminine" than Juno. Overall, it is clear that Juno is an extremely unique character because she is clearly unlike the rest. Willis states, "Throughout the film, Juno is shown as agentive in the decisions she makes about her body, sexual desires, and modes of self expressions; her classification as a girl who identifies as a "freak," cares little about what other people think of her, and dresses in grunge style clothing connote an independent self-confidence that is apparent in all of her intimate relationships." (242) These aspects become apparent as Juno makes the decision to keep her baby and begins searching ads in the Pennysaver in order to find a suitable couple to adopt her child. We also see Juno's sexual independence as she describes her encounter with Bleeker to her best friend Leah, calling it "magnificent" and stating that it was "premeditated." Unlike characters of the past, Juno is strong, independent, confident and capable. Although it is clear that Juno's character is very unique, I am glad that they still portrayed her as a normal teenage girl with semi-normal teenage thoughts. Although Juno seemed to be at peace with her pregnancy, she did appear to be vulnerable and less mature in certain situations. For example, when she heard that Bleeker had asked another girl to prom and confronted him. Although she was not necessarily overemotional or needy in her confrontation, the fact of the matter is she still did it because deep down inside she cared. We also see elements of Juno as being a "normal" teenage girl when she is talking to Leah about how she does not like people watching her stomach grow, though she realizes there is nothing she can do about it. Although Juno maintains certain aspects of maturity in all of her encounters, at the end of the day, it is important to realize she's still a sixteen year old girl with sixteen year old thoughts, even if she does not serve as a representation of "stereotypical" femininity as seen in the past.
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