Summary:

Janet’s face is covered in bandages, as she has had a procedure done in the hopes of not being extraordinarily ugly in a conformists society; when she gets the bandages off, it is shown that, while she may be beautiful in our standards, she is still ugly in the world full of “pig-people” that she finds herself in.

 

Bechdel Test:

  • Passes!
  • There are a few nurses and the Janet, all of which are women
  • The nurses talk to Janet and to each other about Janet’s face

 

Gender Roles of Important Characters:

  • Janet
    • Masculine (4)
      • Defends own beliefs, analytical, willing to take risks, willing to take a stand
    • Feminine (4)
      • Yielding, understanding, soft-spoken, childlike
  • Doctor
    • Masculine (6)
      • Assertive, forceful, analytical, leadership ability, acts as a leader, ambitious
    • Feminine (4)
      • Sympathetic, sensitive to others’ needs, understanding, compassionate

 

Analysis:

Both of the important characters have both feminine and masculine traits. I thought, more than anything, this episode spread a message about conformity, which can be applied to gender. Society expects people to act and look a certain way, which is often seen through gender roles (females are supposed to dress and act feminine, males are supposed to dress and act masculine). When one doesn’t conform, they can be separated from society. In this case, because Janet did not conform to how women, or really people in general, were supposed to look, she was sent away to a commune, separated from society.

Shared by: Grace White
Image Credit: The Twilight Zone, CBS via Netflix