Abstract
The present study discusses the problems and difficulties faced by the homosexual individuals while living in a social set up with reference to the past and present circumstances. The movie “If These Walls Could Talk 2” has been taken as the primary source for the current research paper, main objective behind it is to evaluate the deplorable and pathetic condition of the gay people who have to undergo discriminative behaviour from other strata of society. The following hypothesis has been articulated for this research:
More the freedom of thought and action in a society, more the chances of its individuals of leading a happy and satisfied life
Introduction
Human beings are not only socially stratified, but also they are different from one another in nature, appearance, ideas, preferences, liking and disliking. Some of these differences are innate and man has no power to change them. These include caste, race, ethnic group, physical features and blood group etc. On the other hand, man likes and dislikes can be altered and regulated with the passage of time by teaching, coaching, training and therapy. Man maintains variety in sexual priorities too, which are the outcome of both his biological characteristics as well as these based on the learning he has attained while living as the member of society. Homosexual tendencies are also the result of natural traits and nurture experiences. There was a time when sexual contacts between the persons of the same sex had been a highly prohibited matter. But the customs and traditions have taken drastic changes with the passage of time and homosexual relationship and marriage have been allowed in many societies of the world of today. Though it has been present in almost all human societies for the last many centuries, yet it has got recognition during the second half of the previous century. The homosexuals are looked down upon and condemned in many societies, but few countries of the world including Canada have allowed gay life and homosexuality in the country. The basic reason behind the permission is this that no individual should be hurt or harmed on the basis of his sexual inclinations; thus, the gay people must be treated on the equal foundations like heterosexuals.
The Emma Award Winning famous movie “If Walls Could Talk 2” mentions the pitiable situation of the gays during 1960s. They were teased and taunted on their sexual identity and were considered as the people of low category involved in perversion and deviancy. Presented in 2000, the first segment of the movie aforementioned described a miserable story of lesbians living happily in the company of one another. Their friendship develops into liking, and then consequently into love for one another and they feel no hesitation in making love in the same sex activities. The movie not only states the passion of women for women, but also depicted sentimental problems women face in loneliness and only a woman can console the other. This part of the film depicted the era of 1960s, where two elderly women fell in love with each other, console and took special care of one another. The sudden demise of one of the women pushed the other into a sorry state, and the relatives of the deceased woman treated the living one harshly. They could not understand the long term affiliation of Edith Tree (Vanessa Redgrave or the surviving woman) with the dead partner (Abby Hedley) and deprived her of all the belongings of her dead friend with which she had maintained great attachment. They could not assess and estimate the significance of her deep affiliation with the belongings of her dead companion. Edith removes all signs of their love for each other from the house in which both the women had been living before the arrival of Abby’s relatives, so that they could not mock at their homosexual relationships, because it was taboo that time. The scenes of this segment have so beautifully been presented that tears start flowing from the eyes of the spectators and viewers. The scenes tries to convey the message that no body has the right to hurt, harm or humiliate the other on the basis of sexual identity; rather, they must be treated on equal basis.
Homosexuality is gaining popularity in the region very rapidly. In 2002, the Canadian government has passed the bill in which it has given permission regarding immigration to the gay couples in Canada. It has encouraged immigration of Canada from all corners of the world and the homosexuals are making plans to move to this part of the globe to secure their rights and enjoy their life in the company of the partner of same sex. Though, the sexual union between the people of same gender is accepted today, it is estimated that such relationships prevailed in the country even in past. Social and cultural changes taken place with the passage of time in the society and the relationship between the persons of the same sex has also been portrayed very successfully. Same sex love is considered an important phenomenon now in Canada, though it was opposed forty years ago. The film also pointed out the problems and difficulties the women had to undergo while living alone and companionless in society. The male dominant society creates lots of turbulence for women. Homosexuality, according to Wikipedia Encyclopaedia, was a prohibited thing in 1960s Canada, and the gays and lesbians were treated in the lines of criminals. “The court case of Everett George Klippert caused much discussion of homosexuality among Canadians. In 1965, Everett George Klippert was interrogated by the police as part of an arson investigation in the Northwest Territories. Klippert was arrested after admitting that he had sex with other man.” Thus, he was treated severely and harshly by the law enforcing agencies due to his sexual orientation. The movie “If These Walls Could Talk 2 portrays the same gloomy picture how the old and young homosexuals are maltreated due to their sexual orientation. No religion can urge to practice feelings of hatred towards any person. Rather, all the religions spread love, kindness, charity and truthfulness. Homosexuals can be taught through argues and polite words. Their exploitation and insult is absolutely wrong, and no one could be allowed to display any kind of infliction or pains to other strata of society. Thus, homosexuals should never be treated in a prejudiced way.
Physical and mental tortures of women as well as their rape, pains, child abuse and sufferings have dragged women far from men and they seek comforts and joys in the company of each other. The feminist perspective also gave birth from unequal social status of the genders. “For Marxists”, Woods (2001) suggests, “the root cause of all forms of oppression consists in the division of society into classes. For many feminists, on the other hand, the oppression of women is rooted in the nature of men.” The idea of division of labour and insulting and prejudiced attitude on the basis of gender gave birth to feminism. It was a strong voice against the inequalities between men and women in respect of social status, division of power as well as work and gender discrimination. “Historically, radical feminism started with the assumption that the sexes are adversarially poised”, Eisenstein (1983: 41) opines, “that men have power over women, and that society and its various social relationships can be best understood in terms of their relationship to that situation”. Dorothy Allison, a strong voice in the favour of lesbian cause, had decided to lead a life of celibacy throughout, in young age, till she would breathe her last. Though, she had recognized the reality that she was a lesbian at her teenage, yet she had no courage at that time to disclose her sexual tendencies as it was an object of great shame those days in 1960s. Also, she hesitated while revealing her inclination towards the members of the same sex as there were fears and more fears regarding her so called childhood domestic life, where her stepfather was present to rebuke, torture and abuse the small girl, and for which, her Mama had warned her many times to conceal from the outer world. Hence unjust and prejudiced behaviour always lead towards disturbances and problems.
The gay and lesbian societies have been set up and they arrange parties, functions, meetings, gala and celebrate their activities free from the fears and threats of society. The third part of the movie reveals the present day Canadian life, where no woman maintains any difficulty while showing her sexual priorities and identity anymore. It is therefore, the homosexual couples strive to mobilise to Canada to lead a happy life with their partner belonging to the same sex. During that period, Canada extended the same immigration rights to gay couples that straight couples had, loosened its immigration policy to allow educated professionals to acquire permanent resident status with relative ease and changed its marriage laws. Same-sex marriage now is legal in two provinces, British Columbia and Ontario, and may soon become national law. (Marech, 2004) “If These Walls Could Talk 2” has very successfully narrated the sentiments of women who have been love with one another, and the rudeness the surviving partner had to face by the heterosexual relatives of her gay companion. The movie serves as a strong voice against social injustices, inequalities and exploitations in the name of law. The actors, actresses and all the members of the team including writer, director and film maker deserve admiration for highlighting such a grave issue which lays stress on the just treatment of all members of society. Thus segment of the
References
- Alan Woods. Marxism versus feminism – The class struggle and the emancipation of women, 2001
- Dorothy Allison. Mama. An Extract from Trash. Firebrand Books, 1988.
- H. Eisenstein Radical Feminism, Humanism and Women’s Studies. 1983. Quoted in Innovative Higher Education Journal. Springer Netherlands, 2004
- Rona Marech. Same-sex couples flock to gay-friendly Canada San Francisco Chronicle, 2004. Web.
- If These Walls Could Talk 2. An Emma Award Winner Movie 2000