Rabbit Proof Fence Film Analysis

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Mateship, good humor, courage and ingenuity are all qualities that come to mind when hearing ‘Australian heroes’ or ‘significant Australians’. These characteristics stereotypically relate to the well renowned ANZAC legends and significant men of Australia that are shown through the lens of Australian film. Australian film has used stereotypes to engage and beguile audiences for the past 100 years. However, what many Australian films fail to capture is the heroic and significant women who also convey these qualities. From Rabbit Proof Fence, to The Sapphires and The Dressmaker. Although, many Australian films do not focus on remarkable female characters in society there is a sprinkling that do. Phillip Noyce’s, Rabbit Proof Fence (2002), …show more content…
There was a scarce amount of jobs available for women at the time. Myrtle Dunnage, The Dressmaker, challenges and breaks the stereotypes of working women during the 1950s, as she was a successful Australian dressmaker in Paris. She breaks the stereotype because unlike many women who had to abandon their wartime employment to provide work for men she continued her career. The stereotypical qualities of Australian men are redefined through the Australian film, The Dressmaker. Myrtle demonstrates courage and ingenuity as she returns to the town of Dungatar despite her gloomy past. Ingenuity shines through Myrtle’s endeavors as she transforms the town, one dress at a time. Likewise, the young Aboriginal girls in Rabbit Proof Fence demonstrate mateship and courage and redefine the masculine stereotypes towards a female demographic. In 1909 the Aboriginal Protection Act was formed to provide care and protection for the Indigenous Australian children. However, this caused greater racial disparity. The girls were taken to church based, government run institutions to bread out the half-caste children and train them to be servants for the