Day of the Outlaw Ashley

In Day of the Outlaw, made in 1959, women are objectified. When the outlaws come into town, they want to rob the town and have their way with the women. Their leader, Jack Bruhn, however, stops them. He orders that the women cannot be harmed. Although they are treated respectfully, the women are associated with the alcohol and the town goods: things that can be taken and used at will. The men in town decide the women’s fate when they try to create a plan of escape and the outlaws decide when and if the women are treated justly. Women act as “others” and do not represent strong individuals with a sense of control. From a cultural studies point of view, American women in the late 1950s were starting to return to the home after World War II. The idea of family and strict gender roles were a major focus. Rosie the Riveter became a homemaker. In society, women were losing their jobs and men were taking them. This idea of powerless women in society can be seen in Day of the Outlaw through the use of subservient women. Helen Crane is focused on keeping her marriage secure despite her love affair with Blaise Starrett, the cattle driver. She places more importance on being a wife than following her heart. In addition, the younger woman, the general store owner’s daughter, dreams about finding a nice man with whom to settle down. The women are no longer forceful and independent.