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Domination And Inequalities In The Apartment By Jean Baker Miller

Decent Essays

The Apartment
Power determines everything, how someone is defined, how someone acts, and someone is. In “Domination and Subordination” by Jean Baker Miller, she shows both sides of inequality, a dominate and a subordinate. There are two types inequality, temporary and permanent. The film, The Apartment by Billy Wilder, starts off with a man, C.C.Baxter who is constantly allowing people to use his apartment for their own personal pleasures. Baxter gives in to his co-workers at the office to use his apartment and often risking his basic needs for survival, like sleep. Mr. Sheldrake, Baxter’s boss, has the authority to treat others how he wants to. Fran Kubelik, the elevator woman, Baxter and Sheldrake use everyday at work. Miss Kubelik tends to have a undercover relationship with Mr. Sheldrake. These characters relationships of temporary or permanent inequality define their dominant or subordinate behaviors.
Baxter and Sheldrake have a relationship of temporary inequalities. During the film, C.C Baxter continuously goes through problems with his office buddies constantly needing his apartment. Baxter believes no matter what he does or says with Mr. Sheldrake it will not be taken into consideration. “Just following doctors orders, I’ve decided to become a ‘mensch’, Mr. Sheldrake that means being a human” and Baxter finally took charge (Apartment). Baxter’s relationship to Mr. Sheldrake is a temporary inequality situation due to him constantly taking orders from others. Miller’s document claims that dominants rely on Subordinates; lack of skill, knowledge etc… In Baxters position he is always giving in to people's needs. “But the most basic difference is the one between men and women” and Baxter acts like a woman in his relationship with Mr. Sheldrake. When Baxter and Sheldrake are talking about Baxter’s promotion he gave him a slight threat for his job. The dominant, Sheldrake understands that power and him acting as a dominating man forces Baxter to behave as a subordinate and take his orders. A similar relationship to Baxter and sheldrake is Miss Kubelik and Sheldrake.
Kubelik and Sheldrake are in a state of permanent inequality. Miss Kubelik has a undercover, not very solid relationship with Mr. Sheldrake

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