Maria Full of Grace Essay Example

Maria Full of Grace Paper Muted group theory illustrates how a group can acquire power and use it to it to dominate culture. It specifically refers to the gender roles created by society and can also be used to examine cross-cultural case studies. Its name describes how a group in power can manipulate language and communication practices specific to its culture in order to silence the members not included in the dominant group. Maria Full of Grace is an exposi of the complexities surrounding womens involvement in drug trafficking and becoming a woman in a male dominated society. In the movie there are many examples of communication that are impeded because of womens current role in society. The movie opens with its title character, Maria Alvarez , a 17-year-old Colombian, making out her boyfriend, Juan. Juan is completely involved in the moment and hinting that he wants to further accelerate the situation, and he even doesnt notice her indifference to his affection. He attempts to get her to agree to let them go back to her house, but she wants to climb on top of the roof. She emasculates Juan by teasing him and he gets irritated and walks away. Instead of complying with Juans wish to go back to her house, Maria responded by taking control of the situation (especially notable because of its sexual nature) and said, See how you treat me? Youre a drag. Because she attempts to step outside of the expectation that she will fulfill the needs of her lover, she is punished by him walking off and leaving her on the roof by herself. In the next scene, Maria is being mistreated by her male supervisor. We will write a custom essay sample on Maria Full of Grace specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Maria Full of Grace specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Maria Full of Grace specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer He refuses to let her go to the restroom even though she feels nauseated, and then proceeds to demand she clean the mess off the roses after she vomits on them. It is implied Maria takes this kind of abuse on a regular basis. When she next sees her mother and sister, at the local pharmacy, she informs them she quit her job at the factory. They are alarmed and ask when and why this happened. This is sparked by argument over money. It is cultural practice for a Colombian family to all chip in and help out with money, even if it is not equally contributed to. Marias nephew, Pacho, is sick and needs medicine. Diana and her mother tell her she is selfish and should be able to deal with her employment issues for the benefit of the family. They ask her to go back, but Maria refuses, saying she will find other work. This is an example of a socially constructed expectation that works in opposition of womens rights. Maria is being harassed by her employer; this should be handled immediately by reporting him to a company employee in charge of human resources. Instead, she sees the only way to stop it is to quit. Because her word would most likely not be taken seriously, she takes the blame instead of demanding action. This form of oppression is a form of muting an individual because of her gender. Not only does she give up her job, but she is chastised by her own family for not thinking of them first. It is conventional for Hispanic families to function together, even at the expense of a womans happiness. Maria is working to take care of her nephew who has no father in sight. Actually, there are no males besides Pacho in the household that are ever mentioned; this leaves only Maria to provide income. Later in the movie, Maria tells Juan she is pregnant, but she does not want to get married. He contends he must live with her, because society wont accept a guy living in his girlfriends house. Again, Maria departs from the norm by rejecting the necessity of marriage because of a pregnancy. She even goes further to reject the notion of marriage without love. Maria is comfortable with her independence, even as a single mother-a concept foreign to most women in her position. Muted group theory is also applicable in this film because it deals with cultural issues. Women often jeopardize their freedom and lives by agreeing to serve as drug mules or couriers to smuggle illegal drugs into another country. Maria is in desperate need of a job because she is obligated to care for her mother, sister, and nephew. She meets Franklin, who at first seemed very innocent, and he mentions a way she could make money if she would take the chance. Franklin delivers her to Javier, the head of this particular drug cartel in Bogat. He explains the arrangements, but not without offering a charitable donation so she could get her affairs in order. The direction and quality of her life is no longer in her hands; it is in those of the men in authority positions in her life. Even when she is in the United States, her fate is determined by Don Fernando (the Colombian travel agent who offers help to her and Blanca) and the male drug dealers who hold Maria, Blanca, and Lucy captive. Don Fernando chose not to turn them into the police, but he did betray the women by telling Carla about Lucys death and its surrounding circumstances. The drug dealers killed Lucy for the heroin in her body; they had no regard for the life that possessed it. If Maria would have fallen ill, she would have suffered the same outcome. Even after her and Bianca escaped, the men had the ability to harm their families in Colombia. Once they returned to give the dealers their pellets, their own lives were once again endangered. They were fortunate to not be killed, much less receive their payment, but it was not without verbal and physical abuse. Each of the trials Maria faces is caused by a social norm that demands womens subordination to men in different areas of her life. Every aspect of her life was affected by this form of inequality: her sexual relations, her relationship with her boyfriend and family, her employment, her welfare, and her basic right to life. Maria Full of Grace is a paradigm for feature films that illuminate the delicate issues that instigate womens involvement in such reprehensible a exploit as drug trafficking.