Kramer vs. Kramer

Calvin Freeman

October 21, 2012

KRAMER VS KRAMER ANALYSIS

The film by “Kramer vs Kramer” by Robert Benton is Hollywood's answer to contemporary questions of male parenting, the erosion of the family, and the women's movement. The film defines the problem as how to preserve the preponderant influence and authority of the male father figure as this figure makes its way from the public to the domestic sphere. Role appropriation concepts are demonstrated well in this movie which made it easier to make a connection with the actors by the roles that they portrayed in the film.

Reflecting on the topic of role appropriation as it pertains to the film Kramer vs Kramer; we encounter role expectations differences between the parents. Galvin, Bylund, and Brommel state that “society provides models and norms for how certain family roles should be assumed, thus creating role expectations”. We see how the role of “mom” and “dad” takes a toll on the 2 main characters in the movie. The mother was not satisfied with her role of mom. In the film it was evident that she was not rejected her role as a mother in spite of her child but it was the lifestyle she had adopted because of the expectation surrounding her role as a parent. Society has taught us that mothers are suppose to be the nurturer and are suppose to spend a great deal of their time at home caring for the children and maintaining the household. The dads role changes from it “natural” role as a dad who society says is the bread winner and the provider. He is forced to carry the load of the mother after she leaves. The child in this situation understands these parent roles and initially he is confused by the role switches and recognizes the imbalance. It is our human ability to adapt and the love present between the dad and his son that holds there bond together and reduces the backlash of the split between the parents.

The whole family experiences role conflict while adjusting to the divorce. The parents...