Feminist Critical Approach to Secrets & Lies - Analysing Hortense

Within feminism, the 1990s brought about a fresh focus on intersectionality, establishing that the inequalities faced by women can be a lot more significant for those outside of the white middle-class, finally establishing a feminism that could represent everyone, even if such a thing still struggles to exist nowadays. Within Secrets & Lies, the character of Hortense embodies intersectionality by changing the typical white middle-class feminist for a black middle-class feminist, using that to assert that is it class that leads to the sexism and racism faced by women - Cynthia, as a white lower-class woman, faces more oppression within the film than Hortense by quite a margin (not that comparing oppressions is particularly productive).

Hortense's character provides a rejection of typical feminine characteristics, replacing emotionality with rationality, in a way that not even Maurice could reach. This is seen through Hortense's flat, with everything being white and sterile, but also classy; Hortense is fairly well-off living in Central London and lives a fairly carefree life, but also one without much character. However, once unanswered question, for her is who her birth mother was. 

Leigh seems to use Hortense's character to criticise the lack of actual difference that third-wave feminism made, showing Hortense to stick out as the only black woman at Roxanne's party, out-of-place, despite her not being any different in any other way. Whilst intersectionality is strived for, and in a multi-cultural city like London it should be easy, the divides of race and class are still as present as ever. Given a long period of Thatcherism and a future ahead of a New Labour heading to the centre, a sense of traditionalism and conservatism within British politics actively contradict the third-wave feminist values - just look at the irony of the first female PM being one of the biggest upholders of the patriarchy. 

This is all cemented with the ending of the film, where Hortense brings everyone together, being the change to the equilibrium to satisfy Todorov's narrative theory, showing how big changes in society can only happen when issues of gender, race, and class are overcome together, with Hortense and Roxanne presenting two opposites, and ending up as sisters. 

Comments

  1. Lisa SocratesMay 26, 2021 at 5:28 AM

    Highly engaging and well-written. Whilst you adopt your own voice and style in response to the film and the ideas we discuss, you also have the discipline of precision and analysis. Your choice of Hortense for an exploration of feminism works effectively as you are compelled to include an analysis of race and gender. You draw on context to engage with a range of ideas, arguments and themes. Excellent knowledge and understanding of a critical approach in relation to a key character. Band 5 A grade.

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