HIST 23 American History I

Annie Oakley, the famous American sharpshooter, is immortalised because of her impeccable and on-point shooting. Not only her work, but also media and arts introduced her story to people about her journey and struggle as a working woman in the nineteenth century America while proving herself in front of the mass. This response will discuss the way she fights against the male hegemony while competing against Walker is laudable which only serves to present the working conditions for other women.  

In the scene when she has to go against Toby Walker in the contest, she is demotivated by James to quit but she takes up the gun to go against the famous shooter, Toby (Annie Oakley). Not only did her brave act, inspire the audience with her boldness, she also depicted the prowess of American women who can and would take any task for the sake of proving themselves against the patriarchal society. Moreover, this moment also becomes a turning point of her life and her career as a sharpshooter (Annie Oakley). The gripping scene is, thus, the heart of the movie.

The movie, Annie Oakley, depicts the condition of the women in the nineteenth century America. The patriarchal and hegemonic society is not able to cope with the fact that women are equal to men and have equal rights of representation in all fields. While a part of society still did not accept women as equal, the concept of working women started. With the establishment of new factories, women were also allowed to work and earn an allowance for themselves. Moreover, this is also the time when women came to fight for their representation which led to the conception of Women Suffrage movements. Hence, with Annie represents one of those women who despite being oppressed fought back and chose their passion.

Annie Oakley. Directed by George Stevens, RKO Pictures, 1935.