Existing comment:
Social Relations Between the Sexes:
Gibson not only endowed his idealized women with beauty and charm, he also portrayed them as dominant figures in the rituals of courtship and marriage. With winsome self-assurance, the Gibson Girl displayed independence and assertiveness in scenes with her handsome counterpart, the "Gibson Man," as well as with less charming suitors. This new dynamic in gender relations underscores Gibson's progressive, positive outlook on women taking greater initiative in fulfilling their own wishes for happiness. |