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The Wolf of Wall Street
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The Wolf of Wall Street Term Paper
The Wolf of Wall Street, a 2013 American dark comedic crime film directed by
Martin Scorsese and written by Terence Winter, is based on Jordan Belfort's 2007 memoir. It
describes Belfort's career as a New York City stockbroker and how his company, Stratton
Oakmont, engaged in extensive Wall Street corruption and fraud, finally leading to his
downfall. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Belfort, who Jonah Hill joins as his business colleague
and friend Donnie Azoff, Margot Robbie as his wife Naomi Lapaglia, and Kyle Chandler as
FBI agent Patrick Denham, who seeks to bring Belfort down. How are women shown in this
film, and why are they depicted in this way? In this film, women are portrayed as subordinate
to male characters, unable to make autonomous decisions, and depend on others to determine
their destiny. This portrayal diminishes female characters' power and casts them in the role of
a child instead of as an equal or even an adult.
Analysis
The belief that women are less capable than men contributes to social inequity in
female-dominated professions. With males outnumbering females, women's job prospects
become constrained. Employers who believe in the superiority of men want to hire men. Even
if they can obtain a job, women earn less than men. Women are obligated to devise a more
effective strategy for securing employment in this situation. In their search for a more
effective recruiting approach, women learn that attractive women are more likely to get
employed in a male-dominated society than average-looking women. Women are exploited
because patriarchal culture values women mainly based on their physical appearance. Men
are attracted to women's beauty and sensuality, and they feel more at ease working with
attractive women than with ordinary women.
Consequently, many women attempt to enhance their looks, as firms prefer to hire
women based on their attractiveness rather than their talents. The statement above bolsters the
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belief that corporations hire women for their appearance and sensuality. Beer, a generally
male beverage, is depicted by a sexy feminine figure rather than a macho masculine one
(Leuz et al., 2019, p. 446). As we can see, Nadine, who appears in a television advertisement,
does nothing but becomes famous and affluent. Even the advertising's target audience, mostly
male, is uninterested in her work since they are captivated by her physique. It reveals how
society evaluates women only based on their physical appearance.
Additionally, in The Wolf of Wall Street, we can see how Jordan establishes his
organization via crucial employees. He uses his position as the company's boss to compel his
female workers to wear clothes that display their beauty despite their professionalism. He
does so even though wearing such a garment violates the established criteria. In a patriarchal
society, where males have control, powerlessness is a kind of oppression that most women
suffer. Jordan's office in The Wolf of Wall Street exemplifies this authoritarianism. Female
employees are displayed in provocative dress under their boss, Jordan; as subordinates, these
female employees must comply. Males in higher positions often experience powerlessness
due to their actions toward lower-level workers, especially women. Jordan, used to being in
charge, inadvertently harassed a stewardess. As indicated by the phrase, Danny, Jordan's
coworker, warns Jordan that heinous what Jordan has done.
According to Danny, sexual harassment is not a bad thing in their employment
because of their position of authority. They recognize the ease with which their workers'
positions might be abused. It demonstrates that female workers in Jordan's workplace have
little influence on the country, even sexually harassed. Males often resort to this style of
oppression to maintain their dominance and power over women. Even in a society oriented
on riches, such as Wall Street, where everything is conducted in monetary terms, violence
happens. Jordan illustrates that, despite spending most of his time exploiting his wealth, he
resorts to violence when Nadine tries to remove his daughter. The violence he inflicts on
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Nadine is severe enough to jeopardize her life. Women are physically smaller and weaker
than men, making them more susceptible to physical abuse. Males' belief that women are
more sensitive than men gives men a superior attitude toward women.
The Wolf of Wall Street is set on Wall Street and focuses on the corporate world.
Women are oppressed in the book because the men in power make judgments about women
only based on their looks. Women started to dress following this philosophy. They use
makeup and dress sensually (Sheerin, 2015, p. 28). Jordan and her companions'
categorization of women reveals societal assumptions about women. According to a
stereotype, a beautiful lady is connected with wealth, while an ordinary woman is poor. It is
the outcome of women being classified according to their physical attractiveness, with
beautiful women requiring more money. Men with money began abusing their position in the
mistaken idea that money could buy women. Jordan, who has the highest status and money in
Stratton Oakmont, has complete authority over his office; he even seeks sex with as many
sales workers as possible.
Evaluation
The primary approach of the film is a pump and dump operation. Belfort had a short
career in which he rose from obscurity to affluence. He develops a cocaine addiction and
becomes a regular prostitute user. In addition, he participates in illegal and dangerous
activities that sap his vitality. Belfort gains more than $22 million right after purchasing
Steve Madden Ltd (Fishback, 2019, p. 275). To disguise his cash, he opens a Swiss bank
account. Jean-Jacques assisted a shady financier in building contacts with various
organizations. He is involved in significant illegal activities, and his father intervenes and
persuades him to cease so that he would not face punishment. The FBI investigates him and
discovers that he has been engaged in several tragic instances.
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The overall momentum of Wolf of Wall Street is never lost. It's directed with zeal and
style, and it boasts a well-written tale with lots of jokes and depth. Because of its speed and
fury, it exceeds all expectations. It is a story about the rise and collapse of the protagonist,
Jordan Belfort, who builds an extraordinary stock-trading business that quickly expands and
finally makes Jordan a millionaire. It is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, a money
launderer and stockbroker who makes a lot of money on Wall Street but lives a disillusioned
life littered with scandals involving women and drugs. Later, when he is caught for the crime,
he is faced with reality.
Belfort starts as a poor man who gets rich via trickery. Aside from money, Belfort
wants everything that comes with it. He is a man on a quest for greatness. Belfort reinvents
himself along the way, puts on a show, and outperforms his roots. Jordan is subsequently
embroiled in illegal deals and activities, which place him in jail. Aside from his short life and
hardship, he buys a property on Long Island's Gold Coast and lives the life of his dreams,
surrounded by beautiful females who party all day. Belfort rises via the Wolf of Wall Street's
supporting cast's deceit, plotting, misconduct, and intimidation.
The Wolf of Wall Street would be a film where the bad guys always win in an ideal
world. Everything swung Belfort's way. He defrauds his wife with commercial sex workers,
as well as his customers, who are deceived into believing false information about The Wall
Street Journal only to uncover Belfort's mind tricks afterward. To achieve his objectives, he
extorts money from individuals via fraud. The film is nearing the point when a clear
distinction is drawn between Jordan's reality and his point of view. Although the film is based
on a true story, it has little to do with Wall Street and is mostly about con artists.
Because it has a symbolic weapon and faceless victims filling the psycho's realm,
Wolf of Wall Street might be considered a forerunner to the Hunger Games and Hit Man
flicks. The film has black humor and is regarded as one of the most sarcastic films ever
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filmed. It is an accurate representation of what happens in real life. According to
philosophers, money is the root of all evils. This expression refers to the whole city of
Belfort. He started in humble circumstances, but he battled his way up unlawfully due to his
ambition and desire for money and his short life. He immerses himself in a dirty lifestyle
revolving around women and powerful narcotics. He earns a lot of money from his brokerage
firm and draws a lot of attention with his expensive parties. On the surface, Wolf of Wall
Street seems to be a depressing film with vulgar language and unbelievable circumstances.
It's a terrific example and description of a short life involving a lot of money. Belfort's female
acquaintances dress scantily, do drugs, cause drama at his house, and talk authoritatively.
These features become apparent in real life when a person chooses a different route.
The Wolf of Wall Street is an entertaining film with a hilarious and filthy plot,
including drugs and sex. It features excellent music throughout and depicts Jordan Belfort's
transformation of a group of failures into sales geniuses. It delves into the fascinating subject
of how persons lacking in riches, social grace, education, good looks, and connections may
achieve exceptional success. Its acting is enthralling, its drama is terrific, and its aesthetics
are stunning. Its setting compliments the quality, smoothness, and well-placed cameras in the
music.
Because each scene has a feeling of humor, watching this film entertains and
stimulates the spectator. The film's cinematographer is Rodrigo Prieto. Throughout the film,
photography reflects both the actual image and the film's theme. The movie was shot using a
range of digital high-definition cameras that generate Blu-ray visuals. Because of the
radiance mentioned above, the film features a great degree of contrast, with yellow/orange
flesh tones, set pieces, and cool blue clothes. Additionally, anamorphic and spherical lenses
improve picture sharpness and clarity.
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To conclude, The Wolf of Wall Street is the ultimate picture, worthy of both scorn
and praise. It's a hilarious and entertaining film. It never loses steam thanks to the director's
vigor and flair, as well as a well-written plot with lots of comedy and complexity. Because of
its speed and fury, it exceeds all expectations. It is a story about the rise and collapse of the
protagonist, Jordan Belfort, who builds an extraordinary stock-trading business that quickly
expands and finally makes Jordan a millionaire. The Wolf of Wall Street is a comedy with a
dark underside that includes drugs and sex. It features excellent music throughout and depicts
Jordan Belfort's transformation of a group of failures into sales geniuses. The film has black
humor and is considered one of the most sarcastic films ever filmed. It is an accurate
representation of what happens in real life. It delves into the fascinating subject of how
persons lacking in riches, social grace, education, good looks, and connections may achieve
exceptional success.
Conclusion
According to the term paper's intrinsic and extrinsic analyses of women's oppression,
women in The Wolf of Wall Street, whether professional women, prostitutes, or homemakers,
confront three sorts of pressure due to their financial dependency. Women's oppression
includes sexual assault, impotence, and cultural imperialism. Exploitation is the first type of
oppression experienced by women. Jordan Belfort is shown in the story as the perpetrator of
this persecution. He's a sex addict who is always looking for sex with the females in his
proximity. He takes advantage of his position at work to have sex with the female workers.
He even allows his male coworkers to have sex with female coworkers.
Jordan also fulfills his need with prostitutes. When he is not with his wife Nadine, he
has sex with other women. Women are also subjected to oppression in the form of
powerlessness. The tale indicates that many women are powerless in the face of male
supremacy. Jordan uses his position as CEO of Stratton Oakmont Company to do anything he
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wants, including having sex with his female colleagues. His female workers, too, let him do
anything he wants since they lack the strength to refuse. They need work and are afraid of
losing it if they oppose Jordan's desires. Stratton Oakmont encourages female workers to
dress sexily rather than professionally. Violence is the third sort of oppression experienced by
women in The Wolf of Wall Street. As can be seen, Jordan usually settles his conflicts via his
money, but when he cannot maintain dominance over Nadine, he resorts to violence.
Prostitutes are also prone to violence since they are rewarded and expected to satisfy all
customer requests; if those desires are not realized, they may resort to physical attacks. All of
these oppressions are caused by women's financial reliance. The story depicts how
professional women are sexually attacked at work but are helpless to interfere since they need
the job to make a living.
Furthermore, prostitutes must give sex services and comply with the customer's
requests in exchange for money. Homemakers are the most financially dependent since they
do not get money from their partners. As a consequence, they are forced to surrender to their
husbands. Women's oppression is also a product of gender stereotypes. According to
women's stereotypes, men regard women as helpful when they are pretty or alluring, and they
may be employed if adequately rewarded.
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References
Fishback, G. (2019). How the Wolf of Wall Street Shaped the Internet: A Review of Section
230 of the Communications Decency Act. Tex. Intell. Prop. LJ, 28, 275.
https://heinonline.org/hol-cgibin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/tipj28&section=15
Leuz, C., Meyer, S., Muhn, M., Soltes, E. F., & Hackethal, A. (2019). Who falls prey to the
Wolf of Wall Street? Investor participation in market manipulation. Investor
Participation in Market Manipulation (June 23, 2021). European Corporate
Governance Institute (ECGI)-Law Working Paper, (446).
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3073817
Sheerin, C. (2015). The (she) wolf of Wall Street. Accounting, Finance & Governance
Review, 22(2), 19-46. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/CorinaSheerin/publication/320879596_The_'She'_Wolf_of_Wall_StreetMyth_or_Reality/links/5bd77a7c4585150b2b8f06de/The-She-Wolf-of-Wall-StreetMyth-or-Reality.pdf