Societal norms are prevalent in all societies in one form or another, and whilst nowadays mostly anything is acceptable due to the fact that people have come to the realisation that people have the right to be whatever they want to be, that is not true for the world Alice lived in; one that is almost 200 years old. An example of such is Alices actions at the start of the film, when she was unsure of whether or not to marry Hamish, something she tells her mother. Her mother, to this statement, replies that you dont get better than a lord, which proves a few things. The most important thing is that money and power is one of the major driving forces of marriages of that time, meaning that men, at the top of the hierarchical ladder, holding the wealth and power, practically had simply the right to choose whatever woman they so desired, and marry them. This atrocious display of inequality; of the lack of choice that was displayed served as an example of what Alice opposed. Alice completely disobeys these expectations not only with what she does, but what she says. After her mother is discontent with her not wearing a corset, something she states, Alice rebukes this by saying who is to judge what is proper and what is not?. She continues her argument with her lack of stockings, which when her mother asks about them she states that she is against them, thus furthermore proving the point. This is clear evidence of her battling the expectations and norms se
t in her society, and can be transferred to our times as well. This is teaching young women that they are free to do, wear, and act as they please, and not to regard what is thought is proper for them to do, something that is incredibly important for them to learn.
Alice lived in a world that was dominated by men, who had all the power, managed to acquire any job they so pleased, and brought in the money to their household. Women, on the other hand, were expected to simply care for children, keep the house clean and cook for the family. This structure can still be observed in todays culture, and this outdated style of thinking simply cannot stand in todays society, something which Alice evidently combats with her refusal to marry Hamish, yet still proposes a large business venture to Hamishs father: Lord Ascot and I have some business to discuss. This is met with the surprise of Lady Ascot, who states, in a flabbergasted one: The impertinence!, which is retaliated with Lord Ascot saying that he would like to hear what Alice has to say. Lady Ascot is an example of the duality of the hierarchy that they live in, where everyone enforces the structure, of what is proper, what isnt for certain people to do and say. Alice combats this by doing improper things, such as joining a business ruled by men. This proves that Alice, once again, is teaching young women that they can work and be whatever they wish, once again something incredibly important to learn.