The "normal" and social structure in "Boys on the Side"
Bold female friendships in the film “Boys on the Side” are challenged by the existing social structure. Within the existing social structure female relationship between women who are close or live together are questioned. They are questioned on the level of sexuality within the relationship. Are the women lovers or wish to be lovers? In court, when Jane is on the stand, the lawyer questions Jane’s sexuality and relationship status with Holly. Jane comments on females not needing males, which allows the lawyer to question Jane and her relationships. Women cannot be close in the social structure of “Boys on the Side.” However, Jane and Robin challenge the social structure by living together and standing by each other as a spouse or family would. Jane, Robin and Holly also have a relationship that challenges the social structure of the film. Jane and Robin save Holly from her abusive and drug addicted boyfriend. From then on, Jane and Robin work together to protect Holly. After a fight and Jane moves out of Robin’s house, Holly is put on trial for the death of her ex-boyfriend Nick. Robin puts the fight aside because they are family and family sticks together. Robin is also questioned about her sexuality on stand because of her close friendship with Holly and Jane. Both Jane and Robin have to explain themselves and their female relationships to society because society pushes their relationship to the side. The new family system between Holly, Abe, and their child is not the normal white suburban family one normally sees in films. However, this family does reinscribe “the normal” in a few ways. Holly and Abe marry and become a family and plan to raise the baby in normal structure, with a husband and wife. Abe signifies the man that was missing to complete the home for Holly, Jane and Robin. A home with security, acceptance, and support is what all three women were looking for. Before Robin dies the home they were all looking for is complete.