Our world is filled with gender stereotypes and societal expectations, and the 2023 film ‘Fair Play’ serves as a stark reflection of our modern times. Both times I watched this film, I found myself engulfed in a whirlwind of emotions; disgust and anger being the most prominent.
‘Fair Play’ is a poignant exploration of the intricacies of modern relationships. It follows the implosion of a secret relationship between two hedge fund colleagues – Emily, an analyst at a cutthroat New York financial firm, and Luke, her co-worker and covert live-in lover.
When one of the portfolio managers gets fired in the most dramatic way possible, they’re both eager to take his place. Emily hears a rumour it will be Luke and tells him, but when Emily gets promoted instead of Luke, their carefully calculated careers and romance slowly disintegrate.
While they both went to Ivy League schools, Emily got there through a scholarship, and once she joined the job market, she had to deal with sexism in ways Luke would never understand. After a while, he starts to weaponise this very sexism to undermine her and eventually accuses her of sleeping her way to the top.
Although they can both technically do this job and are equally committed to doing the work, she’s clearly the better employee. And yet Luke clings to a sense of entitlement as if he’s owed this job and this life because he’s wanted it so badly for so long. This kind of entitlement is a luxury for Emily, who has worked so hard for as long as she can remember.
Their sexual relationship also undergoes a dynamic shift. They are initially equal in their intensity and carnal lust, sharing each other’s pleasure. However, as her career takes off, his resentment manifests in impotence, later in the power of withholding sex, and finally in force. Reminding us that male violence is in fact weakness, not strength.
At its core, ‘Fair Play’ unearths a fundamental truth; women are just as capable and can be even more successful, in their professional lives. It showcases the complexities and insecurities that can arise when societal norms are flipped on their head. As someone who in the past has dated a man whom I earned more than, this challenge is something I’ve witnessed firsthand.
Men, especially those who have grown up with a traditional African mindset, often grapple with their sense of self-worth when their partner outearns them. As a woman, you can deal with this situation with empathy and open communication, and the man would still feel emasculated.
Granted, men are often judged or ridiculed when they find themselves in the role of the “lesser” earner in a relationship. This pressure affects their self-esteem and overall wellbeing but, it is not my responsibility as a woman to dim my light to make a man feel comfortable with his life.
Men must recognise that masculinity isn’t determined by one’s income or job title. Men can be strong, confident, and masculine while supporting their partner’s success. This film prompts us to break free from these limiting stereotypes and appreciate the full spectrum of human capabilities and emotions or you risk being a loser like Luke. It holds a mirror to the faces of many men, inevitably urging us to dismantle the societal constructs that limit our perceptions of what a successful and fulfilling relationship should look like. After all, in a world where gender roles are evolving, it’s high time that our relationships evolve with them.
