How is the presentation of gender significant in "An Inspector Calls"

The presentation of gender in "An Inspector Calls" by J.B Priestly is intrinsic to the play's overall message on the evolution of social values and generational divisions. The contrast in the attitudes of the elders and the younger generation is epitomised in the juxtaposition of the characters of Mrs Birling and Eva Smith. Whilst Mrs Birling continues to adhere to traditionalist perspectives on the role of women, even going as far as to reject a young woman’s request for aid to conform to her antiquated morals, Eva repeatedly asserts herself as a bastion of change as she strives to be financially independent of the man who impregnated her and demands increased pay. This mirrors the widening rift between the generations not only on the role of women in society, but the socio-economic issues that transcend gender but remain inherently linked to it. The outlook of the younger characters is linked to Priestly's own progressive and socialist perspectives regarding both class and gender equality. This stemmed from the historical context of the production, which was crafted in a post Second World War society, where the increased responsibilities of women in wartime illustrated their competence beyond the domestic sphere. Priestly portrays the social shift towards these dynamic ideas in the evolution of Sheila’s character, as she begins the production complicit to her family’s ideals and ends reevaluating her position and sympathising with the modern views personified by the Inspector himself. It is due to Priestly’s connection of the theme of gender to the wider notion of social evolution that makes the portrayal of women so significant in the play. The individual perspectives of each character on gender act as a microcosm for the broader attitudes of their generation towards social change, making the understanding of the theme central to understanding the notion of personal and collective evolution.