We Were Janed: Tarzan and Jane Had Us Thinking Women Can Tame Any Beast
Around the 1980s Tarzan reruns would come on for a long time on Sundays. This was back when we had 4-6 channels on a clear sunny day.
One of his longest phrases was, "Me Tarzan. You Jane."
Even as a child, I could comprehend what that meant: "I'm the boss, you're the pretty little woman. Do what I say. Now."
Those old black-and-white movies, depict the relationship between Jane and Tarzan as a romanticized and idealized portrayal of a "jungle romance."
Here are some common characteristics of their relationship in these films. Hold onto your eyeballs so that they don't roll out of your head.
Civilized woman meets savage man:
The contrast between Jane's refined, civilized upbringing and Tarzan's feral, jungle-bred nature is a central theme. Tarzan's "savagery" is often played for comedic effect, with Jane's reactions ranging from shock to amusement.
Now he's a savage but Jane was not afraid of him? Noooo. Jane's beauty, soft voice, and flimsy 'nightie' or nightclub dress in the middle jungle were enough to soothe him.
Romanticized jungle setting:
The jungle is depicted as a lush, exotic, and romantic backdrop for their love story.
The films often feature idyllic scenes of Tarzan and Jane exploring the jungle together, with Tarzan "teaching Jane about the wonders of the natural world."
Tarzan as the "noble savage":
Tarzan is portrayed as a heroic, chivalrous figure who protects Jane from harm. Every time!
He is depicted as strong, brave, and selfless, with a deep connection to nature and a strong sense of justice.
So far, so good.
But hold on......
Jane as the "damsel in distress":
Jane is often shown as a helpless, fragile woman who needs Tarzan's protection and rescue.
Time Jane got in trouble, she would scream and wait for Tarzan to save her. That seemed to be her only strategy.
At first, I liked that Tarzan was dependable. "He sure does love Jane." I used to think.
Then it became annoying.
"Can't she at least try to save herself?"`
It got old quick.
70's and 80's kids played outside with groups of other kids. Your best friends and kids you liked were in the group, but ....so were kids you did not like. Girls often had to figure out how to deal.
You wanted to play with kids again AND you wanted challenging to get along with kids and bullies to leave you alone.
Amongst our peers and playmates, we girls figured it out.
So as I got older, the "screaming Jane" on loop thing was fatiguing. No girl that I knew personally leaned on that strategy exclusively.
This trope was common in early cinema and reinforced traditional gender roles.
Minimal dialogue:
In many old black-and-white Tarzan films, Tarzan's vocabulary is limited, and he communicates mostly through grunts, gestures, and facial expressions.
This adds to the "noble savage" mystique and creates a sense of primal, non-verbal connection between the two characters. I don't know how Jane survived. She did not have human friends and there was no one to talk to but ....Tarzan.
Conditioning to Romanticize Potential Danger
Much as it is now, Hollywood scripts were written, produced, and directed by White males. As audiences were being entertained, there wasn't enough dialogue and discussion about the drawbacks to this type of relationship. To make the clear distinction that while this may be entertaining, do not try this at home.
Even storytelling in wrestling leaned into this dynamic. Some of the popular wrestlers of that day had beautiful, refined, women. Meanwhile, the male wrestler husbands were "off the chain".
Framed in the context of wrestling, I didn't notice or detect that this was the same dynamic going on in Tarzan movies. I was entertained and there was no "screaming Jane".
Back then I was a wrestling fan too.
Sidebar: Who is old enough to remember wrestling being on television for hours on Sunday afternoons in the 1980s but also the cartoon? Because I loved that cartoon.
But Then You Grow Up
As a domestic violence advocate you encounter women trying to do their best to manage another human being's emotions and at the same time, not go mad in the process. To avoid having the nervous breakdown that poor and violent treatment from others entitles her to.
Relationship partners who:
who have little control of their emotions
limited or zero ability to cope with disappointments, rejection, sadness, anger or pain.
a tendency to let their anger take over
low communication skills (and unlike Tarzan, they have no interest in learning more)
People who declare that they are "in charge", only he can show her the ways of life. No matter how much education, life experience, or wisdom she may have.
Identifying with Jane
It was seen as an honor to be a "Jane".
A woman who could soothe the savage beast with her voice, her looks, her good deeds, her domestic skills, and/or her kindness.
This wasn't just on television. The movies were merely a reflection of the messages we were getting from family, faith leaders, and society in general.
Find a man who provides. A man who protects. A man other males fear. Whatever he lacks in communication skills or interpersonal skills....that's where we come in.
We cover for him. We soothe him. We protect him at all costs.....even if it means our own lives and those of our children too.
When I began volunteering and then professionally serving as a domestic violence advocate, I realized that no one told us what to do if ever we were unable to "soothe" him.
What bothers me most though, is that too few are willing to provide resources and options for women who sound the alarm about a dangerous partner who chooses to harm her and other loved ones.
I want to keep doing my part to push us towards a society and communities that do not leave women who find themselves in dangerous situations on their own. Communities that come alongside these women and their loved ones to provide assistance and resources.
Leaders who dedicate resources to these women and their families to stabilize dangerous situations and make homes safer places for children to grow up in.
A reminder to all of us women:
We are not always able to "soothe" people. Our love has been depicted in fiction as having the power to heal and protect everyone except ourselves.
Human beings, including males, are responsible for nurturing, strengthening, and improving their communication skills.
Human beings, including males, are responsible for nurturing, strengthening, and improving their coping skills.
Human beings are responsible for their own emotional responses.
Some notable examples of old black and white Tarzan films that feature Jane and Tarzan's relationship include:
Tarzan the Ape Man (1932): Starring Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan and Maureen O'Sullivan as Jane, this film sets the tone for the franchise's depiction of their relationship.
Tarzan and His Mate (1934): The sequel to Tarzan the Ape Man, this film features more romantic moments between Jane and Tarzan, including a famous swimming scene.
Tarzan Finds a Son! (1939): In this film, Jane and Tarzan are shown as a happy couple, with a young boy, Boy, who is the son of a friend they have adopted.
These films, while dated in their portrayal of gender roles and relationships, remain iconic and influential in the Tarzan franchise, shaping the public's perception of the character and his romance with Jane.