Males

There are certain personality traits that are generally thought of as masculine. Likewise, there are traits that are thought of as feminine. Men are usually thought of as rougher than women, they are more aggressive, more possessive, and put up a front of emotional strength. Women, on the other hand, are thought of as more passive, quiet, refined, and fragile. Many people in today's society believe that it is the man's job to care for and protect the woman. In the movie Monster, the character Aileen starts off with many of the traits generally associated with women, but as the film progresses, she inherits characteristics typically thought of as masculine.

In the flashbacks to her childhood, at the height of her innocence, she is all dressed up in front of a mirror twirling around and planning her life as an actress. She wants nothing more than to become the perfect woman. How wrong plans can go. The absence of her parents causes her to become a hooker in order to provide for herself and her little brother. Her horrible childhood makes her jaded toward men and sets her up for a very confused and tumultuous adulthood.

When the movie opens, Lee is sitting under a highway overpass with a gun, contemplating killing herself. She has just gotten out of a relationship and is very vulnerable. Her discussion with Tom shows that she has been in a series of unhealthy relationships. She is questioning herself, and her life. She is looking for someway to take control. By the end of the evening, she realizes that Selby is going to be how she gets her life back on track.

The first masculine trait that Lee takes on is her need to look after Selby. She needs to regain control of her life and sees controlling Selby's life a way to do that. She provides for Selby economically. She also tries to be the sole provider of Selby's emotional needs. Lee becomes very jealous when Selby goes out to the bar and then meets up with the people she met