West Side Story is a contemporary rendition of Shakespeare's classic, Romeo and Juliet. Set in the late 1950s in the west side of New York, gang rivalry and love story all in one. To todays standards these two gangs are more likely to be compared to a chess club than a gang. The two rival gangs are comprised of descendants of European immigrants (Jets), and the other Puerto Rican (Sharks). The element of racism is very apparent, but it is the underlying racism/ racial stereotypes and gendering in this film that influence an unsuspecting audience. In the first scene the two gangs have contrasting racial and physical qualities. Most of the Jets are blonde, strong and healthy. Where as the Sharks are all dark haired and dark skinned, the white Americans speak first in most of the scenes, making derogatory remarks about the Puerto Ricans. In the first scene when the police show up the Puerto Ricans are ordered to leave. The police officer wishes to only speak with the Jets. The office making the following statement "Get your friends out of here, Bernardo, and stay out! Please!...Boy, oh, boy. As if this neighborhood wasn't crummy enough. Its as if the police dont have the time or the energy to deal with the Puerto Ricans, they are not worth their time. Not only is there racism in the movie there is also gendering. Women are seen as housewives that belong in the home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. When Anybody a white female begs to join the Jets she is told to go home the streets are no place for a woman. Some of the Jets taunt her that no one would want to sleep with her, to them a a women's status resides only in her beauty. The women are present during the fight scenes, to watch and cheer on the men, but they are not good enough to fight alongside them. Anita reinforces the feisty sexually charged latino stereotype. She sings about how shes gonna get her kicks and have a private little mix with her boyfriend