Sexism

Prof. Lindenbrook's attitude toward having a woman on a geological expedition was completely normal for a 19th-century scientist, which is the role he is playing. Whether we agree with that attitude today is neither here nor there. To enjoy films (or novels, or any form of art) depicting earlier historical periods (or cultures other than our own) one has to have the ability to think and feel inside (if only tentatively) that period or culture.

In any case, as others have pointed out, the film shows how baseless the prejudices of Lindenbrook are, as Carla proves to be a valuable member of the expedition, and often shrewder than Lindenbrook. And finally, this film was not meant as serious adult drama, but as light family entertainment, with a strong appeal to kids (dinosaurs and exploration) and to teenagers (Pat Boone and his romancing). The male-female dynamics were not meant to teach anything about the proper place of women; they were meant to be funny. We are meant to take delight in seeing Lindenbrook forced to allow Carla on the mission against his own inclination. It creates a comic situation much like that of the old 30s movies (e.g. Astaire/Rogers) where a male and female lead can't stand each other but fall in love by the end. The film struck me as funny in this respect even when I was a little kid, watching this movie on television, and it still strikes me that way now.

Yawn. People like you should just avoid any movie made before 1970 since they are all full of racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and lots of other phobias.

I think people like you just watch old movies so they complain about how scandalized and upset they are.

Did the sexism make you cry?