A Streetcar Named Desire Feminist Essay

The women of the 21st Century are independent, free thinking and self-sufficient. They have worked hard to achieve these attributes. It has taken decades of fighting against a patriarchal society to achieve some form of gender equality. Prior today’s enlightened view of women, a time and view that is still far from perfect, women were beaten, oppressed, objectified, and viewed as possessions. If and when a woman dared to step out of her prescribed gender role she was labeled an outcast and rejected from society. Tennessee Williams’ knew what it felt like to be a victim. He knew what it felt like to be an outcast. In his play, A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams draws a traditional picture of women in life and family by presenting them

In order for Stanley to feel empowered over Stella he tries to control in ways that makes her a victim. Stella has no self of mind what her husband is doing, she only sees the desire they have for each other. That desire they have for each other blinds Stella and people around them expect Blanche, she sees that isn't desire she sees the advantage that Stanley has over Stella. During 70s the brutality towards wife beating was avoided in American society, which many people did not take seriously. In many cases, it sorta showed that the men had all the power in the household. “He is completely in charge of the kowalski household, calling all the shots and expecting his wife acquiescence” (Koprince 2). This suggest that women didn’t have much say the roof they were living in, Stella was told what to do or not. Stanley was the man in the house and would order Stella around and anticipate that she will follow him as if she was an object or animal. Many women had to deal with the issue by themselves, they couldn’t talk to other people because they wouldn't understand why. Many women who go through this type of abuse usually never leave their husband, its either the women believes its a desire