Though vastly different stories from different times and places, the novel Nervous Conditions (1988) by Tsitsi Dangarembga and the fairy tale "Thumbelina" by Hans Christian Andersen both depict woman's struggle assert her agency. Each text exists within a context of patriarchy, and thus, women are culturally conditioned to not question the power of men. However, these stories demonstrate the possibility for women to find their voice. On the other hand, in my opinion gender and superiority have no relation, and women should have been able to voice their opinions just as freely as men.
In the story of Thumbelina, she is struggling with what the perception of beauty really is, and the ability to stand up for herself. Throughout the story she struggles with her acceptance if herself, thus she allows others to form a perception of what beauty is for her. Thumbelina is very young and naïve, she began to believe everything the animals told was true. She does not stand up for herself; the author makes it seem as if she needed a man to make all her decisions. I found it to be somewhat ironic that Thumbelina was a child because obviously children cannot make important decisions by themselves; hence the male animals made decisions for her. Throughout the story the animals that wanted to marry Thumbelina were very critical of her appearance, and they were not the best looking animals themselves. The cockchafers were very rude to Thumbelina from the moment they saw her they pointed out everything they didn’t like about her, “Her waist is too thin….” “But she’s only two legs…” “How ugly she is!”(35). The animals were basically passing her around for judgment like she was a toy. Then when it was time for Thumbelina to meet the mole, she was hesi...
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...h even today. We still talk about "working mothers" without using the term "working fathers", women are still underrepresented in most societal power centers. Even though Nervous Conditions and Thumbelina are very different in many ways I chose to write about both. The struggles in both stories are still present in today’s society. Even though a patriarchal society is not as common as it was back then, many women still are not allowed a voice for decisions about their life. The story of Thumbelina was a fairytale in which a 4 year old was being married off. Even though she was only 4 years old and there was not much she knew about marriage or life, she was so nonchalant about everything, she accepted all the criticism and the fact that she would most likely be married off to an animal. I just wished the author would have made her stand up for herself a little more.
In Brief History of my Thumb, Lucia Perillo’s use of structure, metaphors, and illusion invites her readers to recognize the dangers of life. Throughout her text, Parillo tells various stories of hitchhiking, and when she used to hitchhike herself. Every story she tells seems to have its own lesson and value, contributing to its effect on the reader. Perillo structures her text into different periods of her life and life-experiences. This structure informs the reader Perillo’s individual thoughts and emotions during each time of her life. She starts off “in the beginning,” (Perillo 21) when she is in high school, and ends much later in her life. Starting off her text, she talks about her high school days, and how her and her friends would hitchhike. She explains
Gender inequality has existed all around the world for many centuries. Women were seen as property of men and their purpose of existence was to provide for the men in their lives. Men would play the role of being the breadwinners, whereas women played the role of being the caregiver of the family and household and must obey the men around her. The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margaret Atwood portrays how women in society are controlled and demeaned by men, and how men feel they are more superior over women.
Through the use of symbolism, and characterization that involves an instance of imagery, the author advocates this notion through the newlywed’s decision of neglecting her personal feminine taste to make her husband’s preferences her own, and embracing her title of submissive partner by kissing the hand. Also, the choice of words to describe each partner differs tremendously, as the author seems to give more importance to the man by making him appear handsome, and particularly strong. On the contrary, the young woman appears to be weak and minor, which supports this idea of submissive women in a couple through the perception of the woman being way behind her husband. This story demonstrates a great symbolic significance when it comes to the hand, which can lead to other important ideas surrounding the message the author is trying to
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is closely related to the story “Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck. These stories relate with accordance in their thought of marriage to be an oppressive institution. Both stories show women who feel as though they are trapped, and feel unloved in their marriage. Mrs. Mallard felt as though she was trapped in her marriage, and she lost herself. With the same feelings, Elisa Allen also felt trapped and rather unloved from her husband. Kate Chopin and John Steinbeck express the same views on marriage in their short stories.
Throughout history, women have struggled with, and fought against, oppression. They have been held back and weighed down by the sexist ideas of a male dominated society which has controlled cultural, economic and political ideas and structures. During the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s women became more vocal and rebuked sexism and the role that had been defined for them. Fighting with the powerful written word, women sought a voice, equality amongst men and an identity outside of their family. In many literary writings, especially by women, during the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s, we see symbols of oppression and the search for gender equality in society.
Female agency is considered a wide spread problem throughout society in todays day and age. It is a communication issue where by the females voice, weather it be in a professional or personal enviroment, doesn 't get heard. This problem is primarily down to a lack of respect coming from the male population and the patriarchy factor. Manjima Bhattacharjya, who had written many publications on feminism says this; “The question of women’s agency has been a thorn in the side of feminism for as far back as I can remember. In early usage, it was a term used by economists to denote the “intellectual capacity of women to make intelligent, purposive (rational) decisions, under the standard constraints that face most decision-makers” (Manjima Bhattacharjya) This quote just reinforces that female agency and feminism has been around for a long time and was more magnified in the 20th century than it is now due to more awareness
It can easily be seen that while men were considered to be the most powerful and wisest humans and gods, women had the power to significantly influence these men. From Uta-napishti's wife who convinced Uta-napishti to tell Gilgamesh about the plant that would make him young again to the examples mentioned above, several women were put in roles that had important effects on the men they encountered. Of course, this is not much different from the society we live in today. While many may believe that women have still not reached the point of true equality, it is hard to say that they are inferior and the significance of their roles in society is undeniable.
For as long as humans can recall, women have been the victims of incorrect stereotypical classifications, claiming that the male gender is superior. This creates a greater struggle when pursuing conventional rights for women. The view of women has been positively affected by the Progressive Era, war participation, and women’s suffrage. Events that occurred in the past century have shaped the way women are viewed in today’s society as a whole.
Vindication of the Rights for Women by Mary Wollstonecraft was published in 1792, during the French Revolution. Wollstonecraft preached that intellect will always govern to persuade women not to endeavor to acquire knowledge but convince them that the soft phrases, acceptability of heart, delicacy of sentiment, and refinement of taste, are most preferred. By intellect, I mean the men because they were the ones that were allowed to get an education therefore allowing them to become intellectual. Wollstonecraft cleverly does not try to prove her point through protests or accusations, but argue that women are not naturally inferior to men, but appear to be only because they lack education. She suggests that both men and women should be treated as rational beings and imagines a social order founded on reason. She believed it was unfair for women to be treated differently and passionately wanted to make a change. That it was time to let go of feelings and begin the thought process behind the rationality of the women’s predicament. Men felt that while they would get an education an...
The social normality of the world is that men are required to be strong, determined and career driven, but for women, they ought to be weak, acquiescent to their male counterpart, and domestic. As of late, women have been acting against this stereotype. Rather than being complacent, women are beginning to stand in solidarity and dismantle the patriarchy that reigns over the nation. With this new-found empowerment for women, countless obstacles in the form of other social groups, particularly men, face them, working against women from allowing true equality to be achieved. Women in literature and media are beginning to be portrayed as women in power, something that was a rarity to previous generations. Contrary to traditional feminine gender
In “Hills Like White Elephants” and “The Story of an Hour”, the woman in each story imprisons in the domestic sphere. In “Hills Like White Elephants”, the woman in this story conflicts between keeping the baby or getting abortion although the relationship with her boyfriend would not improve as he said. In “The Story of an Hour”, even though Louise Mallard, an intelligent, independent woman understands that she should grieve for Brently, her husband and worry for her future, she cannot help herself from rejoice at her newfound freedom. The author of this story, Kate Chopin suggests that even with a happy marriage, the loss of freedom and the restraint are the results that cannot be avoid.
Many short story writers have written about the gender and role of woman in society. Some of these stories express what Barbara Walter calls, “The Cult of True Womanhood” meaning the separation of both man and woman in social, political and economic spheres. In order to be considered a “true woman” woman were to abide by the set of standards that were given to her. Women were expected to live by the four main principal virtues - piety, purity, submissiveness, and domestication. In Kate Chopin’s short story, “The Storm,” Calixta the main female character breaks away from “The Cult of True Womanhood” when she has a sexual encounter with her past lover Alcée. The storm goes through many twists and turns that tie with their adulterous actions. Although she breaks away from the four main principal virtues, she in the end is considered to be pure innocent of heart because the action in which occurred happened instantly, and as white as she was, she was taken away from her innocence.
Women have been thought of as housewives who are not supposed to be independent. Women used to be seen as the ones who cook for their husbands and their children, clean the house, make sure the children are taken care of, while they let the men do all of the work. Women can be just as strong and as smart as men, and they can be independent. Women have realized that they could do whatever they want and that they do not need to be dependent on anyone, and that all they need is theirself. All people deserve basic human rights, regardless of sex. A woman is of equal worth to a man, they are not superior, and they are not inferior.The Women's Rights Movement is an important movement in history. This paper will include background information
From the beginning of time, females have played a powerful role in the shaping of this world. They have stood by idly and watched as this country moved on without them, and yet they have demanded equal rights as the nation rolls along. Through the years the common belief has been that women could not perform as well as men in anything, but over the years that belief has been proven wrong time and time again. So as time marches on, women have clawed and fought their way up the ladder to gain much needed equal respect from the opposite sex. However, after many years of pain and suffering, the battle for equal rights has not yet been won. Since women have fought for a long time and proven their importance in society, they deserve the same rights as men.
Throughout history, women have remained subordinate to men. Subjected to the patriarchal system that favored male perspectives, women struggled against having considerably less freedom, rights, and having the burdens society placed on them that had been so ingrained the culture. This is the standpoint the feminists took, and for almost 160 years they have been challenging the “unjust distribution of power in all human relations” starting with the struggle for equality between men and women, and linking that to “struggles for social, racial, political, environmental, and economic justice”(Besel 530 and 531). Feminism, as a complex movement with many different branches, has and will continue to be incredibly influential in changing lives.