Throughout the history of women in Korea, there has always been a belief that women is inferior to men as there were many restricted conditions. This review will focus on the gender movement changes in the position for women 's advancement in Korea, approximately during the first half of the 20th century. This review will also link the changes in the progress of women 's advancement with the reading The Making of the New Woman in Pak Wanso’s “Mother’s Stake 1” by Choi Kyeong Hee. Furthermore, discuss how women were receiving more attention from the public due to the changes in values and beliefs. This includes the shift of family structure, the opportunity on education and the establishment of employment.
They wanted to teach their daughters from all of their pain and suffering, but were never able to communicate the complexities of their life. Suyuan Woo struggles to explain herself to her daughter "'This feather may look worthless, but it comes from afar and carries with it all my good intentions.' And she waited, year after year, for the day she could tell her daughter this in perfect American English"(3). The journey that brought Suyuan to America was long and full of hardship. From the Japanese invasion of Kweilin were she lost her husband and had to leave her daughters, to her assimilation in America.
America was not everything the mothers had expected for their daughters. The mothers always wanted to give their daughters the feather to tell of their hardships, but they never could. They wanted to wait until the day that they could speak perfect American English. However, they never learned to speak their language, which prevented them from communicating with their daughters. All the mothers in The Joy Luck Club had so much hope for their daughters in America, but instead their lives ended up mirroring their mother’s life in China.
Already, Dedé sees the future and wants no part of it, sending herself to the past where she feels more comfortable, but also carrying the burden of never allowing herself a future. She goes on to talk about, no matter what happens, she will be the one left behind, her past parallel to her sisters’ in stating “whether she joined them or not, her fate was bound up with the fates of her sisters. She would suffer what they suffered. If they died, she would not want to go on living without them” (193). Again, Dedé states that life without her sisters is not a life worth living, further revealing her depressive nature.
Jing-mei differed from her mother in one way: “I did not believe I could be anything I wanted to be” (Tan 484), leading her to stubbornly refuse to try, until, in time, she finally understood what her mother wanted for her: the best she could be. From the haircut mishap to the magazine tests, Jing-mei had more or less tried to live up to her mother’s expectations. However, since the piano fiasco, Jing-mei gave up, and soon after, her mother lost hope in her daughter as well. It wasn’t until years later, after her mother had died, did Jing-mei realize her mother’s intentions. Jing-mei was once a pleading child stuck on the notion that “I could only be me” (Tan 484), but twenty years later, she became perfectly contented, understanding that there is no limit to efforts and dreams.
The other proposal was to train the female pilots to do so. Each woman did not know of the other submitting their proposal. Unfortunately each proposal was turned down at the beginning of the war, but as the war progressed and male pilots were lost, the Army Air Force reconsidered both proposals. Although the women were able to fly and train they were not treated the same as the male pilots. In order to qualify for the job they had to have more flying time, had to have a high school diploma and were only allowed to fly the smallest airplanes.
It is a very sensitive phase of life which needs special assistance on the part of the parents. But Usha’s mother’s over conservative attitude does not allow her to take her mother into confidence. For this reason Usha started inventing lies and maintaining secrets from her mother. It is at the end of the story, Usha’s mother attuned herself with her daughter as she realised that she would never be successful to make Usha an Indian on the American soil and at the end gives up her effort to change her. Usha’s mother realised that their immigrant status is responsible for Usha’s change of attitude, customs, manners and behaviors and therefore rather than try to mould her daughter into her crust, she decides to live for herself.
Women today have learned to deal with sexism in their own ways whether it is to play into the stereotypes, fight against it or just live platonically with them. History of Sexism Women have been viewed as the weaker sex. They were the care takers of the home, expected to watch and raise the children, and make sure their husband’s were presentable for a productive day at work. Women had earned the right to vote in 1928, but had little say in personal lives. It wasn’t until the 40s and 50s that women began to take part in the workforce by necessity... ... middle of paper ... ...lationship.
In the process of fleeing from the invading Japanese, she had to abandon her two babies from her first husband. Things like that are what caused her to be so strong, but her daughter was doubtful in her ability to fill the role her mother once played. Jing-Mei brought much hope to her mother. Suyuan was very critical of the people around her, so she was especially critical of her daughter. Once, Jing-Mei confronted her about being so critical, saying "people rise to other people’s expectations" (31).
“Women pilots… are a weapon waiting to be used.” Eleanor Roosevelt said this statement during her “My Day” speech on September 1, 1942 in order to promote the use of women pilots in the Second World War. She was supporting the women by saying that if they could pass the same tests as their fellow men pilots, then they should be given the same opportunity to join in noncombat service. During World War II, women had to rise to the occasion in order to help their country in a time of desperate need. With most of the American men serving in the army and other branches of the armed forces, women stepped up and took their place. Some chose to stay closer to home and took men’s everyday jobs in order to keep the country running regularly.