Treading Patriarchal Waters

Feminism refers to the body of thought on the cause and nature of women's disadvantaged and subordinate position in society, and efforts to minimize and eliminate the subordination (Hughes, 2002:160). Understanding that the need for independency and self-respect is not a real disease, it is just a metaphor for how women go about trying to achieve them. "For nearly one hundred and fifty years, women have fought for equality and been oppressed by men, and no matter what they do, they will never be considered equals" (Hughes, 2002:161). Feminism focuses on the relations between genders and how both male and female become classified as distinct groups rather than a team united as one. The preceding was what feminists and historians want us believe, however, this is not always the case and quite possibly, it has never been the case.

Mariel Mondragon Mrs. Kehrmeyer AP Language 11 November 2017 Feminist Analysis During the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds women were oppressed by a patriarchal society. Society greatly influenced women to desperately flaunt their power to prove they were equal to men. The feminist movement fought for the equality and security of equivalent positions on women’s rights, regarding politically, socially, and economically. Feminist propaganda was hugely popular among the feminist movement and authors like Kate Chopin and Charlotte Perkins strongly depicted a critical aspect on feminism. Kate Chopin and Charlotte Perkins addressed controversial statements of maltreatment and discrimination, women were obliged to tolerate in their

It is far from being a liberatory and enriching experience for all women. It has been very important to contest the point of patriarchy that happiness comes only through motherhood and attack this myth which denies women their range of possibilities and opportunities. Betty Friedan relates the true essence of motherhood in her book The Feminine Mystique : Motherliness is a way of life. It enables a women to express her total self with the tender feelings, the protective attitudes, the encompassing love of the motherly women (58) But patriarchy misuses it as an instrument to subordinate women as a whole. The experience of maternity has been channelled to serve male interests and to stabilize the patriarchal laws as the universal law for women.

The novel depicts this construct of gender identity through society by molding Grace to believe women are subordinate and need to get married and be good housewives to be successful. This construct is seen through emotion as women who are emotional are seen as “abnormal” and sent to asylums, while men had to power to do so. The societal construct of gender identity was seen as men were to bask in their sexuality and be assertive, while women were to be passive and suppress their sexuality. Mrs. Humphrey challenged this construct as she was assertive and the instigator. Lastly, the societal construct of gender identity was challenged through Grace’s mother as she took over the males position of being the provider.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman is known as the first American writer who has feminist approach. Gilman criticises inequality between male and female during her life, hence it is mostly possible to see the traces of feminist approach in her works. She deals with the struggles and obstacles which women face in patriarchal society. Moreover, Gilman argues that marriages cause the subordination of women, because male is active, whereas female plays a domestic role in the marriage. Gilman also argues that the situation should change; therefore women are only able to accomplish full development of their identities.

In conclusion the roles of women in both plays are traditional for a patriarchal society while containing elements that attempt to illuminate the ongoing discrimination of women in male dominated fields. In my opinion “Trifles” has a stronger feminist message as it celebrates women’s unique abilities in the face of the narrow and limiting patriarchal stereotypes of women. While these two plays were written 120 years apart women still have to prove that they are equal to men, and the single biggest obstacle to equality remains the prejudice of a patriarchal society that limits our belief in what a woman is capable of.

Throughout the novel, she exemplifies women’s subordination to men and her desire for equality. The Yellow Wallpaper is “Contemporary feminism” (Lanser 415) that explores Gilman’s emotion and is a testament to her own experience of male supremacy. Through the narrator, readers see a personal attachment that showed intensity and emotional truth of her personal life. Writing The Yellow Wallpaper exposed the effects of work deprivation on intelligent women, it served as a major act of empowerment. What the text really depicted was not Weir Mitchell’s treatment, but the combination of many factors that contributed to her illness and her perception of its causes.

There is a prevalent desire in history to determine the right place for women in society, especially as the modern period ushers out the end of the Victorian era, though women have existed as the counterpart to man for all time. John Stuart Mill’s The Subjection of Women as a pedagogic composition will be used for better understanding the nature and predicaments of Thomas Hardy’s Sue Bridehead as she determines her place in society in his novel Jude the Obscure. Mill’s essay explores the basis of social institutions which encourage and reinforce the subordination of women as the weaker gender to highlight the inherent wrongness of this practice. As Mill’s essay describes the existence of female intelligence and individuality that is constantly suppressed, Hardy presents his female protagonist Sue Bridehead as a woman entirely unique for her time and place in society. Sue Bridehead’s nature and way of life conflicts with what society prescribes her to be as a woman, as she tries to balance living happily without social pressures infringing on her individuality.

"Feminist scholars also seek to question and transform androcentric [sic] systems of thought which position the male as the norm," says Barbara McManus. They strive to find, examine, and eliminate biases in a world encumbered with intolerant men who see women as thoughtless objects and most certainly not equals. Other women announce their impressive intellect, economic well-being, and individual personalities to the people who oppose them. "A woman should always present herself and explain her forthcoming jaunts into Feminists, like Edna, howe... ... middle of paper ... ...Barbara F. "Characteristics of a Feminist Approach." December 8, 2001. http://www.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/femcharacteristics.html.

The severity of this abuse arises from the social issue of gender inequality in the early twentieth century. Finally, both Mrs. Hale and Mrs Peters mutually decide to withhold the evidence from the men in order to preserve Mrs. Wright’s innocence. This action contributes to the empowerment of women and the upbringing of the feminist movement Susan Gladspell hoped to