Women are willing to participate in practices that oppress them because they want power. This paper will compare the practices that oppress women through media and raunch culture in correlation with factual evidence Levy has taken from historic studies. Through this careful examination the evidence will reveal how the idea of empowerment is complicated through racial and gender stereotypes of the female identity. Female Chauvinist Pigs, which complicate gender stereotypes, use raunch culture in order to gain empowerment. Female Chauvinist Pigs are women who sexually only objectify other women and themselves.
Do you agree that Shakespeare presents Beatrice and Katherina as “offending against society’s expectations about women”? The idea that both Beatrice and Katherina offend against society’s expectations of women in the plays Much Ado About Nothing and The Taming of the Shrew is open to personal interpretation. We must take into account which society it is we are suggesting they are offending against, if we are judging it on Shakespearean society’s expectations we could, in theory, agree with the statement, due to the fact that at that time, women were largely expected to be submissive, quiet and respectful to the superior sex, males. However, it would not be correct to say that Beatrice and Katherina offend against modern day expectations of women. Further to this, it would also depend on at which point in the play we are making our judgement.
This is best encapsulated in the debate as to whether Annabella can claim to be part of a “wretched, woeful woman’s tragedy” if her mistreatment was indeed her own fault. The question of love and its moralities is a large one in the play, considering the taboo nature of incest. However, what causes an even bigger discussion is perhaps the representation of women in light of love. Despite preconceptions of incest, it is undeniable that at one point or another, we as an audience sympathise with the lovers Giovanni and Annabella. Though, upon closer analysis of their interactions, it becomes obvious that their filial ties are not the only issue with their relationship; Giovanni makes it clear to Annabella that she has limited choice in their union as he declares “that you must either love, or I must die.” Previously to such a statement, Annabella had not expressed her love to such a degree, but it’s almost as if he blackmails her into believing she loves him, as her sisterly love for him would mean she would do anything for him not to kill himself.
Ismene however, follows the rules, and goes by the law of Creon. Ismene is also afraid to die, while Antigone is not. Antigone plans for the future when she will eventually die, and she doesn’t want to suffer during her afterlife, whereas Ismene doesn’t really plan ahead and just lives her life following the rules. Antigone is more headstrong than Ismene in the sense that she will just follow her heart and she is determined to
Competitiveness within the women seems to push the women to judge what is right and wrong, based on jealousy and envy as much as religious and social morals. We also see this competitive spirit forming moral judgment and actions in Edith Wharton's story, "Roman Fever", where again, the focus is the moral decisions made by women and the male is blameless. As the story unfolds we learn that both ladies, in their youth, loved Delphin Slade, and Mrs. Slade realized this and thought of Mrs. Ansley as a threat. For this, she had always considered Mrs. Ansley an adversary, "Would she never cure herself of envying her?" (Wharton, 1072) The story evolves to paint the picture of a female competition in which Delphin is but a pawn, blameless and controllable by women.
Compare the way that Lady Macbeth, the protagonist of The Laboratory, Havisham and one poem of your choice are presented. Lady Macbeth, the protagonist in The Laboratory, Miss Havisham and the woman in the Battered Doll are portrayed as either physically or physiologically damaged causing the audience to be intrigued by their actions, creating a form of entertainment causing the audience to react differently depending whether it was a modern audience or not. The authors present their characters as damaged women using men as a catalyst to ignite their strong emotions towards them. This creates the theme of female dominance, death and a pinch of vulnerability. The result of the actions they have committed or what has been done to them, they react similarly but at different approaches, creating an idea of violence.
However one could also argue that Larkin seems to justify violence against women by suggesting that access to women is something men have been unfairly deprived of. This becomes evident in the first stanza where Larkin presents the girl in ‘white satin’ suggesting her purity and virginity. One could disagree with this statement and interpret the de-feminizing of women differently. It could be suggested that Larkin combines masculinity and femininity together, ‘moustached lips’, to show his view that men and women should be viewed more equally in society. However I disagree with this alternative interpretation as I feel Larkin tries to portray the attacks ‘snaggle-toothed’ and boss-eyed’ are sadistic and grotesque but he does not disagree with
She is a young head strong girl who knows what she wants and how to get it, while not letting anything obstruct her path. By saying ‘I shall not prove disloyal’ represents how she feels about what she is going to do, even though it does mean breaking the law. Antigone knows that is against the law but doesn’t care because her family and moral values are more important to her. She made a vow she took seriously to bury her brother and her execution of that vow epitomizes her view of the correct moral duty. A responsibility that one is given as soon as they enter the family is making decisions and displaying actions that carry forth a sense of ethical duty.
Morgan le Fay, Lady Bertilak, and the Virgin Mary, help develop the overall themes of the work by forcing the Gawain to question his ideals. Morgan le Fay and Lady Bertilak, the magical old woman and the beauty, are characterized as the male hero’s opponents. They manipulate but rely on his final choice, and are protected by their social status in Bertilak’s court. Both Morgan and Lady Bertilak are condemned in Gawain’s angry speech for stepping outside what he expected and for challenging his conflicting ideals. Gawain’s lady love, Mary, on the other hand, is the constant guide and source of comfort to which he may always turn.
Oscar Chen Ms. Norton 2. May.2013 Rape Culture Rape culture has greatly influenced society and has caused women to sink in danger situations. Rape is ultimately caused by men’s urge to enjoy the power they can exert over women’s bodies. Rape not only includes sexual assaults but also serve violent and punishment for women. Rape has affected many cultures and women’s life that we cannot imagine.