Background * Thought experiment which isolates certain social TRENDS * Not intended as a realistic prediction of a probable future * Examines some traditional attitudes embedded in “religious right” thinking * Tendency of some feminist anti-porn groups to ally themselves with religious anti-porn zealots who oppose feminism on most issues * “Protection of women” can become neo-victorian by taking women’s right and freedoms away * 19th C: need to protect “good women” from sex justified confining women to home. * The language “protection of women” is feminist but can harm women in the long run. (PATHRIARCHY) Patriarchy * A system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line. Epigraph 1: The Bible * Genesis 30:1-3 – in patriarchal Hebrew times it was legitimate for men to have children with their servants/slaves especially Epigraph 2: A Modest Proposal * Johathan Swift’s satirical essay: “A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland from Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, and for Making Them Beneficial to the Public” * He Sarcastically argues that the Irish should EAT THEIR OWN CHILDREN which would benefit the economy. Epigraph
The Republic of Gilead is a dystopian society where the government restricts and dictates the lives of it citizens; however there is a clear distinction between the roles of men and women. The women in particular are defined by their gender roles, which also strips them of their individuality. Colour is often used throughout the novel to help distinguish between the roles of women and their place in society. Offred describes her outfit which to her looks like “sister dipped in blood” symbolising the fertility of the Handmaids as the red suggests the blood of a women’s menstrual cycle. The fact that “everything except the wings around [her] face is red” represents the government’s own view of them, that there only purpose in the regime is to be the carriers of the next generation.
Cultural and social beliefs saturate faiths and work to oppress female followers, and certain religious practices keep many women from fulfilling their potential or from living with privileges that other women may have. Patriarchal religions revolve around a male god, and superior beings are created through the union of a divine male and a mortal female, thus creating a hierarchy of gender. This almost automatically places women in a position of disrespect and helplessness. In this paper I will consider Kambili and Beatrice from Purple Hibiscus by Adiche, Margo from The Bridge Stories, to support my thoughts that, religion, being a patriarchal institution, acts as an oppressor to women and contributes to the loss of women’s identity. To begin I would like to define patriarchy and religion.
Women were not treated equal. Women could not conduct business or control their own money, for which they needed the authorization of the man who 'owned' them - husband, brother or father. In A Doll's House, Nora at first appears to be a silly, selfish girl, but then we learn that she has made great sacrifices to save her husband's life and pay back her secret loan. When a woman loves as Nora does, nothing else matters. She will sacrifice herself for the family.
And if a woman succumbs to acts adultery, this is seen as a great threat for the Oikos as the women can no longer be seen as honourable or chase, casting doubt on children’s legitimacy. It suggests that women tend to be seen as weaker and therefore potentially victims in need of protection through the law. Athenian men such as Ischomachus thought women were physically weak to an extent, believing ‘work.. indoors are women’s tasks’ and the ‘outdoors are the mans’. However, he justifies this indoor role he has given to his wife by different characteristics the gods have given to the sexes including women’s physical weakness however through the bee analogy he stresses the requirement for women to be assertive and strong in management in the internal roles of the oikos which makes her distinct from other women through her superior expertise she gains from managing the oikos. This suggests that Athenian men thought women were weak because of what they believe or what they’ve been taught to believe rather than see what women might be able to do.
With the supposed dehumanization of women in the society before Gilead, through pornography, provocative clothing worn by women, and the destruction of family values through promiscuity, this Christian theocracy inserts itself, and takes control, setting women back decades in their fight for equity. Using symbolism, irony, and the establishment of pathos, Atwood creates an environment and establishes a setting that allows the reader to understand the story of a Handmaid living within the limitations of the patriarchal theocracy of Gilead. The symbolism of red, the Eye’s of the society, and the flowers that in some way or another surround Offred, are devised to represent the country that the United States has become, the one that Offred must now call home. The recurring symbol of the colour red exemplifies “the social status of these women” (Roland 3), with reference to the handmaids. A symbol of love and passion in the Western world, the colour is also a representation of anger and fuming emotions (Roland 5).
Feeding a baby correctly is one of the most important things you do for your baby, especially in their first few years of life. When a mother chooses how to feed their child, she should look at all the options and know the benefits and downfalls of each, and be flexible in her decision based on what her baby ends up needing when they are born. When a mother decides to breast feed, she cannot take many medications for fear of transferring them to her Baby through the breast milk. The effects of most medications, to a baby, are unknown because no one would want to test them out on a baby, that is just unethical. Also, when you breast feed you are still basically ‘eating for two’.
In the article, she emphasizes that many women are being abused or rape and the police does a little to help them. So, she thinks if a woman is armed this won't be happening often. I complete disagree with her abut her statement. I don’t think women should be armed to avoid these problems. It's not the best solution.
Social and moral order is categorized differently, because one person does not generally represent the whole social class. Biological problems may play a role in weather a parents kills their child, but the way that the community looks at the parent’s plays a role. Some people put on a big front, pretending that they have money and can’t or don’t want their community, to view them as being any less or talking about them, so they see no way out but to commit a violent crime such as murder-suicide. I’m going to discuss how the newspapers/media, community/neighbors, and the bystanders play a role in how society views the parents that commit violent crimes such as murder-suicide. How if there are any ways to prevent parents’ from committing violent crimes; and how this article relates to a sociology class in the United States.
I can say that our relationship is more like best friend, but here in America is totally different. In fact, American children have too much freedom and they don’t seem to spend too much time with their parents or family members. In Peru is really rare for the kids, especially for girls to move out of their parents’ house even after they turn eighteen. My mother always reminds us that family should be together and support each other when needed. Now, we know that very soon we have to care for our mother in every way, the same way she took care of us.