‘Of Mice and Men’ is a tragic novel set in 1930’s America during time of great Depression and poverty. It portrays the prejudice and clichéd views of a strained American society. Curly’s wife, a character who is detached from the rest of the world, a heart wrenching symbol of the American dream, trying and failing to break down the boundaries of society. This female represents women in the Depression, the lack of freedom and equality that they held, an equality that may still be held from many women to this day . Steinbeck is addressing the struggle for female existence during this period by leaving Curly's wife as the solitary female of the book, unneeded, and unwanted by the other characters.
Furthermore, women gained support for the feminist movement through the social media. Betty Freidman’s, The Feminine Mystique, described the melancholy lives and dissatisfaction that women led because of the restrictions put on them by the male-dominated community. Friedman says, “A woman is handicapped by her sex, and handicaps society, either by slavishly copying the pattern of man's advance in the professions, or by refusing to compete with man at all.” (Friedman 56). This means that women gave up the fight before they even gave it a chance and men took advantage of that. This acclaimed book ignited a dormant fire inside the oppressed women and feminism swept the nation during the 1960s.
But one of the biggest changes was the way women were viewed and the way they had changed. One of the biggest trends and changes for women came in the form of being a Flapper. A flapper was a fashionable young woman intent on enjoying herself and breaking the old society rules. Flapper often wore short skirts, and stockings that went up to their knee if they wore stockings at all. They didn’t wear corsets like they had before; instead they chose to wear loose fitting clothes that showed no curves.
ENWR-105-BX 18 November 2013 In the essay “Female Chauvinist Pigs” by Ariel Levy, the author argues that women participate in practices that are responsible for their oppression. Levy’s argument is that women participate in “raunch culture” as means of embracing sexism and exploitation toward the idea of gaining empowerment. While some woman like Sheila Nevins, feel empowered and liberated by aspects of raunch culture, other woman like Tyra Banks, co-producer of ANTM, is discussed in “Ghetto Bitches, China Dolls, and Cha Cha Divas” by Jennifer Pozner using racist stereotypes in order to gain power. The judges in the show say they try and promote inclusive beauty standards actually reinforce racial stereotypes. Women are willing to participate in practices that oppress them because they want power.
How does Steinbeck use characters and events, to show the social tensions and problems in real California at the time the novel is set? “I’m black, they say I stink. Well I tell you, you all stink to me.” This quote highlights two of the main issues involved in ‘Of Mice and Men,’ that of inequality and racism. Early on in the book we see great prejudice against the stable buck because he is black, he is labelled a “nigger” and is disregarded by other white workers. There are also many other important issues and problems brought up in the book that were linked directly to the real life social problems in rural California which Steinbeck brings to life in a variety of techniques and language styles.
Because of discrimination against women rights, and how society view women is nothing much than their sex slaves, Elizabeth suffered from great loss of family and love. From her experience of giving a birth to a dead baby to the point of becoming a sex worker, it perishes her hope of living in a comfortable and pleasing life. The absence of love for Elizabeth causes her to suffer from grief and catastrophe. Society against women rights prevents Elizabeth to speak up for her tragedy because she has no place and no one to blame to. Instead, she has to endure all the horrifying loss from both society and
Women began to use contraception and birth control. Furthermore, music brought a groovy change in the lives of not just the American but a global reformation. The sixties opened the door for freedom when the Civil Rights Movement began. These modifications arose in the fifties and were settled in the sixties. In 1920 America, women got the right to vote.
Fighting for a cause The women’s suffrage movement, symbol of nineteenth and early twentieth century feminism, is the one most visible manifestation of women’s emancipation. From the birth of the nation to a Constitutional Amendment passed in 1920, suffrage for women had been batted aside, ignored, criticized, and denied. Those who attacked women’s suffrage were attacking much more than the idea that women as well as men should enter the polling booth. Across America women living in the 1900’s were angry and tired of feeling betrayed and treated as an unequal second class citizen. However these brave remarkable women decided to take action that helped forever changed American history, the right to vote.
English 9 AA / 2nd hour 16 December 2010 Peoples Differences in Society In the novelette Of Mice and Men, the setting was based on the depression era. In those days the “different” weren’t treated as to what people are today. They treated people as if they were from a different world. If there was a black, mentally disabled, or a woman like in this book, they treated them differently. John Steinbeck, the author, showed a good example of social injustice in this book.
Lai 1 John Smith Dr. K English 154 19 October 2011 Women and The Lottery Through a feminist perspective, women view themselves as strong individuals and would be appalled by a society viewing them as nothing more than a material property. In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”, women had no voice in regards to public decisions and actions. For example, in the short story the townspeople had a tradition to sacrifice one person in the hopes of reaping the best harvest. In most cases the wives would be the first chosen, many feminists would view this as an abomination. Tessie Hutchinson, one of the main characters represents women who are being tyrannized by society because of their gender.