Since the husband’s role is to go out and provide a living for his family, the wives job is to look after the home. It may not be considered a public work, but her position within the home is still very vital and important. Her role is a non income producing activity, but ensures the success of the family. Another role for a Christian wife is the raising of her children. Titus 2: 3-5 states that, "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored," (The Christian Woman", 2004).
Secondly, there's Nirmala, Nandana's grandmother, who was binged back to reality. The hole story made of Nirmala a strong and courageous woman. As well as Nandana, Nirmala had also lived an illusion more than a real life. The character believed in the big power of god and idols that's why she prayed instantly when she did not know what to do. The woman also followed strictly the script by being afraid of her mother-in-low and by accepting everything her husband wonted.
Shepard says that living the American dream is an “impossible dream” and I think that he is wrong because the American dream is all about freedom which includes the opportunity for prosperity, success and social mobility received through hard work. The American Dream in the story Bread Givers is totally being unitized through Sara Smolinsky because she fought her way to become someone for herself by not giving up and not letting her father control her life. Sara struggles to achieve her American culture by leaving her family, putting herself through college alone. Sara always had faith in herself and she would not quit until she achieves what she wants. Yes you can say the American dream was “impossible” for some people, who did not care enough to find a way from their old culture and follow a new
The current Giledean society is to protect them from such fear and is actively promoted through re-education centres run by Aunts. “They made mistakes, says Aunt Lydia, we don’t tend to repeat them… A thing is valued, she says, only if it is rare and hard to get. We want you to be valued, girls.” (Atwood 141) However, such protection has peaked to the point of sexism, where the roles of men overpower the role of women, and the women are no longer heard. The first exaggeration of sexism Atwood portrays is the role that women uphold in the Giledean society. Because of the environmental pollution that has caused the sterility of 99% of women and men, women are ranked and given a role based on their functionality.
Even more restricting than economic rights were the social and political rights of women. They were expected to be silent observers, submissive to their husbands. Women who attempted to claim their views were seen as a threat to social order. This is significant in that the conservation of social order was a very important aspect of the Elizabethan society. Gender roles during the Elizabethan era were clearly defined, with men reigning superior over women.
In “I want a wife”, Judy demonstrate how women are conditioned to be care takers for their home and family. Society creates the image that women should take care of the house while the men provide for the house.” I want a wife who will keep the house clean, a wife who will pick up after my children, a wife who will pick up after me.” In this part of the essay Judy is expressing what is expected of a wife to do. In the 18th century females were seen as objects and not as an individual human. They were expected to stay home cook, clean and have children. Women were considered men’s property and they were expected to listen to all their commands.
Women have to depend on men. “‘I thank you again and again for the honour you have done me in your proposal. My feelings in every respect forbid it’” (Austen, 105). Elizabeth’s rejection of Mr. Collins is the way she shows she wants to have a choice but women shouldn’t in that society. A women’s value is to get married one day with at least a husband that is the same or higher position than her family.
Romance and love were not the focus in a marriage but rather about power and control, usually within the husbands decisions. Women were identified as property and second-handed individuals at this time. Expectations of the wife were to produce children and be a satisfying partner, as the husband is in command of the household. Nevertheless as time passed on, marriage slowly transformed from being a social purpose to the pursuit of success in a satisfying marriage. Women were told that the key to happiness was being a good housewife and mother at this time.
They are driven by instincts which are not within their control” (R86). Woolf elucidates that the character of men is to take power and act more aggressively than women, and this has given them an advantage in their excursion to becoming the privileged sex. Betty Friedman addresses the reality that fulfilling their traditional maternal roles of raising the children and tending to the household doesn’t satisfy some women, however, they are ashamed of this personal problem, lacking the confidence to enter the male territory where these women feel they may find something more meaningful. Women are limited by the inferiority put upon them by society as well as themselves. Women are kept from growing and learning, “education for women has become so suspect that more drop out of high school and college to marry and have babies…women so insistently confine themselves to one role”(R89).
She is not preoccupied with looking graceful and pretty to attract a man’s attention but only yearns to obtain her autonomy. Jane hungers to feed her mind and soul, not her appearance. Throughout the novel Jane illustrates her commitment to dignity, independence, and freedom of choice. It is through her unwillingness to submit to a man's power and willingness to speak her mind that she depicts a clear image of a self-sustaining woman. Jane’s character not only radicalized the traditional roles of woman but also paved the way for all the woman who were determined to make women equal to men for ages all ages to come.