Baier said that this provides the germs of a theory about why, given current customs of childrearing, it should be mainly woman who are not content with the moral outlook that she calls the justice perspective. She points out that this is rather strange considering that it is this perspective that is partly responsible for the end liberation from sexual oppression. They (women), like blacks, used the language of rights and justice to change their own social position, but nevertheless see limitations in that language, according to Gilligan’s findings as a moral psychologist. She reports the “discontent: with the individualist more or
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.
In this novel, Julia Alvarez manages to capture and express the true feelings of women which deconstructs the stereotypes through Yo. Feminism is defined as “a political movement that works to achieve equal rights for women and men” (Hirsch 113). For the past ages, women were seen in the society as inferior to men and were greatly excluded from education and the right to property ownership. A British feminist named Mary Wollstonecraft argues, “educational restrictions keep women in a state of ignorance and slavish dependence” (Blake 117). The shattering of classifications and stereotypes, and the subversion of traditional gender roles, and the concept of sisterhood or unity among women are among the main tenets of feminist criticism.
However, not everyone agrees with the heavy stereotypes laid down by the social order such as male dominance and proper courting. Marie de France is one of these people. She depicts her views of gender expectations through literature. Within the poem Guigemar, Guigemar and his lady fulfill and contradict what would be considered as gender norms within society: female inferiority, traditional courtship, and male dominance. Marie de France does this to criticize and combat the societal expectations and inherent inequalities in Norman England.
Judith Lorber breaks down the semiotics that is engraved in the concept of gender in her piece “The Social Construction of Gender.” She explains how gender affects our lives by controlling our identities. Lorber explains that gender in its essence is semiotic. Hence, there are many risks being taken when exposing children to the lifestyles of these fictitious characters all due to the semiotics that seeps into a child’s subconscious. Through these films, children are taught the difference between beautiful and ugly, strong and weak, happy and sad, manly and womanly, etc. Lorber says “Individuals are born sexed but not gendered, and they
Lourde, what with being a middle-aged, black, lesbian feminist with children, faces much of this oppression, and finds herself frowned upon by society. Instead of the people discriminating against her being to blame for this, Lourde herself is the one who must take responsibility. She must be the one who inform her oppressors of their oppression. This strikes a lot of thought. Our first instinct, of course, is to blame these said oppressors for their ignorance and dominance.
In her publication titled “Gender Trouble”, Judith Butler presents her view that gender is a performative role in society, meaning that in order for gender identity to be genuinely expressed and understood, it must be conveyed openly in social spaces. Throughout her book she provides numerous examples of these “social spaces” that would be a necessary ground for women in order to better establish an identity in society. These include political representation, cultural movements, and the economic climate. These social spaces are presented in great depth and explain how they limit a person by identifying with a specific gender. In this paper, I will argue for Butler’s view on how certain gender performance is restricted in these numerous fields, and how Ms. Butler would object to these various situations.
Despite popular belief, the main focus of feminism is not the hatred of men. Instead, according to Seidman, feminism focuses on gender inequality. This inequality is exhibited through the spheres of work, politics, and family. Feminism also refers to the ideas that are generated by women in an attempt to evoke change in society while attempting to enhance their self-awareness. Feminists believe that women are viewed as a socially subordinate, and disadvantaged group compared to men.
The Struggle Continues Many feminists addressed the plight of African American women during the New Negro movement in the US. They shared the same problems and visions but some differ in strategy. The African American educator Elise McDougald’s essay “The Struggle of Negro Women for Race and Sex Emancipation” employs an interesting strategy to gain individuality amongst African American women. While displaying the direct issues similar to those of her allies, McDougald approaches her antagonists with an unusual method. This was an extremely audacious essay and a great subject to debate for that reason.
Who decides what is odd and what is different. Why is it that when someone sees something out of the ordinary they tend to stare. Does it mean that they are weird? In the essay “What It Means to Be Gendered Me: Life on the Boundaries of a Dichotomous Gender System” by Betsy Lucal, talks about her experience of being different because of the way she dresses and the hairstyle she has. This essay is a good example of how an outsider might be seen through the eyes of society.