Not a man, of course. Back then men were viewed as superior because that’s all they were ever taught. “It takes a lot of dishes and a lot of washing up, for mum to build an athlete” (Fairy Liquid and the Olympics) this reinforces the idea that women do the household chores in service to the males of the house. The implication that housework is purely a woman’s work is completely unacceptable in today’s day and age where women are seen as strong and independent. The unequal distribution of domestic responsibilities has held women back for generations; it still today continues to hinder women’s progression in the work-place.
These married woman who’s husbands were fighting in the war couldn’t care for their children while simultaneously working so the nation called upon their next big target, the single women fresh out of college. Most young women just out of college didn’t work and any that did would take office jobs, working in the factories was unlady like. What was America to do(Yellin 43)? In 1943 a fictional female character named “Rosie the Riveter” was born. She was everything the manufacturing forces wanted in a woman; strong, tough, loyal and pretty, the ideal female worker.
They were also anticipated to marry into a good family with money, most likely arranged ahead of time by the parents. Upper class women were forbidden from work and were strictly protected by their spouse. Middle class women in the same region during the same period were frequently housewives with no probable education. They were often the wives of mill operators and merchants. Depending on the lower or upper level of the middle class, women were able to be work as school mistresses, or not work at all and only take care of the house.
Kim O’Donnell HST328: U.S. Women’s History September 9, 2012 Women’s Importance throughout the Revolutionary Era The contributions from women during and after the American Revolution were needed and influential. While the men in their lives were away at war, the women stayed at home to continue the care of the house and family. Not only did women take care of the usual household duties, they also played “deputy husband” and took care of all the financial matters. After the war ended and during the rise of republican politics, women may not have been allowed to be involved in any politics directly, but they did have a major influence on the men in the political society indirectly. From the home front to the work place, women had power, influence, and respect.
History 201 Professor Studebaker “Her-Story of Women’s Suffrage” Makyla Pittman Imagine living a life filled with all forms of discrimination where you have no voice in the government under which you live and in the equality of social life where you are a chief factor. It is a difficult scenario to visualize and before the 19th century that was the reality of a women’s position in this world. With limited access, a young wife and mother was expected to manage a household, train her children, keep her friends and sustain the affections of her husband. In a world filled with patriarchal constraints women were forced to fall back on their instinctive resources of common sense, wisdom, diplomacy and knowledge of human nature. Education, employment, and politics are all barriers where women were held back from the full development of their faculties.
A Pair of Silk Stockings: Through a Feminist’s Lens Feminism is the theory that states that men and women should be equal politically, economically, and socially. Feminist literary theory is concerned with the impact of history and gender on reading and writing. It is evident that the feminist literary theory applies throughout the short story, A Pair of Silk Stockings. The protagonist of the story is Mrs. Sommers who is portrayed as a typical married woman of the early 1890s and she strives to gain personal freedom and identity just like any other woman. Women’s opinions are silenced by the rules, norms and perspectives of the dominating patriarchal society.
The poem, which explores the Woman Question (as it was referred to by contemporaries) dramatizes the modern woman's severe need for mothers--for nurturing political and literary female ancestors. In examining the growth and development of a woman poet, Aurora Leigh shows that women have crippled themselves by internalizing partiarchal or androcentric conceptions of themselves. When Aurora first rejects her arrogant beloved, she is not freed of the interiorized male constructions of women--she simply displaces Romney from the center of power, speaking of herself with images of male power in an attempt to feminize him. Only when both characters can break free from the conceptual structures opressing them, can she fully become the woman, wife, and poet that
When they were married all of their belongings would go to the husband and they were then expected to stay at home and do the housework, when the men would be out working. If women tried to get into politics they would be accused of neglecting their families. As of this more women started to chose getting a job rather than getting married, they faced unequal pay and dreadful working conditions. It was seen that women didn’t need the vote as their husbands, brothers and fathers made the decision on their behalf. The women Chartists that had supported men to get the vote felt very let down.
A modern audience may perceive Jane marrying a disabled Mr. Rochester means the loss of her independence. However the Victorian context of this novel illuminates the normality of a wife committing and obeying her husband. When Jane marries Mr. Rochester she commits to to being “(his) neighbour, (his) nurse, (his) housekeeper”. This indicates complete devotion to Mr. Rochester; putting herself in the position of his “housekeeper” immediately rejects all independence she recently inherited. Jane’s new wealth, due to her uncle’s death, allows Jane to be truly independent, “I am independent, sir, as well as rich: I am my own mistress”.
Lohman 1 Gerald (Jerry) Lohman Bill Reyer COR 300 Exploration of the Liberal Arts 27 April 2011 The Men in Her Life “The Awakening” describes the social standing of New Orleans Creole women of the Victorian era. The women do not define themselves. They are defined by the men. Their lives are devoted to their fathers, their husbands and finally their children. They are mother-women who have no lives of their own and, in most cases; they are fine with their position in society.