Maybe she has the most privileged lifestyle or she is the prettiest but there is a dominating factor that shows her as inferior to others. For example, in the movie Mean Girls, there is a pack of girls called “the plastics” and their alpha is Regina George, who recruits a new girl named Cady and makes her over into the newest member of the clique. The other girls that are a part of the clique are all fearing of Regina because she is pretty, rich and fits the ideal white high school female. “She’s the queen B- the other two are just her little workers.” (Mean Girls). Gretchen and Karen are Regina’s faithful minions who will do whatever it takes to stay in her good graces.
I agree with Sheets-Johnstone’s claim that “women inspire male sexual desire simply by existing.” In the twenty first centuries, targeting western culture, women are constantly examined by men based alone on their outward appearance. A woman can be reduced to only to certain body parts such as the genitalia. This is because a woman’s appearance alone can cause a male to become aroused which naturally leads to this kind of degradation. The woman as a whole is basically forgotten. Because it is common for men to behave in this manner, it is almost routine for a woman to be appeasing to a man for approval.
A feminist point of view would find these women to be flawed, for they cannot survive without the assistance of a man. The book tells the story of a “manly life” in first person dialogue. Considering every female Odysseus encounters “falls in love” with, we can equate that he makes his own problems based off of his ego. In a way, the Odyssey is not just the tale of the wanderings of Odysseus. The poet has made it into a type of descriptive catalog of women, in which he examines women of all kinds and from all backgrounds through objectification.
All the females generally possess minor roles and they are not prominently featured, but their actions prove to be very important. In other words, the women in Gilgamesh are constantly boosting the egos of the male characters or providing them with essential advice. For instance, Shamhat, who is depicted as a lowly temple prostitute, exerts her power to tame Enkidu and transform him from a wild man into a human being: “The harlot opened her mouth, saying to Enkidu: ‘Eat the bread, Enkidu, essential to life, drink the ale, the lot of the land!’ (George 14). In this scene, Shamhat is giving Enkidu reason and teaching him how to behave like a human being. Moreover, Shamhat displays how women were used as instruments in Mesopotamian society.
Mrs. Turpin considers herself morally superior to others by being a “lady,” and she judges people on their appearance before she even knows them. The grandmother in “Revelation” is very self-centered and judgmental. She likes to label people as “good” or “bad” according to their social status. Both Stories by O’Connor are intended to portray a spiritual grace that is passed from one person to another in a life changing way. Mrs. Turpin and the Grandmother both struggle to grasp this grace; but eventually have no choice but to accept it.
I believe that Hawai’I will get its time. I am not the only woman who wants Hawai’I to change. Many other women agree that the Kapu System isn’t fair. They too believe that the Kapu System favors the men. They think it’s unfair that women and men can’t eat in the same house, that they can’t prepare food together.
A popular example would be the treatment of women in The Big Bang Theory. For a good majority of the show’s first few seasons, there is only one main female character, Penny. She’s presented as the stereotypical beautiful girl who is coveted by the males of the show; however, she also seems to lack equal intelligence and is often made fun of by the show itself over her inability to understand most topics being discussed. She’s basically an example of a pretty girl who’s all looks and no brain without any talents to make it through life, and is extremely objectified because of this. On the contrast, other women on the show such as Amy seem to have an extraordinary amount of intelligence, yet lack the pretty looks to go along with it.
Donna Woolfolk Cross explains in her article, "Propaganda: How Not to Be Bamboozled" that propaganda shapes our attitudes on thousands of subjects by tactics such as name-calling which "consists of labeling people or ideas with words of bad connotation" (Cross 210). Aunt Lydia uses name-calling by stating that these women were lazy sluts and explains how important and how much better childbirth is in Gilead in comparison to the old days. Her manipulative speech is what blocks the handmaids from thinking, only to react unquestioningly. Cross's article explains that glittering generalities "try to get us to accept and agree without examining the evidence" (Cross 211). Aunt Lydia's use of glittering generalities and convincing tone of voice makes these women accept whatever she defines them as, giving no reason to think otherwise.
For example, Antigone seems to be impervious toward Creon’s misogynistic ways; however, her sister, Ismene, is seen to be internalizing the idea that women are insignificant compared to men. We see the impact that this sexist culture has on Ismene when she tells Antigone, “We must remember that by birth we’re women, and, as such, we shouldn’t fight with men. Since those who rule are much more powerful, we must obey in this and in events which bring us even harsher agonies… Since I’m being compelled, I will obey those in control. That’s what I’m forced to do. It makes no sense to try to do too much” (77-85).
She is presented to the audience as a woman who has been hardened by her desires. “Yet do I fear thy nature; / it is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness…” (Lady Macbeth, I, v, 16-17). Pretty much saying, “you are too nice for your own good.” As we go on, we learn more about her and her strong will to get what she wants. “How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me. / I would, while it was smiling in my face, / have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums / and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you / have done this” (Lady Macbeth, I, vii, 63-67).