Last year, in my senior A.P. Composition and Literature class, we focused on a lot of fictional literature dealing with the same kind of societal issues. The Awakening by Kate Chopin as well as Daisy Miller by Henry James were both novels that showcase the oppression of women and evils of social hierarchy. These novels display the limitations and expectations that society pins onto women. Other novels I read include The Dead by James Joyce and Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy, both of which addressed the theme of materialism and wealth as factors to being regarded highly in society, and how this way of functioning in society leads people away from living a true and happy life.
Lieberman’s point is that fairy tales make beauty the basis for which reward is given, not intelligence, work ethic, or anything else a radical feminist would see as an asset. Lieberman also stresses that in popular fairy tales, beauty is associated with being kind and well-tempered whereas ugliness is associated with being ill-tempered and often jealous. This can be easily shown in one of the most popular fairy tales of all—Cinderella. In this, Lieberman argues, Cinderella is oppressed by her cruel, ugly stepsisters and stepmother who force the kind, beautiful girl to do all the chores in the house. Cinderella ends up getting the prize (marriage to the prince) based on looks alone.
She taught feminist journal writing for several years and became a feminist activist herself. Castillo is a women suffrage writer. Many of her short stories, novels, and poems revolve around the idea of women changing society. The Guardians, I Ask the Impossible, and Women Are Not Roses all revolve around this theme. But the poem that has spoken to many women in the U.S is Women Don’t Riot.
In this story Panttaja says it is both mothers that are wicked. Panttaja states the real mother “plots and schemes, and she wins” (Panttaja 660) when it comes to fulfilling the wishes of Ashputtle. But actually the two mothers have the same goal in mind; to have their daughters married off and have a joyful life. To be able to do this, the real mother puts a charm on the prince to make him fall in love with Ashputtle instead of anyone else. The prince did not dance with anyone else all night and would always say “she is my partner” (Grimm 630).
Due to the limited amount of resources and the restrictions laid upon women for practicing rhetoric, it is astonishing how many women were still able to make a significant impact on the field of rhetoric which I feel has paved the way for women’s liberations rights today. Christine de Pizan portrayed the art of rhetoric through language and letter writing as she challenged the boundaries of women’s input at the time. She sought to save the reputation of women, who at the time were being slandered and shine a new spotlight for women’s advancement. It is imperative that more time and space be dedicated to Christine De Pizan in Herricks textbook of rhetoric and many more to follow. Christine De Pizan is a brave woman who stood up to the verbal assaults on women in the 14th century.
Professor Cotera, WS 253 July 23, 2009 Final Paper of Women Studies INTRODUCTION In this essay, the analysis of texts from the women’s studies course will be taken from Caballero, Their Eyes Were Watching God and Waterlily. Throughout this course there have been numerous readings that have a recurring theme about how others view women and their roles. This analysis will focus on issues of silence and marginalization concerning the women in each text. I will compare and contrast each text in relation to attempts made to stifle and suppress the women in these stories. There is a definite devaluing of women and their contribution to their families, community, and society.
In the same way, literature has affected the thoughts and actions of people throughout history. Throughout the Victorian Era, authors played off of their large female audience by creating strong female protagonists to which their readers could relate or learn from. Throughout the novel Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte challenges her readers views’ on the role a woman should play in society during this era by manipulating the tone and diction given to Jane Eyre through Gothic and Romantic elements. From the beginning of Bronte’s novel, the reader is exposed to the issue of gender limitations regarding social status during the 19th century. Jane Eyre is depicted as a child, yet is capable of illustrating her surroundings and memories in such a sophisticated manner.
When Janie meets Tea Cake, a poor and adventurous worker, she knows that he is seen as an undesirable and unsuitable match for her: “Janie, everybody’s talkin’ bout how Tea Cake is draggin you round tuh places you ain’t used tuh” (112). Knowing that people saw Tea Cake as an incompatible match did not stop Janie from loving him. Janie understood societies view of him, but did not allow this to stop her from trying to find true love. Through Tea Cake, Janie learned that real love is feeling appreciated and truly desired, and that her past relationships were not love: “Tea Cake love me in blue, so Ah wears it. Jody ain’t never in his life picked out no color for me”(112).
The book consists of monologues by a various number of women. Every monologue expresses the aspects of things women go through in their lifetime, such as sex, love, rape, menstruation, and talking about their vagina in metaphorical ways or simply the physicality of it. Some pieces were of importance to me because some reminded me of past readings and research, and some because I can relate on a personal level. On page 9, the subject being questioned was hair. In the piece, the woman stated that her husband hated her hair down there.
Natalie Tillero Mrs. Lassiter SOC101 3/14/13 How postpartum depression did affect my way of socializing? This paper explains the symptoms of postpartum depression and it may affect a new mother’s outlook for life. Postpartum depression is an illness that affects many women and even my-self, after pregnancy. A number of people think that it is a myth, that women who had a baby can’t get depressed, or get the “baby blue’s”. Research shows that this illness is capable of transforming a woman and the way that she socializes within the community, family, and even friends.