...Gender Roles Back in the 1800s women were submissive to all men. Men were educated for knowledge and women were educated only to please their husbands and entertain guest. Mary Shelly went against the typical women of her time, she was educated and even wrote books. Mary Shelly was raised by her father which helps us to understand her dominate personality. Mary Shelley wrote a lot of her books with significant gender roles such as her novel, Frankenstein. This extreme gender differences is also shown in “The Wife of Bath's Tale” which is among one of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. In ‘the wife of baths tale’ Chaucer’s make the main character a stereotypical jock, arrogant and conceded. Then the female characters, the queen and the old...
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...their roles in society, there is still an unspoken idea of what seems to be the role of women. Due to many selfless attempts from female activists and politicians, there are now a lot of opportunities for women to achieve successful lives by getting an education and being treated fairly in the workforce. However, many women still have difficulty overcoming the stereotypes and expectations that once dictated the responsibilities and opportunities for women in this country. Although there are no longer laws inhibiting unequal treatment towards women there is still a sense of inferiority towards them versus men. A picture drawn by Wladyslaw Theodore in 1873 displays a woman who seems to be a mother going through various tasks that Americans have traditionally recognized as “womanly duties.” In her picture she attempted to display some of the most common domestic tasks that women have historically been in charge of taking care of such as cooking, nurturing for her children, sewing, and cleaning. Wladyshaw’s picture displayed the common tasks of women in older generations and some of these responsibilities that are displayed still remain very common for women today. The photograph suggests, that throughout the history of the United States, the advancement of women has been constricted by certain stereotypes, expectations and preconceived ideas pertaining to the role of women. In order to fully understand the picture one must first understand the role of women in the 1800s, since...
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...Social Movement and Gender Paper Marco Ovid-DeSouza SOC/333 May 12, 2015 Matthew Szlapak Social Movement and Gender Paper Women in today's society live very different lives from those who lived in the late 1800s. Women throughout the last century petitioned, protested, and marched for equality and the rights that men inherently were born with. It took several social movements during the 20th century to attain higher education, gain independents, to vote, and to have the rights to choose. These social movements came in three significant waves. The first wave gave women a voice and granted them limit rights and independence. In the second wave, women fought for equality in the workplace and sexual freedom. The third wave brought gender violence, reproductive rights, and other issues to the forefront. Each social movement raised awareness, further forcing society to address the issues of inequality. Looking back at these movements, they were vital stepping-stones to the changes seen in society today. This paper will describe three social movements, the social and political environment at the times the movements occurred, and the effect each movement had on society. It will explain how each movement changed public opinion on gender issues and the effects it has had on gender view today. Social Movements The Suffragists With the first wave came the suffragists, which called for the equal right to vote among other liberties. The late 1800s and early 1900s was a very...
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...Men play football. Women wear pretty dresses. Men are from Mars, while women are from Venus. From the time a baby is born, humans place certain gender expectations upon that baby. Handsome, strong boys wear the manly color of blue while dainty, pretty girls wear a soft pink. Most boys are given trucks and Legos to play with while girls are given Barbie dolls and an Easy Bake Oven. Clearly, our culture has certain assumptions in which it believes girls and boys are supposed to behave and conduct themselves. In a sense, society places expectations on girls’ and boys’ behaviors, but, when someone seems to overstep these masculine or feminine standards, he or she is labeled queer or even “gay.” Because our society places such strict boundaries...
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...Gender roles is a cliche that compares the lifestyles of men and women. In the late 1800s the average man was known to be the head of the household and could obtain certain jobs while a women could not. Women were only expected to marry a man and spend the rest of their lives serving him. Henrik Ibsen’s practical and considerable play titled A Doll’s House reveals a new side of gender roles in the late 1800s, playing a role in individual rights and on being true to oneself. In this story the female protagonist, Nora, is seen as being confined to social values of that era. Throughout the entire play, we see many situations where Nora is being put down and underestimated. Three of these situations can be when Torvald bans Nora from eating macaroons,...
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...understand the nature of gender inequality and focuses on gender politics and relations. Subjects explored in feminism range from discrimination to stereotyping and many more. As the history of feminism has been studied, feminist movements began in the late 1800’s. Feminist ideas were not only observed in the work place or social life, but also in readings. In Things Fall Apart, there is clearly a feminist point of view. There are certain behaviors that women do not attain, they serve a specific role in the community, have arranged roles in the family, and are limited by the extended family. Although women are “Mother Supreme”, they were looked upon differently by the Igbo because of their feminist views. The opening sentence in Things Fall Apart begins with the description of an alpha male. It is hard not to have a feminist view when a role of masculinity is observed as early as the first sentence. Okonkwo is a self-made, well-respected member of the clan. He has become a wealthy farmer through his own hard work. Behaviors and attitudes that he considers masculine are to have a patriarch mindset, not show love and affection, have a great sense of personal pride, work hard, provide for your family, and being brave. Okonkwo believes that any slight show of weakness is feminine. For example, Unoka, his father, was in debt and did not own anything to Okonkwo that is being feminine. Contrasting to Okonkwo’s beliefs of feminism, the role women play in the community...
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...Current Event Summary/Synopsis “Women Are Back On the Job” Shaniece Twitty Hist. 1320-11 October 23, 2012 2:25-3:40 While women are said to be equal in today‘s society, this was not the case in previous centuries. In the 1800s a woman’s ultimate purpose was to find a man and reproduce. However, women are finding their way back into the workforce. “Women Are Back On the Job” by Tami Luhby. This article appeared on CNN Money, October 19, 2012, from the website http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/19/news/economy/women-jobs/index.html?iid=SF_E_River. The economic upswing is now becoming more balanced between the genders. The number of women employees has jumped 300,000 in the past six months, nearly the same amount as men. In September, each men and women saw a job gain of 57,000. It increased overall in the United States as a whole. As governments looked to become stricter financially, they reduced funding for job support initiatives, particularly subsidized child care programs that allow poor women to seek and retain jobs. Women were hit hard during the private sector, in schools which accelerated in 2011 after stimulus funds ran out. Governments were still shedding jobs after the private sector. Governments have finally begun to stem jobs losses over the past year. School districts started the strongest summer hiring since 2006, offering teaching jobs within the school(Tami Lahby). At this time women are still climbing their way to the top. It all comes down to women who are...
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...RESEARCH TOPICS: Law + Statistics + Services + Reform RESEARCH TOPICS: Law + Statistics + Services + Reform 08 Fall 08 Fall RESEARCH – EMILY RUSSELL 1. DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE - MARRIAGE ACT 1961 (Cth) (s 5); Hyde v Hyde; s 43(a) FLA) * 4 ELEMENTS: Marriage means the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others voluntarily entered into for life * Men and women… without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion have a right to marry and found a family…entitled to equal rights…(Article 16; UDoHR) 2. RESTRICTIONS AS TO MARRIAGE * S 88E – Cannot marry overseas (same sex) and return and legally register marriage (Marriage Act) 3. ELEMENTS OF MARRIAGE * Dwelling under the same roof, sex, mutual society and protection, recognition of marriage in public and private relationships (Todd and Todd) 1. ONE and ONE woman – monogamous mature (serial polygamy is permitted – remarriage after a former marriage has been dissolved) i. S 6 FLA – Polygamous relationships entered outside of Australia, shall be deemed to be a marriage when changing domicile to Australia 2. HETEROSEXUAL (Corbett v Corbett) 3. FOR LIFE 4. VOLUNTARILY ENTERED INTO 4. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF MARRIAGE * Entitled to certain rights and owe legal responsibilities a) DETERMINE “TRUE SEX” i) CORBETT AND CORBETT a. Chromosomal:...
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...Vasconcellos Fabiana Vasconcellos ENG 201 – 526 Apr. 20, 2010 Prof. J. Wynter Societies can be stratified in various ways, such as religion, social class, language, race, ethnicity, gender and sex. These distinctions are either socially constructed or born within the individual. Sex; for example, is based on the ascribed status since it is “imposed by nature” (Renzetti and Curran 137) and biologically determined. In contrast, gender is socially constructed since it “refers to the constellation of traits and behaviors that compose the categories masculine and feminine” (Renzetti and Curran 252). These gender distinctions are reinforced by stereotypes that contribute to social inequality and discrimination in the western societies. Throughout history, our society has always complied with gender roles, however today we are walking through a path to reverse them. Having been conformed to mother’s role for 40 years, Sarah Pen the main character in Mary E. Wilkins Freeman’ “The Revolt of the Mother” gains self-confidence to challenge traditional gender roles and reverses them in order to live in a better home. Our society has always characterized men and women in different ways and expected different behaviors from them. “[M]en have generally been the dominant sex and women have been subordinate to them” (Robertson 217). Men are also “strong”, “rational” and “aggressive” while women are “weak”, “emotional”, and “submissive” (Basow 1). These masculine and feminine traits show...
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...Women's role in society changes drastically in the 1700s from being accused of being witches to being seen as virtuous and valuable. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich book A Midwife’s Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard takes place in Oxford, Massachusetts then Martha’s transition when her husband, Ephraim Ballard, finds a new home for them in Hallowell, Maine. Martha, a midwife, didn’t care who she was treated no matter their race, gender, social standings and political views. Delivered almost a thousand babies and didn’t lose a single mother during her deliveries. During this time it was described as the “era of “social childbirth,” when female relatives and neighbors, as well as midwives attended births” so Martha probably learned how to deliver a child...
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...self-identity to escape from the dreary obligations of a “good” woman. In this case, the protagonist has clearly been suppressed by her social duties as a female and is unable to enjoy personal freedom. The idea that women should not be constrained by gender conformity applies feminism to the conflicts that Mrs. Sommers encounters. In A Pair of Silk Stockings, feminism is amplified through the portray of traditional gender roles of women in the society, and how Mrs. Sommers struggles to flee from the responsibilities as expected of a wife and mother. First, Mrs. Sommers submits to social pressure and constantly belittles herself, making sacrifices for family and children. Then unexpectedly, she becomes conscious of the value of self-identity and abandons her usual responsibilities that have been constraining her. As a devoted wife and mother, Mrs. Sommers sees the necessities of her family as the priorities in her life, following the virtue of “true womanhood” defined by the society. She is occupied with children caring and housekeeping, and thoughtlessly dedicates her time to satisfy their needs. One day, “between getting the children fed and the place righted, […] she [has] actually forgotten to eat any luncheon at all”. To a woman in the 1800’s, her own concerns and needs are neglectable in...
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...Elbe, Germany. Karen’s parents had Dutch-Norwegian origins and upheld the values and principles of a European family in Victorian times (Rubins, 1978). Berndt was the captain of a ship. He did not only deliver his commands on the ocean, but he also delivered them at him. Berndt had four boys form a previous marriage, and two children with Karen’s mother; Karen was the youngest of her brothers and the only daughter. In the 1800’s a women was expected to marry if she was not going to live her life as a caretaker for her own mother or as nun. Clotide, was referred to as Sonni by Berndt and her children because she was such a freethinker. Karen’s father was harshly religious and she was only allowed to read the bible after she learned how to read. Berndt applied the values of his religious belief harshly at home and commanded total loyalty to the church (Rubins, 1978). Karen’s childhood was difficult and by the time she was nine years old she began to battle depression. Karen became uneasy toward religion, along with social expectations and gender roles. Karen was confused on why she was not treated equally to her brother and her father seemed to prefer Berndt junior over herself. Karen could not understand why in the Bible women were declared a secondary creation...
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...since the early 1800’s women have struggled and strived to obtain equal rights of the average man. It was not up until 1920 when women were even granted the right to vote and it was not until 1981 when the United States finally appointed a woman Supreme Justice (Weinbaum). It has been a long and tedious process to acquire equal rights for women and fairness in politics. After over two centuries, women have almost completely overcome the gender barrier and established an equal dominant role in society as men. However, the recent provocative portrayals of women in the media have questioned the idea that, if in fact, the years spent overcoming this gender hardship was to ultimately come back to square one. With television programs such as “The Bachelor” presenting a dozen women competing for the attention of one man and television commercials highlighting a woman's thigh to sell sneakers, it is difficult for society and especially the youth to not to be influenced by the overpowering message to objectify women (Coleman). Television shows portraying woman in explicit dogmatic behaviors like “Flavor of Love” or “The Bachelor” make it difficult for the everyday women to process exactly why the media allows such depictions of women to be viewed and accepted around the world. According to author Breanna Coleman, “Television programs show slender, unrealistically curvaceous, and vulnerable young women, who are dependent on male figures for strength and survival, not their own sense...
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...Men and women have always been different, each having there own strengths and weaknesses, never the less each gender has played a pivotal role in the development of the world we have today. Even though Gender equality has made huges leaps in progress over human history, it is shown in early civilizations the vast differences in the treatment and expectations of men and women. In this essay three primary source documents will be reviewed and analyzed, to clearly pinpoint the key similarities and differences regarding gender relations. Each source document will be relating to a different civilization at a different time. It is important to note that even in similar historical time frames gender roles ranged greatly from one civilization or empire...
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...Compare the way in which both writers use satire as a device to continue the accepted female roles in their respective society Margaret Atwood and Mary shelly use satire as a device to criticise the accepted roles of women in their respective societies. Shelly magnifies the popular ‘angel of the house figure’ in order to critique the expectation that women must remain pious and devoted to their male counterparts more over this male dominated Chinese box narrative is reflective of Shelley’s attempt to distance female voices in order to highlight the powerful patriarchal society in which Shelley herself and other females were subjected to in the 1800s. Oppositely Attwood uses Offred as a mouth piece to denounce the unrealistic ideals that women faced in the previous 1980s American society but her conformity to the totalitarian regime allows Attwood to effectively condemn the new gender roles which have been assigned to the women. Conceivably women with in the 1980s enjoyed liberation added by the gains of the second wave feminist movement contrastingly the 1800s confined women to a domestic bubble where her only role was to fulfil their maternal duties. The 60s and 70s encapsulate the removal of conservative views and the emergence into a new age where women governed their own lives and experienced a sense of autarchy never seen previously. Attwood thus uses the hand maid’s tale to reassert the thoughts of whether the freedom is experienced is sustainable or rather an illusion...
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