Mysogynistic views can be traced back to the earliest of times; from the Cretaceous period where men were the brute hunters and females were the gentle gatherers, to a modern setting where media and literature portray the average workspace to include a stern, male, CEO and cute, female, receptionist. With time, these marginal differences have become less and less evident due to society’s increased awareness and acceptance of both genders and their equal roles in life. However, gender roles are ever-present and they continue to compartmentalize males and females into certain categories that are acceptable for their time. Society has a huge role on individual development. The misogynistic viewpoints regarding gender roles in Ibsen’s novel, A Doll’s House, are also evident in North American culture during the mid 1900’s; women were expected to be obedient, beautiful and completely reliant on their male companions. The American society had a rigid social structure in the 1960’s. Gender roles were blatant; males explored life while females familiarised themselves with domestic tasks such as cooking and cleaning. The male gender had a greater social influence in society. Males were able to attend Ivy-League schools, get successful jobs, vote and participate in social situations whereas females could not. During that time period, the primary roles of women were to be obedient and supportive of their male counterparts. According to MacLaughlin, author of the CNN article Things Women Couldn’t Do in the 1960’s, women were unable to participate in the simplest of tasks, such as; “get a credit cards. . . serve on a jury. . . go on birth control. . . get an Ivy-League education. . . experience equality in the workplace. . . or even get a loan without her husband’s permission.” (MacLaughlin). Women had very little independance socially, financially, or personally. This article demonstrates how females were suppressed in society due to social norms. The complacent actions of females and the ambitious nature of men encouraged this phenomenon to continue on for many years. This concept of a suppressed women can also be identified in Ibsen’s novel, A Doll’s House, when Nora was belittled for getting a loan to help her dying husband. When Torvald discovered Nora’s actions he called her a liar and selfish women who ruined his reputation. Torvald belittled Nora for independent actions and was angered by the fact that she handled money alone and without his permission. The relationship between Torvald and Nora was common during the mid 1900’s in North America. Men were in charge of the finances and family decisions whereas women were completely dependant on them; similar to a parent child relationship. This idea of gender role inequality can be found in society and in literature. Basic rights for the female gender were basically non-existent during the mid 1900’s.
…show more content…
According to Sawhney, author of the web article Women’s Liberation Movement of the 1960’s, “[American women] filled trash cans with representations of women trapped in the home. They threw objects like heels, bras, girdles, hair curlers, and magazines like Cosmo. . . and Ladies’ Home Journal in it.” (Sawhney). Their actions were a demonstration of how women were tired of being seen as beautiful objects that had no other use than aesthetics. This idea of women being seen as beauty objects can be traced back to Ibsen’s novel, A Doll’s House. Nora was constantly referred to as Helmer’s “songbird” or “featherhead” his petty names for her were out of affection but they sadly belittled her as a person. She had no say and her opinions were irrelevant to her husband until she was wearing her attire for the party they were attending as a couple. Her lavish dressed and polished physique really amplified her beauty. At that point Helmer truly noticed Nora and listened to her words rather than brushing off her opinions and beliefs. This situation supports that claim that women were seen as beauty objects in the Victorian era and it continued throughout 1960’s. This is another connection of gender roles in society and how it is also evident in literature. In the 1960’s, women across the United States were taking a stand for their liberties. Prior to the Civil Rights Act women could not vote, handle money,
According to Sawhney, author of the web article Women’s Liberation Movement of the 1960’s, “[American women] filled trash cans with representations of women trapped in the home. They threw objects like heels, bras, girdles, hair curlers, and magazines like Cosmo. . . and Ladies’ Home Journal in it.” (Sawhney). Their actions were a demonstration of how women were tired of being seen as beautiful objects that had no other use than aesthetics. This idea of women being seen as beauty objects can be traced back to Ibsen’s novel, A Doll’s House. Nora was constantly referred to as Helmer’s “songbird” or “featherhead” his petty names for her were out of affection but they sadly belittled her as a person. She had no say and her opinions were irrelevant to her husband until she was wearing her attire for the party they were attending as a couple. Her lavish dressed and polished physique really amplified her beauty. At that point Helmer truly noticed Nora and listened to her words rather than brushing off her opinions and beliefs. This situation supports that claim that women were seen as beauty objects in the Victorian era and it continued throughout 1960’s. This is another connection of gender roles in society and how it is also evident in literature. In the 1960’s, women across the United States were taking a stand for their liberties. Prior to the Civil Rights Act women could not vote, handle money,