Misogyny is defined as the dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women, and has been experienced by women around the world. In medieval times, misogyny enabled men to have the dominion over their wives, which gave them the control over the land, money, house, and more importantly, their wife. Male dominance was acquired through money and the undoubted belief that they were superior to their wives. In fact, there were even laws that allowed husbands to beat their wives; although, it was preferred to do so in the isolation of their own homes. Laws like these showed men they didn’t have to be held accountable for their actions, so that if a women was found to be unfaithful towards her husband, “the husband was enabled to kill…
The category of “women” used in a feminist context is rejected by Butler because it creates ground for over generalization, and thus, would misrepresent individuals of that category that leads to the public’s misinterpretation of them in turn. The language and wording used in which to supposedly unify a group of people with similar characteristics turn out to generate resistance and factionalization. The term “women” could hold certain meanings and be understood as something different at face value. As demonstrated in the early 1980s, the usage of “we” to group all women together created a backlash because women of colour did not identify with the term and did not find it suitable to be used to represent them. Since they believed that the term could only relate to white females, they were in…
Aldous Huxley foresaw a number of incredible triumphs in his novel, Brave New World, but it seems that in no point in the near, or even distant future, was liberation for women an attainable goal for him. In fact, despite the dystopic nature of his novel, Huxley instead created a world that is hauntingly similar to our own. ‘Brave New World’ is a second-rate replica of the misogynistic 1930s society that belittled women and gave men an unjust sense of superiority and entitlement. It’s a story that’s been written a million times before, and will unfortunately, be written a million times more. So why, ladies and gentlemen, do books that tell the same sexist story, give or take a subplot or two, become the must-reads of the 21st century?…
Based on the reading of understanding patriarchy by Bell Hooks, '' patriarchy is a political-social system that insists that males are inherently dominating, superior to everything and everyone deemed weak, especially females.'' (Understanding Patriarchy bell hooks) Feminism is an idea that constructed by protesting women all over the world, it basically means that women and men should be treated equally, having equal opportunities and rights at every circumstances; especially being recruited in key positions or international organisations. The noun first – wave feminism, was defined by Martha Lear writing in The New York Times Magazine, in March 1968. It was take place in the 19th - 20th century around the world.…
When Reeds states “gentlemen’s children,” he provides insight into the social class of Jane’s family; he informs the reader of Jane’s low upbringing and further isolates her from her cousins. She is forced into living a life of solitude and commands. The dominance that John Reed has over Jane also helps to support Brontë’s social commentary on gender inequality. Not only is Jane secluded from the Reed family due to her low upbringing, but also obligated to surrender to John’s…
Of Mice and Men and Code Name Verity are both novels that highlight the struggles of two polarizing characters throughout troublesome points in history. The authors both carry the plot in similar manner while presenting two characters that have to do what is right to save their friend from further persecution. In both stories, tragedy is foreshadowed whether it be from previous sinister events or the tone of the novel transitioning to a more somber one. However, these two stories are not exactly duplicates. With the differing time periods and social issues, it is clear there is some contrast between the two pieces of fiction alongside the similarities.…
In the 1930’s, African-Americans made up more than 25% of the students in schools, but received only 12% of all education revenues and only 3 percent of funds budgeted for school transportation (www.loc.gov). This statement proves how prejudiced the country was at that time period. Racism wasn’t just person to person, but it was institutionalized from companies and organizations. It affected everyone, whether it benefited you or hurt you. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee deals with it because the book is based on a family that directly sees racism happen and it changes their perspectives.…
Women were seen as gross, as they were born out of a ‘defected bent rib’ and menstruate. They were also seen as evil as they were associated with lying, manipulation and deceiving others. Widowed women were seen as even worse because of their reliance on men and even though could not longer procreate, had sexual desires. If women disrespected men, they were severely punished. For example, if they were behaving like a scold (one who nags), they would wear a scold’s bridle or a shrew fiddle.…
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of feminism is “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” While this definition should be the goal for humankind, feminism also encompasses many other problems with society that cannot be explained through one simple definition. One of these problems happens to be the stereotypes associated with women. For example, in the American 1950’s, an almost normal way of treating women was simply by brushing them off in intellectual conversation, believing women were only valued for their maternal instinct. In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden reaffirms similar stereotypes to this, including weakness, stupidity, and the objectification of a woman’s body for sexual…
Love is power. Love is deception. Love is social status. Love is humiliation. Love is all these things and more in the comedy hits; Taming of the Shrew and 10 Things I hate about you.…
“The Wizard of Oz” is a 1939 classic film featuring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, and directing them all would be the great Victor Fleming. Victor Fleming’s classic film is about a young girl, named Dorothy, who lived with her aunt and uncle on their Kansas farm. A wealthy and nasty neighbor, Miss Gulch, are in conflict with Gale family regarding Dorothy’s dog Toto. Miss Gulch accused Toto of chasing her cat once more and biting her leg. After Dorothy had stolen Toto back from Miss Gulch, she went home to tell her aunt and uncle what happened; but they had more concerning things in mind relating to losing the farm.…
The Development of Misogyny During the time of Shakespeare, misogyny was very common. Misogyny is the hatred of women and in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, he portrays two women who are repeatedly used to display what women of the time acted like. Men were known to have been the more dominant sex, meaning that most were in control of women.…
Anne Spencer and Modern Feminism Anne Spencer was a lot of things; a poet, a teacher, a daughter, a wife, an artist, a scholar, a mother, a black activist, and she was recently recognized as a feminist. She is known today for the extremely modern ideologies that she believed in and communicated in her works. The feminist messages expressed by Anne Spencer and the modern feminists of today showcase a multitude of similarities; however the audiences and the methods used to share those ideals are vastly different. The Message…
Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist of The Hunger Games would be an example of the second. The novel became a phenomenon in the United States and sparked debate of feministic themes. Everdeen holds many ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ characteristics. She is a nurturing care giver, and yet is lethal with a bow and arrow. After analysis of both feminism and The Hunger Games separately, it is obvious that there are overlapping sections.…
Swift’s writing demonstrates a great deal of animosity towards the human race at times, with the majority of his effort spent especially on the female sex. Due to Swift’s inability to “forgive men and women for being vertebrate mammals as well as immortal souls” as said by Aldous Huxley, he spends his life satirically arguing what it is to be human – especially of the female sex, only to find that there is no single way to define humans as compared to beasts. Swift’s detestation of the female role in society is evident throughout his works, as well as other works done on him, where he repeatedly criticizes the roles that females play. In his poem “A Beautiful Young Nymph Going to Bed,” (1731, 1734)…