Abstract
The paper makes an analytical study of My Story, thefamous fictional autobiography by Kamala Das. In My Story, Kamala Das tells her personal experiences including her growth into womanhood, her life in matriarchal rural South India after inheriting her ancestral home, her unsuccessful quest for love in and outside marriage and her struggle as a woman writer. The paper shows how the author describes the multiple types of oppression faced by women in the Kerala society, especially through the forces of a caste ridden patriarchal society. Besides, she also speaks about the internal dissention produced by members of her own gender on the other. By delineating her personal experiences, she speaks for her contemporarywomen companions and
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The comparative freedom enjoyed by the women of Kerala, the social permissions they were allowed, their educational background and their health and hygiene consciousness were perhaps some of the major reasons for Kerala’s striking progress. What made this tiny state different from the rest of India, was perhaps the importance given to women in its matrilineal societies. In this regard the upper caste Nairs seem to have provided the role model for a vast number of people to emulate. “At a time when the vast majority of western women suffered oppression in silence and fear, the Kerala women lived in a matrilineal society” (Mittapalli 107). Being matrilocal (in which the husband lives with the wife’s people), their family house granted them security and comfort which their western counterparts lacked. The women and their children were assured safety and economic well-being even if their male partners …show more content…
But the hypothetical situation where the bride’s consent was necessary continued even to the near present. Years later, when the question of Kamala’s marriage was raised, she, a mere 15-year old, was not the one who made the choice, allowing herself to be persuaded by the social and financial requirements of her family. The woman’s voice or choice was definitely secondary to that of her karanavar, her maternal uncle, the patriarch. Kamala Das’sValiamma is viewed as an unhappy person with great capacity for silence. Kamala reconstructs this person’s life story from sketchy details gleaned from the reports of various relatives, who are quite reluctant to speak of the unfortunate circumstances: husband pass that way but he did not.(31)
It offers a genuine insight into the helplessness of a woman in the matrilineal framework of the Nair tharavadu, where the authority of the patriarch or karanavar was final. He was a sort of dictator who was expected to look after the basic requirements of his siblings and their offspring. In return, the womenfolk pledged their allegiance to him, accepting his word as final; subverting all contrary pictures of him and idolizing his
Their actions proved that they were mentally capable of more than previously believed. Now women were expected to keep the morale of the household intact by supporting her husband (Berkin 154). A woman was also expected to educate her children in the same values of the republic, a role that use to belong to a male. However, now she was able to learn enough about government, politics and philosophy in order to teach her children to become good citizens (Berkin 155). 5)
She composed a novel that urged women across the country to search for opportunities and discover their individual beliefs as endure everyday life. Throughout the novel, Friedan entwines work and identity by utilizing the methods of
All these examples that she uses brings up her use of relevance. She lists how different scenarios were affecting the human rights of thousands of women all over the planet. She strikes a feeling of sympathy in her audience and has examples that could be relatable to all different types of backgrounds. She also repeats the line “will flourish” which is to emphasize the importance of providing women with a healthy lifestyle and education, also their families. She is saying that if women are healthy and educated, their families will be successful.
She uses her own experiences and knowledge to prove she is genuine and understands the importance of women’s rights. Her goal is to stop the
She subtly interjects a commentary on the absence of sufficient historical research concerning the role women played in shaping our society, past and
Additionally, these stories reveal the great diversity among women. Generally, women are grouped together, as stated by Lorde: “As women we have either been taught to ignore our differences or view them as causes for separation and suspicion rather than forces of change (Lorde, 1979).” Despite the efforts to categorize women’s issues into one mass of problems, White women perceive the world differently than African American women, Hispanic women, Native American women, etc., and vice versa. This conglomeration of “women’s issues” does not address every aspect of being a woman in patriarchal and unjust societies throughout the world.
After reading Sold by, Patricia Mccormick I realized that no matter how many men a thirteen year old sleeps with, ther innocence still exists. Underneath the violation and dehumanization a child still exists. No matter how many men Lakshmi gets taken advantage by she still exists. Patricia Mccormick captures the lifestyle that a sex trafficking victim endures through a number of interviews in India and Nepal. The author captures every aspect and angle of human sexual exploitation.
Weddings and marriages today look very different from those held during the Elizabethan times. Some rituals seen in the Elizabethan weddings are no longer done in modern day weddings; modern day marriages no longer have arranged marriages, brides do not marry at a young age, and brides do not have a dowry. One major aspect of Elizabethan weddings that is no longer seen in modern day weddings is arranged marriages. Some of the arranged marriages that went on during this time were organized at the birth of the child. In most cases, the women’s father would select the man he thought was most eligible for his daughter, but in other cases he would select the spouse he would most benefit from.
These women may not have been in the same locations around the world or facing the same situations, but they can relate to one another with the fact that they do not have the control or respect that they deserve within their
I quickly finished tying my shoe and hopped onto my purple mountain bike and we were off. Logan my brother who I love sometimes,Cassie My best friend, Easton Cassie’s brother,Sawyer Cassie’s brother, Mr. Wychers and I were going to ride our bikes through a trail off in the woods and go to Whistle stop and then cut through town and head to Houseman's. The sky was cloudy and the daylight was being blocked by a thick dark cloud, which looked a lot like a rain cloud. We started to cut through a dead cornfield, lifeless tall brown and crusty plants sat in a single spot and as the soft wind blew the once luscious herbs. I felt the dead greens slap me in the leg and burrs got stuck to my pant leg.
In “Longing to Belong”, Saira Shah gives you a look into the life of a 17 year old girl longing to understand her parents heritage and trying to fit into a culture that is so much different from what she knows. Having a father who originates from Afghanistan and a mother who originates from India. Saira wants to learn the culture of her father’s afghan routes. The author feels the only way in to learning is by being betrothed into an arranged marriage. The author states that her uncle in seeing “two unmarried” daughters in the company of a chaperone visiting his home, concludes that they were sent to be married.
The portrayal and role depicted in the literature helped women in the long run to gain acceptance and equality in society. The literary contributions made and for women continue to be a springboard for women to gain equality to men. Finally, the accomplishment of these women writers who struggled to publish their fragile poems and stories could spread a template for other women around the word on how they can actually voice out their thoughts and help improve their own rights. Thus, women will continue to gain equality and recognition, and this success will also continuously impact the
They confide in her for the strength they need to stand up to the male leaders. This shows a big change in gender roles because previously women were too fearful to stand up to
In an article authored by Urvashi Agarwal on the role of females in Indian culture, she even points out the difference in emotions between the birth of a girl and boy: “sohras – the joyous songs of celebration sung at the birth of a child in the Hindi-speaking belt – are almost never sung for newborn daughters. Indeed, many sohras express the mother’s relief that this has not been the case and her worst fears have been proven to be unfounded” (Agarawal). This indifference towards females acts a specific example that shows undoubtedly that they are seen below men in the Indian hierarchy. In most conflicts involving an Indian family, it is safe to say that there is a presumption that the person higher up in social status, or in the case of Monsoon Wedding, the older and male Tej, would have the benefit of the doubt over a young girl like Ria. In addition, Lalit and the family were tremendously indebted to Tej, as he not only offers to pay for Ria’s entire American college education, but for the wedding as well.
The social stigma that women are housekeepers and should be confined to the four walls of the house is perhaps a viable cause of gender disparity. They should not raise their voice regarding their fortune for the sake of the prestige of the family. In patriarchal society a lot of weightage is given to men.” The root cause of gender inequality in Indian society lies in its patriarchy system.