Looking For Alibrandi Gender Roles

Women’s Rights were the great unfinished business of the 20th century. This movement saw two waves in the 1900s, the second wave coming in the 1960s.

In A Doll’s House, Nora and Torvald conform to two distinct roles within a household in the 1850s. Owing to the interactive orals, I was able expand my knowledge on gender roles in the 1800s and, in turn, fully appreciate these two

The role of a woman in society has always fit into a perfect box. Women were expected to be the dutiful wife, loving mother and housekeeper for her family. Betty Friedan wrote The Feminine Mystique, in 1963 hoping to unveil the truth behind women’s thoughts about their role in society. Friedan exposed that things were not always, as they seemed for the average mother and homemaker in the 1950s and 1960s. Kate Chopin wrote The Awakening in the 1850’s which told the story of Edna Pontillier and her struggles as a housewife and finding her true identity. These two literary works captured how women really felt about their everyday lives. They displayed that women were often unhappy and felt unfulfilled regardless that they were living the lifestyle

Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping sets out to define home and the role of women in it through the practices of housekeeping. Through a series of polarizations (fixity – transience, society – nature, dividing – merging, outdoor – indoor, patriarchy – matriarchy) taken up by the characters Robinson manages to show how different notions of housekeeping correspond to different definitions of home and different female subjectivities.

The overall meaning of All Hallows Eve, by Dorothea Tanning, is that it was expected that women be taught housing skills to support their future families and the struggles countless women would go through to achieve the “perfect life”.

How are those of the female gender supposed to act? In the 1930’s women were frill members of society and their only purpose was reproducing and doing domestic or menial jobs. However, in modern times, women are independent and have significant roles in society. Although society’s view of this subject has changed drastically for the better, some matters don’t change.

Gender stereotype, or the over-generalization about the characteristics of an entire group based on gender, is evident in any culture or community, no matter how much gender equality is promoted. Brought on by centuries of tradition, it had become a pre-established belief that women were inferior to men, in that the dominance of men was already considered to be a norm of society. Though women in the past were responsible for household chores and raising children, a new age called for new ideals and a need for change in the attitude towards women. In the Southside of Chicago in the mid 1950’s, the members of the Younger family act as a prime example in portraying the difficulties associated with going against conventional expectations. The two prominent female characters

This reflects a unique aspect of American Life where women were treated as lesser than their male counterparts even though they were very important to society. They played a large part in keeping their society going, but did not get any recognition in the form of power or respect. Women served as housewives, cooking, cleaning, and doing anything else necessary to take care of their husbands, children, and houses. Ulrich discusses how housewives “demonstrated the old proverb, ‘A man works from sun to sun, but a woman’s work is never done’ “ (Ulrich 67). Housewives play an essential role in the functioning of their family, but the sons of the family inherit the land instead of the

In the 1970’s women were expected to stay at home and take care of the household. They were usually not expected to further their education, but instead take care of the children or tend to their husbands’ needs. In 1972 Judy Brady decided to let the readers of Ms. Magazine know how she felt about her “duties”. In her short essay, “Why I Want a Wife,” Brady uses pathos to connect and appeal to the reader’s emotions while explaining why she wants a wife.

The Feminine Mystique (1963) examines the dehumanizing conditions of middle class American women who were excluded from social and political life to be anchored in their wifely and motherly roles. The book marks the Second Wave of American feminism. Friedan writes, “Their only dream was to be perfect wives and mothers” (61). This meant that the whole of an American woman’s life was meant to attract and keep her husband and serve his and children’s needs. She deals with this painful ordeal of women and clearly brings out the ennui, unhappiness, and the lack of companionship experienced by women in their marriages.

Kate Chopin was an American author that wrote many stories that are based in Louisiana. She bases most of her work on women’s movement of the nineteenth century. One of Chopin’s prevalent stories called “The Storm”, focuses on the expectation of women’s marriage in the 1800’s. This story demonstrates multiple significant elements that give the reader a sense of what is going on throughout the story. One element being demonstrated in the story is the theme. The theme is important for setting an ambience within the story. An analysis on Kate Chopin’s “The Storm” demonstrates the theme of freedom, happiness, and adultery.

Odysseus’ roles pertain to him as a military leader, father, and husband in a biblical perspective. His role as a military leader shows throughout the story. Odysseus was a man who, even though had faults, knew he had to be smart, cunning, and brave to become a leader. Odysseus left his son when he was a little, so he could show his leadership skills. But what does that show of him as a father? At the end of the story father and son meet again. Penelope is the love of Odysseus’ life, and he means to take her away from all the suitors. If it means to fight his way to her, then so be it.

Every person has the right to be and feel free. They have the right to be independent and live happily. Kate Chopin’s, “The Story of an Hour,” focuses on sixty minutes in the life of a young Mrs. Mallard. Upon learning of her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard experiences a revelation about her future without a husband. Her life, due to heart problems, suddenly ends after she unexpectedly finds out her husband is actually alive. Mrs. Mallard’s actions cause the readers to contemplate a hidden meaning woven into the story line. Mr. Mallard is assumed to die in a railroad accident, leaving Mrs. Mallard devastated. Instead of feeling sadness or grief, Mrs. Mallard actually feels free. "There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature" (Page 499). Chopin makes her strong statement in this quote from the story. Mrs. Mallard has no one to answer to but herself, and she feels liberated that her husband can no longer control her. During the late nineteenth century, women quite frequently had to suppress themselves to the will of their husbands, or to some other man who had a significant amount of control over their lives. Chopin successfully uses vivid imagery, point of view, and irony that gives a different view of marriage that is not typical of today.

During the 1890’s until today, the roles of women and their rights have severely changed. They have been inferior, submissive, and trapped by their marriage. Women have slowly evolved into individuals that have rights and can represent “feminine individuality”. The fact that they be intended to be house-caring women has changed.

There is no human being who is immune to even the most drastic flaws and temptations known to mankind. Those who are afflicted can succumb due to their infirmity or use their strength of character and virtue to overcome their own iniquity. In The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, the characters, such as Albert, Caderousse, and the Count, display such vice. Some are able to overcome it in the novel, while others meet their demise as a result of their temptations.