Comparison Between Eve Golden And ' Curves '

The characteristics of a “perfect” woman have clearly changed over time, and The Courtier proves this throughout conversations in the third volume. Some desired qualities are common to both the courtier and the court

   In her article, "The Cult of True Womanhood: 1820-1860," Barbara Welter discusses the nineteenth-century ideal of the perfect woman. She asserts that "the attributes of True Womanhood . . . could be divided into four cardinal virtues-piety, purity, submissiveness and domesticity." Furthermore, she adds that "if anyone, male or female, dared to tamper with the complex virtues which made up True Womanhood, he was damned immediately as an enemy of God, of civilization and of the Republic" (Welter 152). In Hannah W. Foster's The Coquette, the characters Major Sanford and Eliza Wharton violate True Womanhood condemning them both to wretched fates.

The next requirement for being a “true woman” was submissiveness. According to society men were superior to women by “God’s appointment.” If they acted otherwise they “tampered with the order of the Universe” (Welter 105). A “true woman” would not question this idea because she already understands her place. Grace Greenwood explained to the women of the Nineteenth Century, “True feminine genius is ever timid, doubtful, and clingingly dependant; a perpetual childhood.” Even in the case of an abusive husband, women were sometimes told to stay quiet

In the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, men and women hold very different roles. Not only are women the weaker sex, but their worth is dependant on how powerful and high up their husband is. Because of this, women are forced to be silent and are not allowed an opinion. If a woman shows traits that are considered manly, such as intelligence, determination, or control, she is considered masculine, and therefore unattractive. From a very young age, the main character, Janie, is taught that in order to find a suitable husband, she needs to suppress her independent personality. As a result of this belief being engraved into her, Janie does not realize her worth, therefore she is involved three abusive relationships. For years, girls were taught to make themselves smaller so they do not threaten the male’s reputation. The reader sees that Janie is an example the mistreatment of females through Janie’s three marriages.

From the beginning, Lynn Peril illustrates situations in which women have to deal with a bunch of admonitions to become more feminine and good-natured. And these tips are not just some other normal tips; they become famous and being rulers to evaluate the dignity of women. Then, the author goes on to relate her real “Pink Think” experience throughout her life and express her strong feelings,

In Jamaica Kincaid’s story, Girl, a mother is talking to her daughter about all the proper things she must do to be considered a good girl to her family and to the public, and when she grows up, a proper lady. She must follow the rules that are given to her by her own mother and by society. The mother also teaches the daughter how to act when things don’t go her way. She is told that along with being a proper lady, she must also be able to get what she wants and be independent. This story was written in the late 1970’s and gender roles, for women, back then were not being “followed” because women wanted equal opportunities (Women In the Workforce). “Gender stereotypes are beliefs regarding the traits and behavioral characteristics given to individuals on the basis of their gender” (Deuhr). This essay will discuss the gender roles that were given to women in the story, during the late 70’s, and in today’s society.

When it comes to female characters, authors depict women with a sense of realism, that being that they are a common folk with a usually large but simple impact in the story. On the contrary, John Steinbeck’s female characters in his novel East of Eden do not have the sense of being normal women, and he goes to extremes when it comes to the women being good or bad. Faye, Olive, and Cathy are all women that have taken to extremes in their acts of kindness or evil. Faye is too good of a person, especially in the society that she is in. Olive helps an enormous amount in the military with work she has done that seemed unlikely for her to do by herself. Cathy, on the other hand, commits horrible acts that would immediately classify her as mental, but is ironically one of the smartest characters in the novel. These kinds of women are uncommon, especially in their society.

During a journey a person will come across a crisis or it will be an escape from a struggle or an external conflict. In the two short stories, “A Good Man Is Hard To Find” by Flannery O’Connor and “Women Hollering Creek” by Sandra Cisneros, the protagonists are faced with similar crisis of limitations. On the contrary, “The Swimmer” by John Cheever describes the protagonist to be someone that has no limitations, which led him to abuse his freedom. Although these three tales show differences they do show a similarity in their ignorance. These two female authors focus on the role women set into a sexist environment where they are not seen as equal upon the male figures. However, the only male protagonist, fictionalized by Cheever, is not faced with the same complications as the female characters. As these protagonist face their problems, begin to realize their fate and their place in the world.

Stephen Bonnycastle lists a set of traits or stereotypes in his work In Search for Authority, that are considered "feminine" and an opposing list that is considered "masculine"; these traits seem to be inevitably true to life (Bonnycastle 10,11). For example, one of the traits listed is emotional, women are expected to be emotional and when this is not the case a man is often confused and indifferent towards the woman. This is especially the case if she is not emotional she is viewed as not feminine. Any time a woman does not fit the idea of what society expects of her she is outcasted and frowned upon. This hatred runs even deeper if a woman crosses over into what is considered "masculine", a woman who shows any type of authority over a

By spending just a night with a femme fatale type woman, men can suffer extreme harm or even death. The sheer power a Siren has over sailors passing her island can make a reader feel sympathetic for these relatively powerless sailors. This power that women can have over men is illustrated in a strong manner with this allusion, and leads to a reader feeling sorry for these men. Furthermore, Tim Buckley, showing the indecision that could strike a man when confronted by a threatening woman, writes “I am puzzled as the newborn child/ I am troubled at the tide:/ Should I stand amid the breakers?/ Should I lie with death my bride?” (Buckley). The mental argument that a man has of whether or not to go the the woman who is calling him or to stay where he is can be likened to the decision the sailors had to make upon hearing the Siren. The allusion to the victims of the Sirens debating whether or not to jump off their ship and swim to the Sirens is similar to the situations that men in Buckley’s era would have to deal with when faced with the questions of whether to become intimate with a threatening women or

Her personality is portrayed as the Madonna stereotype as a woman that aids and provides nurture for the men (Stanford 118). She immediately takes the narrator under her care and provides him with shelter and food. This evokes the oppressive stereotype of women expected to serve any man that falls under their wing. The protagonist confirms her role and describes her as“...a force, a stable, familiar force like something out of my past which kept me from whirling off into some unknown which I dared not face” (Ellison 258). The narrator elaborates on her motherly figure that he has been missing on his journey and emphasizes his unconscious exploitation of her tender persona to his own gain.

The vigilant attribute which many women obtain is often criticized and perceived to be a sign of weakness. This notion is depicted when the man in To Build A Fire begins reflecting on the advice given to him before entering the cold. London writes, “He remembered the advice of the old man on Sulphur Creek, and smiled. The man had been very serious when he said that no man should travel alone in that country after 50 below zero. Well, here he was; he had had the accident; he was alone; and he had saved himself” (72). In this instance, the man in the story finds himself to be complete without a companion. This thought represents a viewpoint on the role of women in the life of men. In many cases, females aren’t recognized to be of value other

In today’s society, the imagery of men and women are portrayed in their different personalities. The ideal male is always characterized as being competent, stable, tough,

The novel demonstrates both popular and familiar gender roles in the 19th century. Catherine Earnshaw, breaks through the stereotypes, and has a mesh of both feminine and masculine qualities. In the Victorian Era, men are seemed as superior to women. Her gender roles are beyond the social norm, as well as her husband Edgar, who is portrayed as more feminine. Catherine holds many masculine qualities such as being adventurous, extroverted, and determined.

We see a woman ready to go into the battle of the sexes whom the Baron (her opponent) already regards as a threat. Specifically, her beauty is a threat in that it empowers Belinda and means he may have to compete with other men for her affection. The idea of a woman holding power of any sort over a man attacks the male ego or at least threatens the Baron's ego. He is