Ain T I A Woman

Throughout this course, we learned that women’s studies originated as a concern at the time that “women and men noticed the absence, misrepresentation, and trivialization of women [in addition to] the ways women were systematically excluded from many positions of power and authority” (Shaw, Lee 1). In the past, men had more privileges than women. Women have battled for centuries against certain patterns of inadequacy that all women experience. Every culture and customs has divergent female

In this essay I will explore the different schools of feminism such as Marxist, liberal and radical feminism, who share the view that women are oppressed in a patriarchal society but differ in opinion on who benefits from the inequalities. Each school of feminism has their own understanding of family roles and relationships which I will assess through this essay.

In Sojourner Truth’s speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?”, Truth speaks out about women’s equality. Truth tells her audience, “And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman?” (2). Sojourner Truth is telling the crowd that men aren’t even on the same level as women. During this time period women were looked at as dainty, and sub-men, but Truth explains to the audience that women are definitely equal, if not greater, than men. Truth proves women are equal to men once again by stating that, “... he says women can't have as much rights as men, ‘cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from?... From God and a woman!” (2). Truth uses a great tool here to grab her audience's’ attention. By tying religion, a credible topic, to her argument of equality, she practically squashes any doubt in the

Due to the time period, one is raised in there are certain things that are considered to be the norm. In the late 1900’s women had no voice to speak out or give any of their opinions regarding any matters. In those types of society’s, the women are oppressed because the males were dominant. Edna Pontellier from The Awakening by Kate Chopin and Janie Crawford from Their eyes were watching God by Zora Neale Hurston are two women who are oppressed in the society they are brought up in.

Sojourner Truth wrote a powerful speech “Ain’t I a Women?” this speech challenged the discourse that men had when it came to the position a women could obtain. Referring back to the male minsters argument, Sojourner challenges him by “Pointing to her well-muscled arms and referring to the hard work she performed as a slave, she allegedly declared, “And ain’t I a woman?” As to the argument that Jesus was a man, she responded: “Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.” And turning the sin of Eve argument on its head, she lectured, “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again!(Her words)”. Truth was one out of several different women who use their voices in order to open the door for women to be

The oppression of women has been brought into light in the recent years but it was the norm in many societies in early history especially in premodern east Asia. During that time, the roles of men and women in society were determined by great scholars that had the power to get their voice to be heard and set general rules in society. In China, scholars like Confucius, Mencius, and Mozi had great impact on the way people divided the roles between men and women. The overall oppression of women in premodern east Asia can be seen through quotes from great scholars about how women should be obedient to men, should not make important decisions in their families, and are not spoken of equally to men in society.

"The Women's Rights Movement, 1848–1920 | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives." The Women's Rights Movement, 1848-1920. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2014. <http://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/WIC/Historical-Essays/No-Lady/Womens-Rights/>.

“Then, and not until then, will there be the perfect comradeship, the ideal union between the sexes that shall result in the highest development of the race” (Susan B Anthony). Feminism has evolved into our society in a slowly but remarkably life-changing way. Since the beginning of time, men have been deemed superior over women for the anatomy of their bodies and intellectual abilities. In the 21st century, patriarchal abuse has lessened and may not be practiced by women anymore; however, feminist (women and men) are fighting against these controversial roles implemented to them by society and culture. Many have the urge to presume that a feminist is a stereotypical man-hating activist who believes all the troubles in the world are caused by men. Feminism is anything but a stereotype; in fact the definition of feminism is “the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.” Equality is the main aspect that ties feminist together through the hardships of the developing society. Feminist perspectives therefore challenge and explore patriarchal interests implemented in women’s ability to express themselves and the quality of their lives. Fundamentally, feminist analysis intends to closely examine how male dominance and female advocacy manifest themselves in specific angles of society. In the world of feminist analysis, according to Donald Hall, critics and theorists are

Throughout history, the role of woman significantly changed. Since the 1800’s, American woman who are housewives have changed from household eye candy to breadwinners. In earlier days, women were seen as women who were intended to cook, clean, and take care of the children. They were not allowed to vote while men could. The rise of feminism changed the role women plays in society forever. Feminism is the encouragement of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. Woman voiced one’s opinion which helped them get equal rights. In the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, she explored how women were not treated equally and the oppression of a woman by her husband was vastly common in the 1800’s. Gilman was also able to show how a woman was able to break out of the oppression of her husband with slow increments of change. In the play “A Doll House” by Henrik Ibsen, he explored how woman are not able to do all the things a man could and women were supposed to sit at home at the house looking like a pristine doll for one’s husband in the 1800’s. Ibsen also explored how a woman is also capable of taking care of herself and

G. D. Anderson said it the best, "Feminism isn't about making woman stronger. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way the world perceives that strength." Feminism is improving the inequality that women face. As women, we have come a long way from our catastrophic past, but we still have a long way to go before we are even deemed equal as the opposite sex. There are three historical areas of inequality in the feminist movement: political, cultural, and economic.

Women’s rights means the right to promote a position of legal and social equality of women with men. Women rights is still a major issue in today's society. Many people don’t realize that the issues are still here. Women's rights have improved, except the stereotypical beliefs that still exist. In the texts that I have, the reader will be able to see many examples of women's rights, including the play A Midnight's Summer Dream, and the books Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and The Secret Life of Bees. In each one of these pieces you will see the way women were treated back in the 1800’s and how it is so incredible different.

Women and men have had certain roles in society that were understood amongst them to be specified for their particular gender. Males were known to have the leading role as head of the house hold and the bread winner while the woman’s duty was to stay at home and take care of the house and children. While many people years ago deemed this way of life and practice to be the right and ethical thing to do, times have changed and so this kind of treatment towards a woman’s equality must be questioned. Even though times have changed, this mindset of a woman’s ability to be as good as a man has not completely gone away. In today’s society a woman contributes to the economy and her family as equally as that of a man. Therefore, women should share equal rights and opportunities as their gender counterparts.

When posed with the question “What is woman?” it seems a daunting task to lay an umbrella statement to describe an entire gender. Upon further reflection, however, it seems that this overwhelming inability to answer the question, may in fact, be the answer to the question itself. Within the past two decades Maria Lugones and Elizabeth Spelman, Caroline Whitbeck, Geraldine Finn, and Helene Cixous have addressed the meaning of woman. There is not a concrete answer to “What is woman?” either produced by women or produced through men’s perceptions of women.

Throughout history and today, we women are constant victims of stereotyping from our society. Certain “rules” have to be followed and certain “ideal” women images have to be kept. We are raised in a way to fill certain position where the society wants us to be and as a result, the opportunities are always limited for us and ideas of our importance in the society are diminishing. Even though women gained some independence, where women can work and take various position in society, the society’s idea of typical role of women never seem to change.

Feminist perspective developed with the ideology that women face large amounts of inequalities in a patriarchal society. They aimed to address and rid the social world of this oppression of women by men. According to Bishop, (2015) “oppression occurs when one group of people use different forms of power to keep another group down in order to exploit them. The oppressor uses the power; the oppressed are exploited” (p. 133-134). Oppression must be by individual experience and not grouped into being the same for all. This includes understanding the original ideology of feminist theory being critiqued as only considering the experiences of middle class, white women. That black women, of lower class experienced oppression much different from the other women. Women are oppressed, thus has to be understood in a different construct that women are similar in some sources, experience of oppression but also experience oppression very differently from one individual to another. Feminist theories have further been expanded do its continuation throughout society and decades to encompass many more issues and arenas than just men and women relationships. Now it seeks to understand and address oppression based on culture, race, class, etc and not only for women but for all. Therefore, Bishop (2014) outlines five components that seem common to all forms of oppression and serve to maintain its presence in society.