Feminism And The Second Wave Of Feminism

Throughout history empowerment and marginalization has primarily been based on gender. In the play A Streetcar Named Desire, this idea of empowerment is strongly flaunted. Tennessee Williams’ characters, primarily Stanley, Blanche, Mitch, and Stella, conform the expected roles of men and women at the time. Although World War Two temporarily allowed women a place in the work force, they were dismissed from such empowerment when the war came to a close. Characters in A Streetcar Named Desire are accurate representations of the social historical context of that time. The power struggle between Stanley and Blanche conveys dominant ideas about gender such as the primitive nature, aggression, and

In numerous relationships between a man and a woman, there is generally a controlling figure that is dominant above the other. It may be woman over man, man over woman, or in what the proper definition of a marriage is an equivalent partnership and companionship. In the play A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, Stanley is one example of male dominance; evidently the more dominate figure over Stella. Throughout the play there are copious examples of the authority he possesses of her. Williams Portrays Stella as a modest girl who lives around in Stanley’s world. In his perspective he sees Stella as his homemaker, who stays home to prepare his meals and take care of him. She does what he wants and pleases, obtains his abuse yet loves him. Stanley extends his dominance over Stella by mistreating and abusing his position and his physical

Stanley is portrayed in a negative light throughout the play, with his mind mainly focused on himself. Williams paints this impression of Stanley by emphasizing the importance of his possessions by describing, “his car, his radio, everything that’s his.” (25) At first glance, Stella and

Furthermore Stanley can suggest that his animalistic behaviour is down to Blanche Dubois. She is Stanley’s sister-in-law and lived at ‘belle reve’ which means beautiful dream, nevertheless it also ironic as she has had to mortgage the house and most of her family has died whilst living there. Her name means white one from the woods and the connotations of her name is innocence, which is an exemplar of dramatic irony as she displays many acts in the play that contrast to that of innocence and purity. An example of Blanche not being pure is when she says “I’ve got to keep hold of myself” this statement from Blanche shows she has mental flaws and is addicted to the drink. She also shows she is not innocent and dependable “your sister hasn’t turned into a drunkard” this shows she is prepared to lie to her sister and it could also foreshadow future tragedy as comparable behaviour towards Stanley could result in enemies being created “liquor goes fast in hot conditions” this shows she is also prepared to deceive Stanley as well. As Stanley believes he is a misogynistic as he feels men are far superior to women as did most men in the 1940’s. So if he has any suspicions about being deceived by a woman then he would want to get revenge because Stanley doesn’t like to be manipulated,

As the story progresses, Stanley's barbaric masculinity unveils itself to the reader. Stanley Kowalski is a man's man; he goes to work to provide for his family, goes home to a submissive wife who always has dinner prepared, and spends his evenings hanging out with the boys. However, being the super-masculine character can sometimes have wicked effects. Between card games and drinking, Stanley still finds time to lash out at his wife. In scene three, Stella is pleading with Stanley to call it a night and send his poker friends home, but Stanley is resistant. In a drunken fit, Stanley finds it necessary to strike his pregnant wife in order to get his point across. The outburst is shockingly forgiven almost immediately. Stella explains the episode to her displeased sister Blanche the next day, telling her that it's not a big deal, and that she shouldn't fuss over it. She says, "In the first place, when men are drinking and playing poker anything can happen. It's always a powder-keg. He didn't know what he was doing…" Stanley Kowalski takes the role of masculinity to another level altogether. He serves as the super-dominant barbarian provider who says what he means when he wants to. In spite all of Stanley's flaws, Stella not only loves him, but also appreciates and defends his character.

In the play, A Streetcar Named Desire, by Tennessee Williams, Stella and Stanley Kowalski have a far from perfect marriage. In the Kowalski household ranking is set in stone; Stanley is the alpha and protects his ranking by emotionally and physically abusing Stella. Stanley is an aggressive husband but signs of a softer side peak through Stanley’s hard exterior creating two personalities. Stanley has destroyed the meaning of sex, using sex for physical satisfaction and creating a sense of desire for Stella. By using sex as a type of desire Stanley has created an animalistic need for sex. Stanley has contrived authority over Stella, creating a strained marriage. Out of panic, Stella has become Stanley’s enabler, returning to him regardless how hard the hit, Stella accepts the abuse. Stella has become so manipulated by Stanley that she believes that the abuse is a large part of marriage. Stella has grown so dependant on Stanley that Stella grows panicked by the thought of being without Stanley. The Kowalskis have become trapped in an endless cycle of domestic abuse. Stanley Kowalski’s control over Stella Kowalski creates an environment of fear.

Sex, is Stanley and Stella’s way of forgiving and loving. Their one true emotional and physical coping system. As Stella insists, “there are things that happen between a man and a woman in the dark- that sort of makes everything else seem- unimportant.” When Blanche comes between them, Stanley and Stella’s relationship is taxed by her influence. On one hand, Blanche tries to manipulate Stella by criticising her husband and hinting that Stanley is incapable of love, that Stella is rebelling against her respectable upbringing, and that their relationship is based off their lust for sex. Ironically, Blanche identifies lust as a common and rudimentary emotion, although being guilty of it as well. As Blanche expresses her opinion, “acts like an animal, has an animal’s habits! […] There’s even something sub-human something not quite to the stage of humanity yet!” she progressively achieves her goal of squandering their relationship. On the other hand, Stanley additionally influences Stella, by voicing that Blanche is immoral. Ironically, despite Stanley’s attempts at dominance and escalations to violence, Stella, "was—sort of—thrilled by it” declaring her attraction and arousal from his beastiality. Even if Blanche and Stanley try to take advantage of her, Stella stays apathetic throughout the play due to the fact that she is an extremely weak character easily swayed by both characters. Further exemplifying the success of the alpha male demonstrations, rooting from the biological desire for superior genetic traits and

From their language, we can see their culture difference. Stanley speech is littered with slang, he talks in a primitive, colloquial and crude way, as if he is hammering the sentences. For instance, “You going to shack uphere?”,”Where you from Blanche?” Blanche speaks eloquently with articulation and her constant literary references, like “I’m looking for the Pleiades, the Seven Sisters” shows her sophistication. Instant tension is created through their opposing language as Blanche is not used to being spoken in this way and it throws her off guard. Even from their appearance, they antagonise each other from their contrasting apparel choice. Stanley is dressed in “vivid green silk bowling shirt” which symbolises

“You cannot be a humanist unless you are a feminist. You either advocate equality for all or you are a misanthrope” (Michael A. Sherlock). From women’s suffrage to abortion laws feminism has evolved with contemporary battles and a variety of approaches. The

Stanley could not stand the thought of being proved wrong by a woman like Blanche so he explodes into a fit of rage to cover up the pride he had lost in being wrong about Blanche. A particularly tense birthday dinner of Blanche leads to yet another episode of Stanley’s dangerous and violent fits of rage. After Stella scolded Stanley for eating like an animal, with his fingers, he erupts into a disastrous rage. “That’s how I’ll clear the table! (Seizes her arm) Don’t ever talk that way to me that way! ‘Pig-Polack-Disgusting-Vulgar-Greasy!’—Them kind of words have been on your tongue and your sister’s too much around here! What do you think you are? A pair of queens? Remember what Huey Long said—‘Every man is a king!’ and I am the king around here, so don’t you forget it” (Williams 107)! This outburst alone highlights the cruel and misogynistic ways of Stanley and further paints him in a negative and harsh light.

In this play, the women are portrayed as very sexual beings who like getting the attention from men and whose self esteem comes from the male characters. Stanley and Stella's’ relationship demonstrates a female's need for male approval. Although Stanley is physically abusive to Stella, Stella still stays in the marriage. Men can be different with being Sexual like Stanley is. Stanley is the most powerful figure in the story and he uses sex to show how he is the dominant sex. Stanley is married to Blanche's sister Stella Kowalski and they are having a baby. However Stanley did take advantage of Blanche when she was drunk, and raped her. “My clothes are stickin’ to me. Do you mind if I make myself comfortable?” [He starts to remove his shirt.]

Williams really portrays Stanley as a very animalistic yet strong headed character, even though him and his wife Stella are living in a lower class community Stanley still works hard to support his family. Williams really illustrates how men acted during those times through his characterization of Stanley. Stanley loved Stella and took care of her, but there were many times that he became abusive and brutal. The times when he would get very violent with her, would lead to her leaving for a few hours, but he was manipulative and call and scream for her to come back. Stella realized there was no other option than to go back to him, because he did take care of her and he did love her. This whole theme throughout the novel depicts how women were

Feminism by definition means the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social and economic equality to men. But many a time’s people restrict the boundary of these forgetting the very important element of diversity of women living in different places and in varied situations.

When referring to the history of feminism in the manner of the first, second, or third wave, one is undermining the experiences that were ongoing during, in middle of, and before those waves that history defines. What ideologies of oppression were being spoken of to raise awareness and whose experience was being excluded/diminished? The articulation of feminism in using the metaphor of waves to describe how the ideologies peaked and rescinded, is incorrect because it focuses only on the voices of those who were able to bring their problems to the surface and excludes those who had a different experience or may have brought awareness in a quieter manner. There are many feminisms and each interpretation is defined by the collective oppression, rather than looking at the situation in an individual perception, which is what creates disagreements and division between feminists. Many definitions of feminism, feminisms, exist simultaneously because it is evolving as fast (or, well, as slow) as the world is changing and if one group of people are to speak of others experience of oppression (or lack of) in place of them, the result can be the glossing over of experiences and therefore, undermine experiences of others.

In 1776, the then First Lady of the United States was the first to raise her about women’s rights, telling her husband to “remember the ladies” in his drafting of new laws, yet it took more than 100 years for men like John Adams to actually do so. With the help of half a dozen determined, and in this case white upper-middle-class, women the first-wave feminism, which spans from the 19th century to the early 20th century, finally led to their goal after 72 years of protesting. The Nineteenth Amendment, which secured the rights for women to vote finally passed in 1920. This grand victory brought other reforms along, including reforms in the educational system,