Gender roles in Pat Barkers' Regeneration

After four years of seemingly endless battle between a divided nation, more than 600,000 people were killed. These lives, however, were not given in vain. Had it not been for the American Civil War, abolition may not have been carried out. The nation might have remained divided. Women might have remained confined to their roles as the "homemakers." Although the Civil War was fought in hopes of preserving the nation and ridding it of slavery, another war raged on within the depths of this war--the women's war. Serving as nurses both in the hospital and on the battlefields, women came to know a whole

In “A&P” John Updike develops a theme of maturation. 2-3 sentences introducing premise of story and character- The story is essentially a coming of age story where the protagonist Sammy makes an immature decision that he believes is an adult thing to do. Unfortunately for Sammy, his chivalrous act goes unnoticed by Queenie and her friends, and he is left to face the consequences of his childish actions. Thesis- In “A&P,” Updike illustrates that Sammy’s immaturity results from his judgmental attitude, disrespectful personality, and sexist beliefs. BODY PARAGRAPH 1 Topic Sentence- First of all, Updike depicts Sammy as judgmental toward his customers, co-workers, and family. Transition – no transition (it’s not as critical here.) Supporting point

Regeneration is a novel largely based upon the male experience of war , however Barker's use of predominantly confident and modern women represents the seismic effects the war had on the female population, while also exploring how the war was an emasculating experience for men. As the jingoistic illusions of what war was like were weakened by the harsh realities of war for the men who signed up to fight, they began taking on more maternal roles, whereas, some women transformed into independent strong-minded individuals, taking on traditional male roles such as working in munitions. Barker has chosen to focus strongly on the roles of women, as she wants to show how they experienced

She uses this quote to point out women did not have much choice before the war came. “Women were expected to keep busy at home and church and to avoid heavy labor, business, and politics.” In this quote, she is explaining how they were viewed before the war. Kathleen also discusses the many roles women were already offered. “Either way, women’s traditional roles and responsibilities were forever changed as many of them adjusted to life during war.” This is the only quote she uses explaining the transformation of women’s role in society. On the other hand, “A Family Affair” by Gina DeAngelis and Lisa Ballinger cite posters and people that had an effect during the war, which she follows through after with the changes that women had achieved. For example, the authors use the Red Cross as an example on women’s role during the war, along with women working in factories because there was not enough men to occupy the decreasing workforce. “Women were encouraged to take jobs in factories and shipyards. Mothers, Daughters, and sisters of soldiers fighting overseas wanted to do their part to help win the war.” Here the authors use the roles of women during the war compared to Kathleen who did not. “Many other women served as volunteers in

The structure of workforce changed, all out war effort and lack of working age male in factories brought women into factories across Europe in incomparable way. Thousands of women worked with the army as nurses and ambulance drivers, with nominal supplies and harsh condition of the front line, they helped wounded soldiers and provided some solace to the dying. Propaganda Picture by E.V. Kealy, P-524, on its poster says “Women of Britain say-GO” I think which means that all the men can go to the war and fight for the nation, while women are taking care of the house. War had changed role women were assigned to but they were refusing to go back to their old Victorian traditional role and challenged the gender status quo of the women after the war which completely changed the patriarchal European states, and American society as

Women wanted to be able to do more in the war. They tried to find ways to work

While the entire book is about how the war impacts various soldiers, using a female character

In the beginning of the book, we see that the women feel bonded by nationalism. This nationalism has brought them to the front line as ambulance drivers during World War I. Nellie “Smithy” Smith, the main character of this novel, questions this nationalism many times throughout the book. Even Tosh pokes fun at Smithy when she calls her “one of England’s Splendid Daughters” (Smith 13) because of how Tosh sees Smithy’s high class standing as part of the reason she has this nationalistic obligation. In that same line, Tosh pokes fun at the fact that the older generation is sending the younger generation to war, due to what she feels is pride-lead stupidity. World War I was a severe and terrible war, marked by young men dying in some of the most horrible conditions ever possibly imagined. These women, being ambulance

When the war started, women had to take over the jobs of men and they learned to be independent. These women exemplified the beginning of change. Coupled with enfranchisement and the increased popularity of birth control, women experienced a new

A particularly strong theme that runs through the entire novel is the unusual power that women play over the men in their lives. Rather than simply being passive to the impulses of men, Mildred takes charge of her life and decides which men she will be with and leaves those that she no longer has an affection for. Cain dives into more controversial territory by having Mildred use men for her own sexual satisfaction. Cain also moves women into the role of successful ‘breadwinners’ during a time where men generally held financial power further blurring traditional roles of gender.

The roles women were allowed and expected to fill were greatly altered with the occurrence of the first and second world wars. It was out of necessity that women entered the workforce in droves both here in Canada and abroad, with men being dispatched in record numbers to the battlefields of Europe to bring victory home, women were expected to contribute to the war effort through filling the positions left behind. This meant that the female work force which had been primarily segregated to sewing clothing and scrubbing floors now had the responsibility of building bombs and making bullets.

Ever since then women proved that they can work in a man’s workplace and do just as well. Any job that was a man’s, was a women’s as well. Women were soon “the most needed workers of all” according to Brenda Ralf Lewis. Factory workers became known as “the soldiers without guns”. If women hadn’t stepped up to the line, winning the war wouldn’t have been as easy as it was for us. Not only did the women in factories and shipyards have a big part in doing their part in the war contributions, but so did the women who were out on the field fighting alongside with their men risking their very life.

disappointing therapy. Other critics use the story as analysis of how women function in a patriarchal society as

The main female character is Molly, an ex-military member, probably Special Forces, who aids the main character through out the story. She is portrayed as a woman who is not to be messed with. " Because you try and fuck around with me, you'll be taking on of the stupidest chances of your whole life."(25) This attitude serves her well through out the novel because she is the one who must infiltrate both the Sense/Net and Tessier-Ashpool. Molly is the only woman on the "good" guys side who is physically injured. Even when she is injured, she continues the mission. Molly is able to do things that the men in the story cannot because she is "souped up, jazzed by the neurosurgeons for combat." (214) Her eyes are video cameras and she has a clock mounted inside her head. Four-millimeter razor claws are concealed beneath each fingernail and she has the ability to extend and retract them at will. Her military training has provided her with the ability to fight and execute order with swiftness and precision. From a feminist approach, she is a positive character. She is a strong character in a male dominated society. But she is not the only female character in the novel.

Men’s roles towards society is considered to be mainly working and providing income for a family unit. Furthermore, that’s usually how most men view themselves to be in appointment. However, Herland is described to be a society based solely on women. Charlotte Perkins Gilman dictates this “utopia” to dispute customary ideas of gender performance. The author implies that performing a level of femininity will both “imply mental and physical weakness.” For example, Terry O. Nicholson, one of the main characters in the book, is described to be a “man’s man.” He persistently shows disbelief toward this society without men and wants these women to be subordinate compared to him. He also can’t believe how well the roads are built with no existence of men.