Norma Rae- a Leadership Analysis

The first idea is to remember the ladies. She states that men should not be given all the power. If the ladies are paid no attention it was bound to inspire a rebellion against this tyrant like behavior. If women have no voice, they will not be happy. If men need the title of master women will act differently than if they called themselves their wives’ friend. All these ideas are voiced in the letter she wrote. John expressed his ideas about women and how he thinks they should not vote in the new government. Both made valid points.

"Norma Rae" is a film based on a true story set in a Southern mill-town. The title character and fellow mill workers start a branch of the Textile Workers Union of America through the use of leadership. The two characters of Norma Rae and Reuben Warshofsky combine their talents to empower and lead the people of the mill from downtrodden workers to proactive union members. When Rueben first comes upon the town, he finds the managers of the mill oppressive to their workers. People have no rights. They make small wages. They work long hours. Rueben starts the revolution for the mill workers by inspiring Norma Rae through Superleadership. Norma Rae in turn empowers and motivates the mill workers to attain their

Carrie Chapman Catt was an extraordinary woman and activist promoting the rights of women for their political freedoms. Moreover, Catt’s background as a principal, teacher, superintendent of schools, and women’s activist gave credibility to her being a well-educated and refined woman, providing the ethos of her claim. (History.com) For this reason, she was more than capable of advocating for all women of our great country in the fight to allow women the right to a say in their government by giving them the right to vote. Catt argued in her speech to Congress in 1917 that “Woman suffrage was inevitable.” (qtd. in Edinmuller) Through applying ethos, presenting logos, and most importantly emphasizing pathos lead to the success of Catt’s impassioned speech to Congress. The construction of this speech convinced her audience that change is inevitable as well as necessary for this country to become the great

Do not "voices" come to us daily from the haunts of poverty, sorrow, degradation, and despair, already too long unheeded? Now is the time for the women of this country, if they would save our free institutions, to defend the right, to buckle on the armor that can best resist the keenest weapons of the enemy—contempt and ridicule.�? This insert from the speech is very persuasive because it utilizes pathos. Elizabeth does this by adding allusion to the text, she brings in a well-known woman from the bible and by using a well knows character, it provides evidence to the audience that women can be strong, and courageous and just like men, therefore they deserve equal rights. The message is clear and the readers now feel proud of women and what they are capable of, and agree even more with Elizabeth’s ideas on

“I’m a woman…Phenomenal woman, that’s me.” This quote from Maya Angelou’s poem “Phenomenal Woman” characterizes the common theme between the novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, the speech, “Ain’t I a Woman”, by Sojourner Truth, and “Phenomenal Woman”. The common theme between these three different pieces is the idea of a strong, independent woman, which ties into feminism and the concept of being equal to men. Even though these three pieces are each diverse genres, they are all conveying the same general theme in their own way. Throughout any of these texts, it is evident that the authors are pushing the idea that a female is not inferior to any man just because they have a different body structure or a different gender.

For every Attachment, when indulg'd, will engross too much of a female Mind, and leave too little Room for domestick cares: It becomes improper, when best placed, if it breaks out in tiresome Solicitudes and ill tim'd Fondness. I would likewise prohibit all vain Attempts at being foremost in the best of Qualities: For I declare, that in a Woman of Common Sense, can be neither the finest, the best dress'd, the politest, the wisest, the wittiest, or the most religious Woman; She can only be the best Sort of Woman. (8-1) Women had to have a certain degree of standard in order for them to be

Many times she rebukes her husband with the charge that men “are Naturally Tyrannical.” ( Foner 238.) When she pleads with John to “Remember the Ladies” as he and his colleagues write a new “Code of Laws,” she does so as one acutely aware of the vulnerability of

“I desire you would remember the ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could… that your sex are naturally tyrannical is a truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute, but such of you as wish to be happy willingly give up the harsh title of master for the more tender and endearing one of friend.” -Abigail Adams (Holton, Woody. 2010. "Abigail Adams' Last Act of Defiance.")

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

Chapter one is titled “The Easy Task of Obeying”. This chapter focuses on the roles of women during the 1600s and 1700s. The many duties that women performed daily are shown in this chapter. How women were expected to during this time period is also acknowledged. Ms. Berkin argues that “no matter how long [the women’s] caretaking duties lasted, no matter how hard she labored in the fields, no matter how ferocious she became in the frontier warfare or steadfast in captivity, these actions did not blur the line between male and female”(p. 11). Within the chapter, Ms. Berkin shows that women are still seen as the “helpmate” of men and nothing else, thus proving her point in how the women’s contribution the Revolution is overseen.

In order to keep a harmonious relationship, the wife’s duty was to keep her husband happy and by making him happy it contributed to her happiness. “This was accomplished by indulging his love for power and authority and making him the center of attention” (Links, pg. 68). Among the many duties of women, they “should polish men’s manners, correct their vices and inspire their hearts with love of virtue” (Links, pg. 68). All three of the magazines that were studied in Link’s Magazine Portrayals of Women’s Role in the New Republic had similar points of a woman’s place – “that women’s place was in the home, where the primary goal was to be amiable and compliant. Most talk of women influencing men was framed in relation to the reformation of men’s manners and keeping them happy at home” (Links, pg. 69).

Feminists movements start to emerge and are being recognized, but the plea for independence and gender equality still stands. In light of women’s plead for independence, Adams starts with an appeal to her husband, “I desire you would Remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors”(Adams lines 5-8). Notably, she expresses her hope for women’s freedom. Similarly, Bronte asserts her strong beliefs against societal views through Jane by stating, “Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel”(Bronte 103). Her desire for a life of action and independence is as strong as Adam’s plea towards her husband. They both desire one thing and that is their freedom. In addition, the 1920’s

expressed by J.P. Mahaffy when he states: ?This equality upon the position of women is

“Women are moral equals of men…the experiences of women deserve our respect and are vital to a full and

But a considerate and high-principled woman, may, without loss of dignity, and certainly without loss of respect, make them feel that she regards it as her duty to be their friend as well as their mistress, and that she looks upon herself as under a sacred obligation to advise them in difficulties, to guard their welfare, and to promote their comfort, simply because the all-wise Disposer of human affairs has seen meet to place them within the sphere of her influence (Ellis, p 210-211).