“It was we the people, not we the white male citizens; nor we the male citizens; but we the whole people, who formed the union…men, their rights and nothing more; women their rights and nothing less.” – Susan B. Anthony
Throughout history men assigned and defined women’s roles. Women were expected to be the caregivers for the family. They were expected to be religious, and pure, as well as dependents of their husband. In the twentieth century this prevailing view was introduced as the Cult of True Womanhood. Although women’s rights have come a long way since the 1900’s a lot of the virtues within this “cult” are still very prominent today. Women still make 80 cents to every dollar men make. Women are still the primary care givers of a family as well as being dependent on men. In the works of literature; The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemmingway and the song “I’m Just a Girl” by No doubt; the submissive, inferior role of women is prevalent from the ninetieth century to the twenty-first.
Charlotte Perkins Gillman’s story, “The Yellow Wall-paper” was published in 1892 as a motivation outlet for women during this era. In the late 1800’s early 1900’s the Domestic Ideology positioned American middle class woman in their homes as house wives, and care givers. But this began to change as the women’s rights movement progressed. Many people believe “Yellow Wall-paper” to be a narrative of Gillman’s own struggle with depression and “hysteria”.
Throughout “The Yellow Wall-paper” Gillman utilizes distinct diction, to vividly express the major theme of patriarchal oppression. It is evident that women were not taken seriously or even respected by their husbands in this era. To portray that, the narrator says, “John Laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage,” when speaking about her husband (Gillman 315). The woman in the story is completely dependent on her husband John. She does not have any authority to her own life. She “takes phosphates or phospites-whichever it is, and tonics and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to “work” until she gets well again,” (Gillman 316). Even though she disagrees with these ideas. Gilman uses the wallpaper as a motif as a representation of all women. On a personal level it represents a woman’s inner self, and her internal struggle to conform to societies norms. Gillman makes this connection clear when she shows Jennie’s fascination with the wallpaper as well. The narrator says “I caught Jennie with her hand on it once,” (Gillman 323). In the end of the story, as well as with Charlotte Perkins Gillman’s own struggle the woman is free and discovers herself, and taking part in the transition of “The New Woman.”
Women did gain some freedoms in the twentieth century, but still remained almost entirely dependent on men, and still were far from being considered equals. In Ernest Hemmingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” the control and authority of a man over a woman is demonstrated. Hemmingway utilizes characterization in order to portray this. Jig is seen as a very weak character, and cannot make any decisions for herself. She can not decide for herself what to drink, as seen on page 114, nor can she decide if she should keep the baby or not. It is also clear that Jig is very emotionally unstable, and insecure. She needs constant reminder from the man that if she does it he will “be happy and things will be like they were,” and he will still love her (Hemmingway 115).
On the other hand, the man in the story is clearly the dominant figure in the relationship. The woman is clearly trying to send him a message by references the hills to white elephants; an extended metaphor derived from Southeast Asia representing a gift of royalty, and strength, that is cumbersome and not worth it to maintain. The man is ignorant to her feelings about the subject, and constantly insists, “It is an awfully simple operation… It’s not really an operation at all,” (Hemmingway 115). The control the man has over Jig is also evident by how little she cares about herself in comparison to him. She says, “then I’ll do it. Because I don’t’ care about me,” this blatant remark truly illuminates the extremes she is willing to endure in order to please him (Hemmingway 116). Hemmingway’s work, “Hills Like White Elephants” exposes the inevitable control men have over women, and just how far women will go to please them.
Although a lot of progress has been made in regards to women rights, it is still a prevalent issue within society today. No Doubt’s hit single “Just a Girl” was written by Gwen Stefani in order to publicize her exasperation over female stereotypes. It aired in 1995 and became an instant hit. Gwen Stefani’s message is clear when she says “I’m just a girl, all pretty and petite, so don't let me have any rights.” Even though “I’m Just a Girl” came one hundred years after Charlotte Perkins Gillman’s “Yellow Wall-paper” Gwen Stefani says “I’m just a girl living in captivity,” just like the woman in the story.
The three works, “The Yellow Wall-paper,” “Hills like White Elephants,” and “I’m Just a Girl” portrayed women are inferior and dependent on men. Although women rights have come a long way since 1800’s we can still see today that they have not come far enough. White males are still privileged; just take a look at our political system. And women are still earning less than men. We can only hope that one-day sex will not determine our fate.
Throughout history men assigned and defined women’s roles. Women were expected to be the caregivers for the family. They were expected to be religious, and pure, as well as dependents of their husband. In the twentieth century this prevailing view was introduced as the Cult of True Womanhood. Although women’s rights have come a long way since the 1900’s a lot of the virtues within this “cult” are still very prominent today. Women still make 80 cents to every dollar men make. Women are still the primary care givers of a family as well as being dependent on men. In the works of literature; The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemmingway and the song “I’m Just a Girl” by No doubt; the submissive, inferior role of women is prevalent from the ninetieth century to the twenty-first.
Charlotte Perkins Gillman’s story, “The Yellow Wall-paper” was published in 1892 as a motivation outlet for women during this era. In the late 1800’s early 1900’s the Domestic Ideology positioned American middle class woman in their homes as house wives, and care givers. But this began to change as the women’s rights movement progressed. Many people believe “Yellow Wall-paper” to be a narrative of Gillman’s own struggle with depression and “hysteria”.
Throughout “The Yellow Wall-paper” Gillman utilizes distinct diction, to vividly express the major theme of patriarchal oppression. It is evident that women were not taken seriously or even respected by their husbands in this era. To portray that, the narrator says, “John Laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage,” when speaking about her husband (Gillman 315). The woman in the story is completely dependent on her husband John. She does not have any authority to her own life. She “takes phosphates or phospites-whichever it is, and tonics and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to “work” until she gets well again,” (Gillman 316). Even though she disagrees with these ideas. Gilman uses the wallpaper as a motif as a representation of all women. On a personal level it represents a woman’s inner self, and her internal struggle to conform to societies norms. Gillman makes this connection clear when she shows Jennie’s fascination with the wallpaper as well. The narrator says “I caught Jennie with her hand on it once,” (Gillman 323). In the end of the story, as well as with Charlotte Perkins Gillman’s own struggle the woman is free and discovers herself, and taking part in the transition of “The New Woman.”
Women did gain some freedoms in the twentieth century, but still remained almost entirely dependent on men, and still were far from being considered equals. In Ernest Hemmingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” the control and authority of a man over a woman is demonstrated. Hemmingway utilizes characterization in order to portray this. Jig is seen as a very weak character, and cannot make any decisions for herself. She can not decide for herself what to drink, as seen on page 114, nor can she decide if she should keep the baby or not. It is also clear that Jig is very emotionally unstable, and insecure. She needs constant reminder from the man that if she does it he will “be happy and things will be like they were,” and he will still love her (Hemmingway 115).
On the other hand, the man in the story is clearly the dominant figure in the relationship. The woman is clearly trying to send him a message by references the hills to white elephants; an extended metaphor derived from Southeast Asia representing a gift of royalty, and strength, that is cumbersome and not worth it to maintain. The man is ignorant to her feelings about the subject, and constantly insists, “It is an awfully simple operation… It’s not really an operation at all,” (Hemmingway 115). The control the man has over Jig is also evident by how little she cares about herself in comparison to him. She says, “then I’ll do it. Because I don’t’ care about me,” this blatant remark truly illuminates the extremes she is willing to endure in order to please him (Hemmingway 116). Hemmingway’s work, “Hills Like White Elephants” exposes the inevitable control men have over women, and just how far women will go to please them.
Although a lot of progress has been made in regards to women rights, it is still a prevalent issue within society today. No Doubt’s hit single “Just a Girl” was written by Gwen Stefani in order to publicize her exasperation over female stereotypes. It aired in 1995 and became an instant hit. Gwen Stefani’s message is clear when she says “I’m just a girl, all pretty and petite, so don't let me have any rights.” Even though “I’m Just a Girl” came one hundred years after Charlotte Perkins Gillman’s “Yellow Wall-paper” Gwen Stefani says “I’m just a girl living in captivity,” just like the woman in the story.
The three works, “The Yellow Wall-paper,” “Hills like White Elephants,” and “I’m Just a Girl” portrayed women are inferior and dependent on men. Although women rights have come a long way since 1800’s we can still see today that they have not come far enough. White males are still privileged; just take a look at our political system. And women are still earning less than men. We can only hope that one-day sex will not determine our fate.
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