Primary sources:
In her article “Feminism and Symbolism in Zora Neale Hurston’s Sweat,” Judith Jackson Fossett argues that Hurston uses symbolism to depict the struggle and triumph of women in a patriarchal society. The narrative’s protagonist, Delia, is a hardworking African-American woman whose husband, Sykes, treats her as enslaved. Delia may have had a difficult upbringing, but her profession as a washerwoman has given her the resilience to persevere.
According to Fossett, the sweat-soaked rag that Delia uses to clean her husband’s clothes symbolizes the labor that Delia and other working-class women perform in a patriarchal society. Women are expected to work long hours to support their families but receive inadequate compensation. Delia’s marriage is to her physically and emotionally abusive spouse is represented by the rag because she has poured her blood, sweat, and tears into it. However, Delia gains confidence through her work as a washerwoman. She is proud of her profession and appreciates the independence it affords her(Fossett,562). Fossett asserts that Delia’s perspiration, rather than being a sign of submission, is a source of fortitude. Delia’s discovery of a snake in her laundry mound is another metaphor. According to Fossett, the serpent represents the risk of violence and abuse that women face in patriarchal societies. The peril of internalized misogyny, represented by the snake, is exemplified by Sykes’ accusation that Delia is “afraid of her own shadow.” Delia’s eventual triumph over the snake is a metaphor for women’s struggles in today’s patriarchal society. Using symbols, Hurston depicts the triumphs and tribulations of women in a patriarchal culture(Fossett,567). The story implies that women like Delia are subject to oppression and marginalization but that they can surmount their circumstances through hard work and optimism. Fossett’s study demonstrates the pertinence of these issues as women continue to fight for equality and recognition in a culture that frequently attempts to silence and diminish them.
In “Society’s Limitations on a Mother’s Dreams: An Analysis of Tillie Olsen’s ‘I Stand Here Ironing,'” which focuses on Tillie Olsen’s short story, Kaitlyn Duffy analyzes women. In this fictional narrative, a mother reflects on her relationship with her eldest daughter, who is having difficulty establishing her own identity (Duffy, 34). Duffy argues that the narrative portrays women as incapable of escaping restrictive cultural norms. As she strives to provide for her children in today’s patriarchal society, the mother encounters significant obstacles. She must work lengthy hours to support her family, leaving her with little time to spend with her children. The fact that she spends the entirety of the novel ironing is a metaphor for the expected role of women at home and this concept.
The protagonist’s mother, Emily, also imposes social restrictions on her daughter. She cannot pursue her writing passion due to her mother’s lack of encouragement and the family’s financial difficulties. According to Duffy, this exemplifies women’s challenges when choosing between familial and cultural expectations and their ambitions. Despite these faults, Duffy argues that the story inspires readers by demonstrating that women are resilient and courageous. Despite the obstacles, the mother is devoted to providing for her family (Duffy, 36). Emily demonstrates fortitude by pursuing her writing ambitions despite encountering obstacles. The narrative, according to Duffy, demonstrates that women can flourish despite social expectations, even if they do not always get their way.
In her article titled “Jamaica Kincaid’s ‘Girl’: A Rhetorical Analysis,” Xaviania S. Scully analyzes the short story from the female characters’ points of view. The narrative is a mother’s lecture to her daughter about proper behavior. Scully asserts that the story demonstrates how women are constrained by stringent social norms and expectations (Scully, pg 59). The mother teaches her daughter domestic skills, including cooking, cleaning, and general maintenance. This expresses the belief that women’s worth is based on their ability to fulfill traditional gender roles in the household.
Scully responds by asserting that the novel features strong, autonomous female characters. The mother’s eloquent speech suggests that women can control their lives and make decisions. In addition to being grounded in reality, the mother’s advice offers practical tips for women’s commonplace lives (Scully, pg 62). This implies that women can exercise their agency despite living in an environment that restricts and confines them. Scully digs deeper into the story’s rhetorical strategies that emphasize women’s limitations. The monotony and uniformity created by the phrase “this is how you” indicates the high standards imposed on women. The mother’s warnings to her daughter about certain behaviors and attitudes allude to restrictive societal expectations for women.
Scully’s overall interpretation of “Girl” suggests that female characters are portrayed as both potent and susceptible to cultural norms and expectations. The narrative emphasizes the constraints women experience in contemporary society but also suggests that they can find ways to exercise their agency and overcome these obstacles (Scully, pg 59). The narrative is an uplifting reminder of women’s resistance and empowerment throughout history in the face of oppression and marginalization.
Secondary sources:
The outstanding essay “We Should All Be Feminists” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie depicts women as complex, unique people deserving of respect and parity with males in the law. Adichie advocates for intersectional feminism, which recognizes the difficulties faced by women of different ethnic, social, and sexual identities. How Adichie portrays women as complicated and varied is a recurring theme in her writing(Adichie,34). She emphasizes that women are a diverse group of people with various backgrounds and viewpoints, not a homogenous group. Adichie contends that gender knowledge must go beyond these binary categories since conventional ideas of femininity and masculinity are constricting and oppressive. Adichie also exemplifies that women and men need equal access to opportunity. She claims that women have been marginalized and subjugated throughout history and in many cultures worldwide (Adichie,40). Adichie contends that feminism should promote women’s full and equal participation in all spheres of society, such as politics, business, and the media.
“Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men” by Caroline Criado Perez portrays a bleak picture of women’s treatment in various institutions and fields, including healthcare, public transportation, and the workplace. This book argues that gender inequality and patriarchal structures have persisted due to a paucity of research and data regarding women’s experiences.
Perez frequently disregards the existence of feminine characters. She argues that women’s perspectives are rarely included in research and data accumulation, resulting in ineffective policies and designs (Criado 9). Perez provides several examples, including the paucity of female crash test models and the absence of women in clinical studies of medications and medical treatments.
Perez’s assertion that women are the focus of discrimination and exclusion is supported by the occurrence of gender bias in statistics and studies. She contends that this bias leads to patriarchal systems and upholds negative stereotypes of women (Criado 4). Additionally, The book explains how the gender wage gap persists because women’s work is undervalued in economic models, and there is a paucity of information on women’s incomes. Nevertheless, Perez shows that women can surmount challenges and affect social change. She focuses on female activists, researchers, and government representatives who oppose gender bias in statistics and call for more inclusive study and rules (Criado 6). Perez contends that including female viewpoints in research and data collection can result in a more just and equal society. “Invisible Women” portrays women as a disadvantaged minority due to misogyny in statistics and research. However, the book also demonstrates how women fight against these stereotypes and advocate for more progressive legislation and social norms. Researchers, policymakers, and activists are urged to prioritize the voices and perspectives of women in their work.
Women are shown as multifaceted, imperfect, and frequently amusing characters in Samantha Irby’s “Wow, No Thank You” who fumble through the difficulties of modern existence. Irby uses her honest, humorous, and frequently self-deprecating writing to emphasize the unfair expectations and sexism that women still experience in today’s culture. Irby’s writings’ imperfect and untrue portrayal of women is one of his main themes. She is open about her battles with anxiety, depression, and body image. She writes with humor and candor about the challenges of juggling relationships and professional aspirations. The polished, well-groomed representations of women in the media are a welcome change from Irby’s work. Irby portrays female characters as helpless captives of patriarchal expectations and norms. In addition to being excellent mothers, wives, and workers, she discusses how women are expected to appear a certain way and maintain a particular social status. Irby attacks these expectations with biting wit and scathing derision, highlighting the absurdity of such high standards.
Irby demonstrates that despite women’s challenges and restrictions, they are resilient and resourceful. She emphasizes self-care and self-acceptance throughout her writing and encourages readers to find happiness in simple pleasures such as a home-cooked meal or their favored television program. Irby emphasizes the spectrum of female experience, from the difficulties of single motherhood to the benefits of a close female friendship group.
Conclusion
Women are depicted in a diversity of ways in the texts we examined. In “Feminism and Symbolism in Zora Neale Hurston’s Sweat,” women are portrayed as strong and resourceful despite the prevalence of tyranny and patriarchy. The women in Tillie Olsen’s “I Stand Here Ironing” are depicted as being hampered by societal norms and having difficulty establishing a balance between parenthood and pursuing their own goals(Irby,19). In “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, women are portrayed as compliant and defiant in the face of patriarchal expectations. “We Should All Be Feminists” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a contemporary work that emphasizes the significance of gender equality and challenges women’s restrictive preconceptions and expectations. The book “Invisible Women” by Caroline Criado Perez highlights how women are underrepresented in statistical analyses and, as a result, ignored and underserved. The women in Samantha Irby’s “Wow, No Thank You” are portrayed as multifaceted, flawed, and frequently amusing individuals endeavoring to navigate the complexities of modern life(Irby,22). These materials demonstrate the importance of recognizing the diversity of women’s lived experiences and the unique challenges they confront in today’s patriarchal culture. We can create a more just and equitable society for everyone if we work to dismantle detrimental gender norms and expectations and acknowledge the unique ways existing social institutions impact women.
Work Cited
Fossett, Judith Jackson. “Feminism and Symbolism in Zora Neale Hurston’s Sweat.” African American Review, vol. 29, no. 4, 1995, pp. 565–75.
Duffy, Kaitlyn. “Society’s Limitations on a Mother’s Dreams: An Analysis of Tillie Olsen’s ‘I Stand Here Ironing’.” Student Pulse, vol. 9, no. 2, 2017, pp. 33–37.
Scully, Xaviania S. “Jamaica Kincaid’s ‘Girl’: A Rhetorical Analysis.” College Language Association Journal, vol. 64, no. 1, 2020, pp. 57–69.
Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. We Should All Be Feminists. Anchor Books, 2017.
Criado Perez, Caroline. Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. Abrams Press, 2019.
Irby, Samantha. Wow, No, Thank You: vintage Books, 2020.
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