Perception of Women Based on Social Views - Paper Example

Introduction

Women play critical roles in all the aspects of a society. They have been the tools to spearhead societal development and well-being since time immemorial. However, there are many cases which prove that they are not equally treated and equated to the critical roles that they play. The various works by poets, writers, artists and scholars have proved and depicted what actually is the society experiences while dealing with matters concerning women. This paper gives illustrations, based on the literary works, the different ways in which women are perceived in the society.

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The play, A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen, gives a clear illustration of the family life in the Victorian Era. On the other hand, it gives a clear way of analysing the points of view in the society which is male-dominated. The society's value are illustrated by using the example of women such as Nora. She is a rebel against the dangers inflicted towards the people of her gender. In the early years, the female equality with men was something which no one could fathom. The former were not regarded as important as men in the society. To the contrary, they were regarded of lesser value, either considered as a servant, a child, or even a doll. The alienations of Nora shows what the society values and assumes about the role of genders in the society (McFarlane, 1994). As such, the women could be regarded as dolls since they were subordinates to the whims of the husbands. In various instance regarded as child characters. For instance, Nora says that everything she thinks of is silly and even insignificant. She is replied to by Torvald who says that his little Nora has acknowledged that at last. In more than a single way Nora accepts to play the role of a child in the presence of the men who were dominant in the play. Torvald expects no more than childish talks with Nora. The serious discussions about various matters could only be with the fellow men. A wider perspective of this reveals how the women in the society were disregarded and were seen to be of no equal to the men.

The women the society which Ibsen creates were legally dependent on the men. It is expected that Nora had to be a dependent slave who had to get everything that she needed from or through the directions and advice of her husband. The laws of the society dictate that the men had to cosign for everything that the women needed to sign. There is an instance where Nora was nervous for forging the signature of her husband so as to try to pay a loan. The society dictated there were a lot of women inabilities especially in the man's world. Ibsen has created a platform where the strong voice and vigorosity of women through the creation of the women characters like Nora. In various contexts, they include Hilda Wangel, Hedda gabler, Mrs. Alving amongst other. These characters portray their integrity, firmness, intelligence and merit even though they are sometimes looked down upon in the societies within which they are. Some of these society and the male superiority complex. Ibsen wants to show the modern's and ancient society suffrage of women, divorce and unwed motherhood, marriage issues, the freedom dilemma and social conflicts, and necessity of having women dominated some aspects of our societies.

The Doll's House has in it featured the representation of the stereotypical women who are dependent on men, naive and irrational to the men. The society delegates the women to the demesne of domesticity where they are deprived of political voice thus needing the men to identify themselves with course which would split or downplay the importance of the women and feminism. Her husband would spend most of the time in the public sphere whereas she would be found home most of the time. It should be noted that the perception of women a particular society is as good as the society itself (Ibsen & Haldeman-Julius, 2008). The context of the society is what is important in considering the essentiality of women. The perception might different depending on the social changes as seen from evidences such as employment, education, abortion and divorce. The rapid change of roles in the society is not the only thing which is significant in influencing the motivation of women. Since the times when liberation of women from masculine inferiority, women have always been seen to be the same as men. This is a more liberal attitude where there are needed to have a number of conservative and traditional attitude to help in dealing with the problems which the women in our societies have been facing (Shannon, 2003). Furthermore, they are supposed to have the help of a few men in the society so as to rise to the required level as illustrated by Eric Ibsen in a few of his literary works such as A Doll House.

On the other hand, it seen in various contexts that the society has its own ways of putting judgement and some unrealistic expectations on the women. What a woman is supposed to look like is often moulded some toys, the billboards, magazines and television. That is a women who is perfect should have the same resemblance as a Barbie Doll. The piece of poetry by Marge Piercy illustrates where we find a girl who grows up through adolescence while being characterized to barbarity and other forms of appearances. The "Barbie Doll" gives what the society expects of a woman on matters of appearance and being attractive. Many instances see Piercy using imagery to describe the struggles which are experienced by the women especially while at the adolescence stage. Many effects are linked to this where an ideal image is created for the ladies and stains the minds of the girls. The Barbie Doll was "presented dolls that did pee-pee and miniature GE ovens and irons and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy" and later came the remorsefulness they had and felt. It is torturous to the girls especially those who feel less beautiful and have the feeling of not being wanted and liked by most of those who are in the society.

The poet gives deeper meanings which illustrate on how this can be of bad effects to the women. Especially that she has deeper understanding of what women were going through in most of the times than the male writers, it means that to some levels she was pissed about what the society really wanted and expected of the women. The society in that setting is no different from what is faced by most women of today. Sometimes, the women are forced and get the societal pressure to act in ways which are fake so as to please everyone. They wear fake smiles when they do not want to go on diet or exercise. It is inclined that the girl is on the verge of giving up. The writer, on the other hand, depicts that there are problems which the women and girls face but are not saying as most of them suppressed by the male-dominated system. However, for the forces in the society reflect the need for them to have all the resources they need so as to be on despite the fact the preparation we have might not be complete. It is a trait of most of the people that they wouldn't want to engage in their business goals before they are sure of how to launch them.

Most of these individuals should know that life is a risk itself. For those whose who are lucky enough to be successful, the taker of the societal opportunities like in the context of the texts, they should be prowling, restless and wide awake. It should be seen from what the women in the today economy, a lot have been done that all around us are opportunities to impact our communities positively and make fortune. Our only responsibilities are to open up these possibilities. There are no better opportunities that the successful people we know today had which we don't at the moment. For instance, the girl in Barbie Doll turned her thoughts to suicidal since she realized that she could not make up to what was expected of her by the society. Piercy brings about some form of ironic imagery where she is told to recognize that she is pretty though she was in a casket when saying all that. It is only in her death that the girl get the full achievement by the society. "Consummation at last" is what Piercy says of this incident. The woman is portrayed as someone who is meant to be ignored in the society throughout the lifetime only to receive praises and acceptance when she is no more.

It is perfectly reflected in our societies as most of the things which are put across by the women especially in the conservative areas are not taken as seriously and can only be acknowledged when something bad happens. The world or society which given by Marge Piercy is that of 1936 but all what happens in the context is true as there are many places where people put pressure on women so that they can act and look a certain way (Piercy, 1971). The expectations which the society has for the women are obvious as in the poem. "She was advised to play coy, exhorted to come on hearty, exercise, diet, smile and wheedle. Her good nature wore out like a fan belt." Also, the woman on this perspective had to change so as to conform to what the society wanted. "So she cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up."

Fences by August Wilson has a rather different and philosophical ways of viewing and dealing with the women. As much as the play is much centered on a father-son relationship, it leaves various questions and querries on how it is to be a man, and the true meaning of a family. A woman is portrayed as someone who is strong and is able to focus on mother-son, as well as the husband-wife roles (De Shae et al., 2000). They often liable and able to open up on what they feel about various problems they face apart from being categorically of the same in agreement. They are, however, often dominated by men who might take advantage of them in some aspects. If the women would be exposed earlier enough or be given the freedom which would enable them propel to higher heights of success, it would be different as most of the negative aspects would be reduced.

The play takes place in a more modernised society of around 1960s which found women already enlightened and would take up jobs which were meant for men such as in the military after the end of the Second World War. There were many ads and adverts which would depict what a perfect mother and wife of the 1950s was supposed to be or even look like. The women who were expected to take up some of the roles were, however, left home to take care of children and the household. They would do cooking and washing while caring for the home. It became the ideal role of women in such kind of society. The attitude of women does not change and is not different from the rest of the writings. At the beginning of the books, we realize that a woman is treated and put away from the things which do not include caring for the children, cooking and caring for children.

Conclusion

Throughout history the women as seen from the texts have been seen as stereotypes of the society. There are certain ways which they are supposed to go by so as to become what they are idealized to be. They are raised so as to fill certain positions which are needed by the society where the opportunities they have are limited to the ideas or importance in the diminishing of the society (Kennedy, 2000). The idea of the typical woman about the position they take and the roles they have seem not to have changed even with the intervention and outcry of literary works and great scholars.

Works Cited

De Shae, E., Kilpatrick, L., Smith, A., Kennedy, L., Kilpatrick, E., & Lebby, D. et al. (2000). Fences. [Saint Louis, Mo.]: [St. Louis Black Repertory Company].

Ibsen, H., & Haldeman-Julius, E. (2008). A doll's house. [Waiheke Island]: Floating Press.

Kennedy, P. (2000). Survey of views & perceptions of women. [Dublin]: Women's Health Council.

McFarlane, J. (1994). The Cambrid...