The Declination of the Status of Women

958 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: social status of women in the society

Society has considered women inferior to men since the beginning of time. In private life as well as in public life, society holds women dependent on men, especially relatives. The increased subjugation of women degrades women to second-class citizens, or in some cases objects. Men, especially in time of war, subjugate women. Society, whether in times of war or not, should not be accept this form of expression as the norm or considered it acceptable. Women are equals to men and provide a valuable resource; therefore, they should not be inferior to men. In Afghanistan, before the Taliban faction took power in 1996, women were “70% of schoolteachers, 50% of government workers and university students, and 40% of doctors in Kabul” (Bureau of Democracy). Also before the Taliban, women were free to do as they chose. Men and women were both free to dress as they liked and they could move freely about. The Taliban “cruelly reduced women and girls to poverty, worsened their health, and deprived them of their right to an education” with the false pretense of protecting women (Bureau of Democracy). Much like the Taliban, the theocratic Republic of Gilead also repressed their women during a time of religious war. the Taliban, women were free to do as they chose. Men and women were both free to dress as they liked. The clothing the governments in both of these situations requires its female citizens to wear, such as in the Republic of Gilead the “white wings . . . ; they are to keep [them] from seeing, but also from being seen,” which are hat-like objects which have wings on both sides to hide their face unless looked at directly, demonstrate their subordination to men (Atwood 8). Although women visiting the Republic of Gilead do not need to ... ... middle of paper ... ...s they feel they no longer control any part of their life and this could lead to clinical conditions including depression. Works Cited Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. New York: Anchor Books, 1998. Print. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. “The Taliban’s War Against Women.” U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2014. Johnson, Joyce. “Margaret Atwood’s Brave New World.” Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Sharon K. Hall. Kansas City, MI: Gale Research Company, 1987. 148-150. Print. Sandberg, Brian. “’Generous Amazons Came To The Breach’: Besieged Women, Agency And Subjectivity During The French Wars of Religion.” Gender & History 16.3 (2004): 654-688. History Reference Center. Web. 4 Mar. 2014. Tabeek, Melissa. “Christians In Exile.” Christian Century 130.14 (2013): 28. History Reference Center. Web. 4 Mar. 2014.

Show More
Related

  • The Burden Of Eve Analysis

    940 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is difficult to realize the harsh standards and obligations imposed upon women of different cultures. It is especially disappointing to note that women whom may seek to relieve themselves of such discriminatory practices, face little to no government support in terms of fighting inequality. Such as distinguished in text The War Against Feminism, women of Algeria must fight against patriarchal and incredibly sexist political movements, such as the “Islamic Salvation Front,” which although was banned, had won an election and the promotion of their platform’s ideas despite their notions consisting of extreme patriarchal views and their actual assassinations of individuals not compliant with their beliefs. I also strongly agreed with the United Nations decision to aid individuals from fear of the Taliban, in their stating of refusing to continue aid to Afghanistan if intense cruel practices were to continue. The interference of other government agencies in helping to promote the end of cruelty, such as was occurring by the Taliban, act as great movement of defiance against

    Read More

  • Sonny's Blues Thesis

    1361 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thesis Statement: Men and women were in different social classes, women were expected to be in charge of running the household, the hardships of motherhood. The roles that men and women were expected to live up to would be called oppressive and offensive by today’s standards, but it was a very different world than the one we have become accustomed to in our time. Men and women were seen to live in separate social class from the men where women were considered not only physically weaker, but morally superior to men. This meant that women were the best suited for the domestic role of keeping the house. Women were not allowed in the public circle and forbidden to be involved with politics and economic affairs as the men made all the

    Read More

  • The Role Of Women In The Invisible War

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    Governments often claim that they are helping women gain equality when they invade and impress their values on other cultures. In “Feminism as Imperialism”, Katharine Viner states that “Bush cut off funding to international family planning organizations [and then claimed he] bombed Afghanistan to liberate the women from the burkas” (1). However, the problem with wars claiming to “save” women is that the majority of the time women are just becoming victims of western misogyny as opposed to eastern misogyny (Viner, 2). Just because some women choose to wear head coverings doesn’t make them repressed, “liberation for [Afghani women] does not encompass destroying their identity, religion, or culture and many of them want to retain the veil” (Viner, 2). Therefore, using women to justify war is counterproductive because it still represses women and ignores what the women actually

    Read More

  • The Death of John Savage in Brave New World

    2206 Words  | 5 Pages

    Woodcock, George. "Brave New World: Overview." Reference Guide to English Literature. Ed. D. L. Kirkpatrick. 2nd ed. Chicago: St. James Press, 1991. Literature Resource Center. Web. 25 Mar. 2011.

    Read More

  • Struggle for Rights: A Comparative Study - U.S. and Afghanistan

    1433 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Taliban are still in power in many parts of the country, denying people the rights they deserve, and committing crimes against humanity. Women’s rights are nowhere near where they should be, they are treated like property, because that is how the culture sees women, there is violent acts committed on girls when they try to stand up for themselves, and people don't speak up against this ugly truth, nearly as much as they should as fellow human beings.

    Read More

  • Inequality of Women During 1840 to 1968

    1910 Words  | 4 Pages

    Many ancient laws and beliefs show that women from all around the world have always been considered inferior to men. However, as time went on, ideas of equality circulated around and women started to demand equality. Many women fought for equality and succeeded in bringing some rights. However, full equality for women has yet to be fulfilled. This issue is important because many women believe that the rights of a person should not be infringed no matter what their gender is, and by not giving them equality, their rights are being limited. During the periods 1840 to 1968, total equality for women did not become a reality due to inadequate political representation, economic discrepancy, and commercial objectification.

    Read More

  • The Lives of Afghani Women : Has it Always Been This Way?

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    Afghanistan was a very different place before the Taliban came to power. Women had a different role in society. They enjoyed much more freedom and equality. They could go to colleges of their choice and pursue careers they wanted to have. In fact prior to the Taliban takeover of Kabul ( the capital of Afghanistan ), 60% of Kabul University teachers were women, half the students, women made up of half of the civilian government worker population, 70% of the school teachers, 40% of the doctors, some women have served in parliament (Schulz). Women could go out to restaurants, discos, walk publicly with their boyfriends, and enjoyed a much looser dress code. The most popular Afghani women’s clothes of the time were in fact, jeans and mini-skirts (Schulz).

    Read More

  • Middle Ages: Dark or Not?

    1118 Words  | 3 Pages

    McFall, J. Arthur. "Ill-Fated Crusade Of The Poor People." Military History 14.6 (1998): 26. MAS

    Read More

  • Individuality Vs. Social Stability

    1330 Words  | 3 Pages

    Brave New World. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006. Print.

    Read More

  • Treatment Of Women In The Odyssey Essay

    1329 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...e, women are the weaker of the two sexes. Women are slaves and spoils of war, if they are valued for sex they are used for sex. The universal portrayal of women causes a reevaluation of modern day gender balances by the reader.

    Read More

  • A Look at the Status of Health Care in Afghanistan In relation to The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

    1320 Words  | 3 Pages

    Brown, A. Widney., and LaShawn R. Jefferson. "VI. ILLUSTRATIVE CASES." Afghanistan, Humanity Denied: Systematic Denial of Women's Rights in Afghanistan. New York, NY.: Human Rights Watch, 2001. 16+. Print

    Read More

  • Women’s Rights within A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

    1407 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...a visit with Aziza, Laila saw a middle-aged woman, with her burqa pushed back…Laila recognized the sharp face… Laila remembered this woman once forbidding the female students from covering, saying women and men were equal, that there was no reason for women should cover if men didn’t” (322). To see a woman who was as close to a feminist as a woman in Afghanistan could get, to see her fall to level that the government wanted her at was crucial point in the novel that allowed us to really see the affect that the government had on the women in controlling every aspect of their lives.

    Read More

  • Female to Male as Nature is to Culture

    2469 Words  | 5 Pages

    Ortner (1974, in Rosaldo & Lamphere) attempts to answer the questions why women, as she sees it, are universally subordinate to men. She admits that the relative power women wield and the actual treatment they receive vary widely between societies, that each society’s concept of the female position is likely to consist of several layers and that the cultural ideology may well be distinct from the observable state of affairs, but sets out nonetheless from the premise that women have ... ... middle of paper ... ... different societies and the relationships between gender and power and sex and gender are far from clear-cut. In order to elucidate the position of women in a particular society we must examine the complexities and nuances of its social relations and culture rather than imprudently applying our own categories.

    Read More

  • The Role of Women in Society

    374 Words  | 1 Pages

    Women have always been essential to society. Fifty to seventy years ago, a woman was no more than a house wife, caregiver, and at their husbands beck and call. Women had no personal opinion, no voice, and no freedom. They were suppressed by the sociable beliefs of man. A woman’s respectable place was always behind the masculine frame of a man. In the past a woman’s inferiority was not voluntary but instilled by elder women, and/or force. Many, would like to know why? Why was a woman such a threat to a man? Was it just about man’s ability to control, and overpower a woman, or was there a serious threat? Well, everyone has there own opinion about the cause of the past oppression of woman, it is currently still a popular argument today.

    Read More

  • An Analysis Of Mariama Bâ's So Long A Letter

    1496 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout history, there have been constant power struggles between men and women, placing the male population at a higher position than the female. Therefore, in this patriarchal system women have always been discriminated against simply due to the fact that they are women. Their rights to vote, to be educated and essentially being treated equally with men was taken away from them and they were viewed as weak members of society whose successes depend on men. However, this has not prevented them from fighting for what they believe in and the rights they are entitled to. On the contrary, it has motivated them to try even harder and gain these basic societal rights through determination and unity.

    Read More

More about The Declination of the Status of Women

Open Document