The Declination of the Status of Women

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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.

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