The Permissive Objectification of Women

The Permissive Objectification of Women

The poems “On Sharing a Husband” and “Things Cheaply Had” illustrate the struggle of women to survive in a male dominated culture. Both poems express a straightforward idea of the objectification of women in two distinct cultures. A close investigation of imagery and diction in both poems reveal the permissive nature of the objectification of women. In accordance, both poems do not hide the idea of being objectified, but conceals the idea of a need to permissively objectified. Therefore, the poem depicts that permissive objectification of women was a means of survival in a male dominated society.

“On Sharing a Husband” the first two stanzas are straight forward and reveals the mood of the speaker. “ Screw the fate that makes you share a man. One cuddles under cotton blankets; the other’s cold.” , illustrates the speakers frustration that is experienced in her relationship with her male figure. The use of the word “screw” implies a sense of anger and resentment toward the cultural understanding of husbandry. The poet expresses the biast nature of a commitment to a man, who is in charge of multiple women. “ One cuddles under cotton blankets, the other’s cold.” The poet implies the women were treated as conveniences and not individuals Likewise, she implies that the need for commitment springs from the need to survive in a society of ultimate dependence. “ You try to stick to it like a fly on rice, but the rice is rotten. You slave like the maid. The dislike for commitment is reiterated when the speaker compares her relationship as a fly stuck on a rice. The imagery of a fly stuck on a rice illustrates the the weight of a relationship and the dependence for necessities Likewise, the ...

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...wise, the poet is trying to emphasize how cheaply women are considered because they permissively allow objectification. The image of the gold lock suggests that material things is all the women want to continue being permissive. Likewise, the poet reiterates the “ gold lock” separating it from other locks. In the south Asian culture, the gold c lock is usually used to lock prized possessions. Therefore, the poet advocates that women are seen as possessions and are objectified permissively for survival. Through image and diction, the poet shows the desperate nature of women and the reason for women are being permissively objectified.

Works Cited

Ho Xuan Huong, “ On Sharing A Husband. “ Backpack Literature : An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Ed. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioa. 4th ed. New York: Longman, 2012.455. Print