Are Women Weak And Dependent Essay

The Weak and Dependent:

How Women have Came to be the Weak and Dependent Sex

Weak and dependent, whether it is known or not, that is how women are portrayed. Throughout time women have been stereotypically viewed as weak and dependent. Today, even though many actual women have challenged these stereotypes, contemporary literature and media actually reinforce the old ideas, by portraying female characters as weak and dependent. As a result, women have a lack of leadership and are treated as inferior to men.

There are several reasons why society views women as weak and dependent. Many argue that women are physically weaker. For example medical research shows women are more likely to be afflicted with a medical condition than men, which may cause

them to be weak (Turner). Although culture and society subtly hints that women are weaker and more dependent with no substantial reasoning.
The American culture has common traditions that degrade women as inferior, and dependent on men. Traditionally when a woman marries she takes her husband’s last name, therefore putting all her property and belongings under the man’s name (Women’s International Center). This automatically causes the wife to be dependent on her spouse. Women also often struggle to finish college or find a career due to the social expectation that women should become the wife or mother (Women’s International Center). This also results in them being dependent financially.
Well renown literature and stories shape society's perception of women.

Throughout time mankind has turned to literature such as the Bible, and Greek Mythology for guidance. Many bible verses “describes women as the property of her father. At marriage, her ownership is transferred to her new husband” (B.A. Robinson). This message dehumanizes women and depicts women as reliant on a man. In the Bible story Genesis 2:27, Adam named eve saying “she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man” (B.A. Robinson). This distinctly hints that men are superior. In Greek Mythology, there are very few significant female characters. In a Greek Mythology story “it was a woman, Pandora, who opened the forbidden box and brought plagues and unhappiness to mankind” (Women’s International

Center).
One of the main reasons women are assumed as weak and dependent is history. From early on society has referred to women as the lesser sex. The Roman law often compared women to children (Women’s International Center). When women are referred to as children, their authoritative power is relinquished. The comparison of women and children also propose that women cannot be independent and have hindered capability.
The attitude of women being weak and difficult historically is a worldwide issue In ancient India Hinduism women were restricted from owning their own property and were expected to always walk behind their spouses (Women’s International Center). Women were restrained from taking leadership and obligated to be dependent on the men. This forms an inevitable roadblock and makes it difficult for women to live a life of independence.
Societal expectations in past history factors into why women are viewed as weak today. From the 16th to 20th century women were expected to wear tightly laced corsets. These corsets often crushed theirs ribs and organs causing illness (Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion). The illnesses would cause them to often faint, and be lightheaded. People in the time period believed this behavior resulted from women being weak, not ill. This belief of women being weak appears to have remained throughout generations.
The way females were treated, career wise throughout time also discredited their abilities. In “preindustrial societies” men were expected to do the manual jobs while women were expected to do household jobs, proving that from early ages women were stuck with the weaker jobs. In the early 19th century multiple states made laws restricting women from carrying weights above a specific weight (Women’s International Center). These laws enforced society’s depiction of women being weak. Although in the late 1800’s “The close of war found thousands of women in every state performing thoroughly and well the duties of occupations which before the war it was thought impossible for them to follow” (Josiah H. Brenton). This made many at the time realize that women actually could do laborious and challenging jobs, which were previously thought as preposterous for them to do.
Women overtime have challenged the stereotype showing they are not weak nor dependent. Throughout the sixteenth to nineteenth century, countries were greatly impacted by female leaders (Women’s International Center). In the sixteenth century, Queen Elizabeth came into the throne, and was the seventh queen to rule England. “Elizabeth I is considered one of the country's most successful and popular monarchs” (Briscoe). Another influential leader in similar times was Catherine the Great of Russia. Catherine came to rule Russia in the 18th century. She “reigned over what is regarded by many as a golden era of Russian enlightenment and expansion” (History of Russia). Both of these monarchs proved that women can be successful leaders.
Today there are also numerous notable women, who are of great accomplishment. Oprah Winfrey is an example of an independent and proficient women. Oprah built an empire on her own starting from essentially nothing. “Through book recommendations, philanthropic activities, human rights awareness, and political activity, Oprah influences women around the world”. Christiane Amanpour is another example of an impactful woman. Amanpour, the CNN Chief International Consultant puts her life at risk to report from hazardous and warn-torn places. The last example of impressive females is actress and activist, Mia Farrow. Mia Farrow “serves as a United Nations Children’s Fund Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for children’s rights in impoverished and war-torn areas of the world” (The Feminist eZine). All these women are just a few of the many strong and independent women who defy the common stereotypes.
Although many women challenge the stereotypes, literature still depicts women as the weaker and more dependent gender.

In most young adult literature girls are made to seem like they need a boy for their life to be satisfactory. One young adult book that exemplifies this is Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. In the novel, the main character Melinda meets a boy at a party before the start of her freshman year. Melinda explains to the reader, “I would start high school with a boyfriend, older and stronger and ready to watch out for me” (Anderson 135). This gives the message that a girl’s life is better with a big, strong boyfriend, who they can depend

on.
Another book that has a similar attitude is The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen. In The Truth about Forever, the main character Macy starts the novel with a committed boyfriend, Jason who is going away to camp for the summer. As Macy is about to say goodbye to Jason she tells the reader, “So this had been all I wanted, a boy who understood how I felt” (Dessen 6). This quote makes it seem that for girls, a boy is all they want. Later in the book Macy says “I'd done all the things I was supposed to: I went to yoga class, did laundry, cleaned my bathroom, and tried to compose an email to Jason” (Dessen ). This quote portrays females in a stereotypical fashion. It proposes all girls are supposed to do is clean, relax, and talk to the male figure.
Along with literature, today women are referred to the dependent and inferior sex throughout media. In movies, women are often misrepresented, and overall have a lack of representation in the movie industry. Between 2007 to 2012, only 30.8% of speaking characters were women in the top 500 movies, showing that women are depicted as inferior to men. The same study shows that 28.8% of women wore sexually revealing clothes while only 7% of men did in the movies. This proposes that for females to be an intriguing character they have to wear revealing clothing. The ratio of male to female employees who work in the film industry is 5:1(Roth), which would explain why women have a false portrayal in movies and films.
Not only movies, but television shows also portray women as the weaker, dependent, and inferior gender. In the popular T.V. show Two Broke Girls, two single women have a lack of money and get by working in a diner for their male bosses. This series delivers the message that when women don’t have a man to rely on, they are financially incompetent. Another television show that falsely exemplifies females is the reality program Ridiculousness. Ridiculousness scours the internet and compiles a compilation of humorous videos often featuring people injuring themselves while trying to take risks. The only female cast member on the show is the model, Chanel West Coast. Chanel’s job on the show is to sit and laugh while often wearing sexually revealing clothes. Based on how the show portrays Chanel, the viewer could draw the conclusion that women are simple-minded.
From the expectation of women being weak and dependent, there are many tough repercussions. For instance throughout history, there had been a shortage of female politicians. Currently, women only make up 19.4% of congress in the United States Government (CAWP Rutgers), and only a quarter of women say they have attempted to run for office (Pew Research Center). This may be due to the fact that society views women as weak and unqualified. Without significant representation from women in our government, these stereotypes are less likely be changed.
The negative stereotypes not only influence adults but also affect teenage girls. In a research performed on adolescents, it was found that “girls who enjoyed sports often avoided physical activity in school because they assumed it wouldn’t be the feminine thing to do” (Culp-Ressler). It was also proved, “Negative stereotypes hinder people’s ability to fulfill their potential by limiting chores and opportunities” (UN Women). This proves that the stereotypes that are being advertised throughout the media are heavily impacting females and how they view themselves.
One other repercussion from women being viewed as weak and dependent is sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is an ongoing, harsh topic, for “Every 107 seconds, another American is sexually assaulted”. In 2003, nine out of ten rape victims were reported as female (RAINN). This could result from the male perpetrators view of women being weak and vulnerable. All of these repercussions are very problematic, and perhaps may only be changed once societal views on women have changed.
Many reasons and messages are given to society, to lead them to believe that women are the weaker and more dependent gender. Historically women have been presented as weak and dependent. Currently even though many women have defied these stereotypes, media and literature still portray women as the inferior and more dependent sex. These stereotypical views are in the mindset of many people today, and may only be adjusted when humanity begins to see the success of women.