Frye's Gesture Of Opening A Door For A Woman

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Recommended: Woman oppresion in literature

Frye describes how a male opening a door for a female is a form of oppression. When a male opens a door for a female, the door represents the idea of “helpfulness,” but it does not show that (Frye 12). Opening a door for a woman shows that woman does not know how to open the door. The males tend to show that they are able and willing to help a woman. However, this causes women to expect the “prince charming,” but men only “make a fuss about being helpful and providing small services when help and services are of little or no use” (Frye 13). The small gestures of help only prove to men that they can provide for women, but they are not helpful enough for women. Men want to show that they are nice, charming, and always there to help the women.

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