In this essay I will discuss the struggle of being a woman, both in the context of the science fiction novel Jurassic Park and in the context of the memoir Wild. I will give examples of how men belittle women simply because of their gender, and how men feel it is right to sexualize and objectify women whenever they see fit to do so. Furthermore, I will also offer an alternate vision of how men can also treat women both in the field of science and during an extremely tough hike through nature. Women struggle is society, and it does not matter if they are strong and intelligent because the minute they have been identified as a woman is when they are immediately doubted as a person. Ellie Sattler in the novel Jurassic Park is a smart, observant and strong …show more content…
Before meeting Ellie, a rather flat character in the novel, named Gennaro made the assumption that ‘Sattler’ was going to be a man since paleontology is a very smart field of science. His surprise at her being a woman, however, was met with an almost expectance from Ellie in this passage of their first meeting: “When Ellie shook hands, Gennaro said in surprise, “You’re a woman.” [To which Ellie responded] “These things happen,” (Crichton, 63). It is apparent that Ellie has dealt with such a situation before, which is unsurprising since women are often seen as incapable. Similarly, Cheryl Strayed in the memoir Wild has to deal with the onslaught of doubt from strangers and friends alike about whether she can hike the Pacific Crest Trail alone or not. The first encounter of doubt came from her ex-husband Paul just before she left for her hike when he remarked that “perhaps [she] should try a shorter trip first” and while she was defensive at first she did realize that she had never been backpacking before, but that was not going to stop her (Strayed, 32). Much later in her trip when she appeared to be feeling more sure of herself she was once again reminded
In the past there were many biases against women and their lack of abilities compared to men. Although the male perspective has changed over the past few centuries, there are many feminists who still fight for ...
The women in the book seem to take up important and powerful roles that make significant change in the key areas of the narrative. The writer asserts that women can be independent, intelligent, assertive, and similar to the men, women can survive in the street by being smart. This is illuminated by the fact that a majority of women in the book are good hackers. The skills and character of the women help in discovering the cure for the virus. They are given roles that are not traditional and instead they take on leadership positions that are a great determinant of the success of the mission. This is unlike the notion in most scientific novels that leaves out women. This is portrayed by one of the major characters Y.T who worked hand in hand with the protagonist of the novel to bring out different skills and talents of women. In the book, we see Y.T talk on behalf of his partner, which shows stereotyping of gender in leadership. “Y.T. has to step in on his behalf. “Okay, “she says. “Speaking for my partner and myself, we 'll stay away from him” (Stephenson,
Man has always said that women are an entirely different species. As humorous as it sounds, no single gender cannot exist alone and are not depicted as superior to another. In Steven Spielberg’s film Jurassic Park (1993) the gender politics in the film associate the female gender to nature and the dinosaurs as well, but at the same time it deems the female gender as an enigma. While the film presents only two female characters, Dr. Ellie Sattler [Laura Dern] and Lex Murphy [Ariana Richards], they present feminist ideologies that not only present them as modern women but seem to contrast Ellie to nature and dinosaurs as a commentary on the changing roles of women. Despite the gender politics regarding equality, the film notes the typical female traits that are associated to nature such as the nurturing quality of mothers and the female association with the dinosaurs. The female gender can also be compared to the monstrous, in addition to the idea of birth over the institution of marriage. Ellie takes on the role of the heroine who is “characterized as “modern women” —capable, intelligent, and employed” but is still in need of help from her male counterparts (Belmont 350). The association with women, nature and dinosaurs is critiquing the change of gender roles and the rise of feminist ideologies.
In the first half of the book, “Half-changed world”, “Half-changed minds”, the author argues about how social and environmental factors influence the mind on the gender differences. She also includes the history and impact of the gender stereotypes we see and how science has been used to justify the use of sexism. In the first chapter in the “Half-changed world” section of the book she uses an example of if a researcher tapped you on the shoulder and asked you to write down what males and females were like if you would write down things such as compassionate for females and aggressive for males or if you would look at the researcher and tell them that every person is unique.(Fine,3) Based on the information in the book most people would pick up the pencil and write down descriptions of each gender based on the way the world perceives gender. She also talks about marriage and how “the husband is the breadwinner and works outside the home to provide financial resources for the family. In return, his wife is responsible for both the emotional and household labor created by the family…” (Fine,78)
Alexander Mussap stresses how “women and men are socialized to conform to gender-stereotyped roles” and this conformity heavily influences all their actions (Mussap). Christina explains her situation as “a lady cadet in a man’s world” reflecting how, in the perspective of a woman, the world is fixed around men’s standards and needs (Brooks ). When Christina talks about the plane incident, it is clear that she is angry at herself, highlighting how she “was squatting over a bucket like a goddamn girl” underlining the idea that doing something “like a girl” is not something to be proud of (Brooks 175). Christina beats herself up about something that she cannot realistically take the blame for. This is because society has promoted the idea that women are the inferior gender, and that everything they do has a negative connotation linked to it. At the end of the chapter, when Gavin Blaire has his suspicions of Mets, Christina immediately jumps to the defense, which makes readers question would Gavin Blaire even be questioning Christina’s sanity and story if she were to be a man. Authors Natasha Patterson and Camilla Sears discuss how society “[let’s] men off the hook” and elaborate further how in general men “suffer few consequences, particularly career or publicity wise, and the public seems no longer shocked by it” (Patterson and
"Women were denied knowledge of their history, and thus each woman had to argue as though no woman before her had ever thought or written. Women had to use their energy to reinvent the wheel, over and over again, generation after generation. ... thinking women of each generation had to waste their time, energy and talent on constructing their argument anew. Generation after generation, in the face of recurrent discontinuities, women thought their way around and out from under patriarchal thought." (Lerner qtd in Merrim Modern Women xxiii)
...en endured throughout the Realist literary period. This oppression has evolved into strong female business figures. Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” shows the perceived inequality and inferiority of women throughout this era. This lies in contrast with strong, powerful female officials, such as Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Chopin’s The Awakening illustrates a literary attempt at women’s activism. Women’s activism is still present today, and is seen in the recent happenings at the Plymouth High School baseball and softball fields. Women have evolved past their positions as domestic keepers that were subordinate to men to active, equal members of society. Feminist literature has aided this evolution over the year. Women have overcome oppression through activism and garnered more rights since the termination of the Realist literary era.
An example of this is Elizabeth because she is able to evoke change and does not experience many negative effects. This is shown when Wilson (1990) writes “so there were changes. One day, for no apparent reason, he started to call her Elizabeth… she fixed the up the attic storeroom as a workroom for herself.” (p. 4). She is able to get her husband to call her by her name and also she is able to make a room for herself, which she could not have before. This was made possible because she traveled and gsve herself time to think. She than stood up to her husband wisely by only telling him her name was Elizabeth, not by telling him how she does not deserve to be treated the way she was treated. Another example of the women being smart in order to escape repression is how Anila escaped. She is now living happily in Canada. Anila faces this when she meets a boy that her family thought would wreck their families holy bloodline “my family hated him. he was poor and non-Syed.” (Batool, 2010, p 1). Anila made a smart decision because she chooses to run away with the boy, and they went into hiding. Her family then tried to follow her and tried to convince her into coming back. But she is smart and does not fall for it “I knew it was a trap. This was a common ruse by disgraced families” (Batool, 2010, p 2). Even though all of the women face the same
Evolutionary gender determinism proves that men and women are different, not only in a physical way, but in a psychological way as well. As far as history can determine, men were always the hunters who were dominant and competitive. On the other hand, women were known as the gathers, who were cooperative and capable of doing several things at a time. Since men and women are different in their make up. It is a struggle for the two genders to live together and maintain equality and harmony without one gender dominating over the other. In The Gate to Womens Country, Sheri Tepper brings forth a solution that allows the two genders to coincide with each other. She gives a somewhat feminist view in her novel, which takes place some three hundred years into the future. She paints a picture stating that total control and dominance by men would wipe out the world. In order for all mankind to survive, the women and a few select men were forced to come together and make decisions that would change things forever. This novel is filled with situations where each gender takes advantage of the opposite and uses them to profit their own society; however, each gender not only took advantage of the opposite gender, but often their own gender as well.
Women are strong. Women adapt. Women will do anything to survive. These three statements are proven in Jose Saramago’s novel, Blindness. He creates beautifully dynamic female characters that often outweigh the importance of the other male leads. These assertions give Blindness a feminist touch.
Women are often described as weak, emotional, and powerless in comparison to men. The general thought is that men, because they are bigger and most times stronger, hold power over women’s minds and bodies. To be a feminist is to advocate for women’s rights in all aspects of humanity. In An Untamed State by Roxane Gay, Gay is able to portray the power of strength and survival in women. Men have a certain incompetence when it comes to expressing true emotion, while women, because of their ability to see things through a compassionate insight, hold the utmost power.
Traditionally, women have been subservient to men; they are still often subjugated, treated as objects, and are valued for their ability to reproduce. Since the beginning of society dating back to the Paleolithic age, in the hunter-gatherer societal system, men generally hunted and provided for the family, while the women gathered fruit and raised children at home. This brand of society has in a way persisted even until today; often women will stay at home and raise children while the man would be the one to “hunt,” or in today’s context, work and provide for the family. This puts the woman in a subordinate position as they are dependent on the man, often leading to women being treated as objects. These stereotypes contribute to the development of Lispector’s works.
A woman is a force to be reckoned with, as exemplified in the Black Panther production. Women in the film held different roles, such as queen, soldiers, scientists, and spies. The message as to the importance of women was clear; however, any chance to allow these women to make decisions was absent. The question of what more can be made possible to equalize the genders is a question clearly much of society is still trying to figure out. The females in the film held important roles but were not respected to the point where any of their decisions were taken seriously. To truly equalize the genders, the barrier that exists between appearances and representation must be abolished. In further detail, just having a strong woman on the screen does not make the film supportive or gender inclusive.
... take a backseat and hide our intellect behind the soft exterior of emotion. As said in Virginia Woolf’s essay, professions of women, we will always have hardship because we have to work harder than the male race.
Michael Levin, a professor of philosophy and author of the book Feminism and Freedom, faults feminism for trying to impose an inappropriate equality on men and women that conflicts basic biological differences between the sexes (Levin, Taking Sides, 42). Women are not the same as men, neither physically nor psychologically. In the past, men tended to be the stronger more powerful gender, while women have traditionally been viewed as the weaker, more feeble one. The untrue assumption that men and women are the same in their ways of thinking and physical capabilities leads to the failure of the feminist message. Their agenda of eliminating all observable differences between men and women is doomed to fail and will inflict more pain than gain in the process. Recognizing the differences between the sexes and allowing each to do what they are strongest at will in the long run make society stronger, more efficient, and more effective.