Confused Social Standards In Betty Friedan´s The Feminist

Since the dawn of humanity, women have been trying to achieve their personal idea of what beauty is. In the book “Pageants, Parlors, and Pretty Women”, one sees the author, Blaine Roberts, show the racial division between white women and black women as their idea of what beauty appeared as was completely opposite. Women of different color, size, attitude, mindset, and dreams all concurred that beauty was an important aspect for the Civil Rights movement. Roberts’ thesis, black and white perceptions of beauty both played a crucial role during the civil rights movement while the road that led them there was life changing, is depicted throughout her book. While things like the Jim Crow laws tried to put a gate on specific groups voicing their

She details her experience realizing she was, in fact, a Black woman, which meant she was automatically considered, by society, inferior. This revelation was particularly jarring due to her unracialized upbringing, and she challenges this conviction to its essence. Instead, she bases her identity on the environmental factors that occur around her.

Susan Oliver writes an exceptional biography that describes in detail the life, success, struggles and failures of Betty Friedan. From her childhood as a divergent American-Jew living in Peoria, Illinois to being an outstanding student and writer in school, finding her path as a strong feminist at Smith College, her struggles as a mother and wife to mothering the second feminist movement. Susan Oliver explored all the factors that contributed to Betty Friedan’s strong private and public persona. Betty Friedan, a driving force of the second feminist movement, is barely recognized for the emancipation of women. Mostly known as the author of the Feminine Mystique, Susan Oliver made sure to demonstrate that Betty Friedan was more than a mere

American women were beginning to break down barriers, such as educational opportunities and equal pay for certain jobs, which had been entrenched in the American society for years. Although women had overcome many barriers, it was found that “gendered and sexualized assumptions still shape the class situations of women and men in different ways” (Acker 444). As the class system continued to impact the inequalities of gender, men had the ability to alter their class status, where as women were unable to change their social class based solely off occupation. In the 1970’s women were influenced to undergo alterations of their identity and appearance to marry into a higher class. In “Cinderella” the idea to resemble a higher class was made by the father, who “brought presents home from town, jewels and gowns” (Sexton 33-34).

In her essay, “The Importance of Work,” from The Feminine Mystique published in 1963, Betty Friedan confronts American women’s search for identity. Throughout the novel, Betty Friedan breaks new ground, concocting the idea that women can discover personal fulfillment by straying away from their original roles. Friedan ponders on the idea that The Feminine Mystique is the cause for a vast majority of women during that time period to feel confined by their occupations around the house; therefore, restricting them from discovering who they are as women. Friedan’s novel is well known for creating a different kind of feminism and rousing various women across the nation.

Throughout decades the roles of women in society constantly evolves. However, society continues to limit the natural progression of women, who want more for themselves. In “Why Women Smile” by Amy Cunningham and in “The Feminine Mystique” by Betty Friedan, both discuss how the majority of time, women are always expected to act on the role given to them by society. Due to these notions that are set by society, the social roles of women have not progressed to their full potential.

Gender roles and expectations are challenged and brought to light in the novel Like water For Chocolate by Laurel Esquivel, exploring the way women are perceived in the things they enjoy doing, the deep concentrated feelings women experience, and the societal expectations women face. When answering the question of whether or not stereotypes are being enforced and followed, I was aware that just because a woman is doing something that is seen as a stereotype doesn't mean she is being forced to participate in it, or falling into a gender role. When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be different. I enjoyed a lot of things that boys liked and tried very hard to turn away from feminine things.

Black women are treated less than because of their ascribed traits, their gender and race, and are often dehumanized and belittled throughout the movie. They are treated like slaves and are seen as easily disposable. There are several moments throughout the film that show the racial, gender, and class inequalities. These moments also show exploitation and opportunity hoarding. The Help also explains historical context of the inequality that occurred during that time period.

A woman that refuses to participate will bring shame upon her family and perhaps even be ostracized. Rather than view the woman’s refusal as a logical decision, she is ridiculed and loses her place in society and lowers her chances of finding a husband (Mcgee, Shayla). They are viewed as a different type of person, in Lesotho, for instance, citizens use the term “lethisa” for uncircumcised Austin Wright: gotta put your last name and page numbers women; it means “they are no good, they are not whole women” (McGee, Shayla, p. 140). Not only is a woman’s mind swayed through the probability of punishment but for the chance at reward. Genital cutting after puberty is treated like a ritual or right of passage in most cases, signifying a completed journey into womanhood (McGee, Shayla).

Female genital mutilation is also known as female genital cutting or infibulation. Though they all refer to the same African practice, the meanings conveyed by each of the three vary to extensive degrees. For each of these words, I will explore the pros and cons attached to the word that influence the way that we experience, and have opinions toward the practice, and ultimately determine which is the most appropriate. When I think of mutilation, I

As can be seen, gender politics is an evident topic of discussion internationally. Females are typically the victims of gender inequality and Kincaid portrays the issue through the short story Girl. When the expectations of women are not met there is a pandemonium followed by a series of consequences. Kincaid has experienced the negative feedback as a woman. The shorty story Girl is only a small depiction of the lives of women.

Over the years Female Genital Mutilation has become a grotesque practice that has been all over the news and newspapers, generating debates about cultural norms and the worth of sexual functioning. Trying to explain this said controversy, there have been discussions about the tradition being extremely common in Africa and many other places as well, and remains a cultural tradition, which has nothing to do with religion. There have also been debates about the terms that are being used to describe Female Genital Mutilation; for example, “female circumcision” or “clitoris dectomy”. However, many medical practitioners have rejected the term “female circumcision” because that sounds like they’re comparing the term to the “male circumcision”,

Informative Speech: Female Genital Mutilation Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about female genital mutilation and where the controversy of it all lies. Central Idea: Female Genital Mutilation is a tradition in certain parts of the world. Most of the time these procedures aren 't carried out safely and the final outcome of the girls that have been mutilated are to work as sex slaves. INTRODUCTION (Attention Getter)This is Kizibianca of kenya, africa. At a mere fifteen years old she was woken up at 5 am and led outside of her hut by the the local traditional brothers and female elders.

Katie Kurzenknabe Dr. Hall English 105 24 October 2015 Female Genital Mutilation Female genital mutilation (FGM), also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is the procedure of partially or totally removing the external female genitalia. FGM is mainly associated with Africa; however, the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that it has existed in all countries at one time or another. The mutilation of girls is a cruel and inhumane act to Americans, but it has a long and meaningful cultural history embedded primarily in African countries; therefore it is not America’s right to get deeply involved and tell them to stop. There are three types of FGM practiced.

Female circumcision or genital cutting: is extremely practiced in Africa, Middle East, Asia and many other countries on the world. It is a bad culture that based on traditional and myth that extended from millions of years ago. This research is based on the effects on female circumcision with women’s health. Is it religious requirement to perform female genital cutting? Also, who are the victims of these evil practices?