Is Marriage A Patriarchal Society - 1196 Words

Although marriage may have different meanings according to different cultures, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as â€Å"the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law.† Spouses are partners that grow old together, sharing their lives and responsibilities. The choice of a partner, however, also depends on the culture; it can be influenced by social norms, parental approval, or individual desire. In patriarchal societies such as the ones depicted in â€Å"Giribala† and â€Å"Wedding at the Cross,† fathers are responsible to determine if a partner is suitable for their daughters. Ngugi Wa Thiong’o and Mahasweta Devi present in their respective works two strong, hardworking female characters faced with challenging circumstances that have to learn how to make their own choices and find their voices in a world dominated by men. A patriarchal society is one in which men dominate every aspect of life. In such societies, men make all decisions; they hold all the power. And thus facilitates women’s oppression. In patriarchal societies, women are reduced to nothing but property, to be sold and given. They are obedient and subservient, serving at the pleasure of men. This patriarchal dominance is clearly demonstrated in â€Å"Giribala† when Aulchand, guilty of selling his daughter to prostitution, tells Giribala, â€Å"I’ve shown what good it can be even if we got more daughters. So much money for aShow MoreRelatedAnalyse Louisa’s Marriage with Bounderby as an Example of Patriarchal and Utilitarian â€Å"Arrangement† in Victorian Society (Hard Times by Charles Dickens)1814 Words   |  8 PagesA patriarchal society is the one in which the father is the head of the family. In such a social system, men have authority over women and children, and descent, kinship, and title are t raced through the male line. The idea of utilitarianism suggests that human beings act in a way that highlights their own self-interest. It is based on pure factuality, leaves out on imagination. Dickens provides three vivid examples of this utilitarian logic in Hard Times through the characters of Mr. Thomas GradgrindRead MoreA Patriarchal Society By Jean Rhys s Wide Sargasso Sea801 Words   |  4 PagesA patriarchal society is a world in which men are the sole decision makers and hold positions of power. As a result, women are introduced to a world made by men, and a history refined by a man s actions. In Jean Rhys s Wide Sargasso Sea, conceptions of gender are purposefully problematized. Women characters such as Antoinette and Christophine are pitilessly exposed to constraints of an imperial world.Wide Sargasso Sea presents a modern form of feminism which takes into account the intricacy ofRead MoreThe Three Day Blow By Ernest Hemingway1184 Words   |  5 Pagessuch as fishing and famous authors yet ultimately leads to a conversation on women. Through a feminist lens, The Three Day Blow by Ernest Hemingway is set in a patriarchal society, however, there seems to be a change in society as women are slowly unveiling their power they have against the patriarchal society. In a patriarchal society, culture is based solely on male values, while female values are oppressed due to male dominance. However, such views have started to contradict with one anotherRead MoreThe Taming Of The Shrew By William Shakespeare1382 Words   |  6 Pages women are shown to be objectified and subservient to men, conforming to the accepted gender roles that are expected of them. Patriarchal views of femininity support the authority of men in society, as well as subjugation and subordination of women. As written of the representation of women in early literature, â€Å"the focus of interest is on the heroine’s choice of marriage partner, which will decide her ultimate social position and †¦ determine her happiness † Yet through the story Shakespeare subtlyRead MoreA Radical- Socialist Feminism with a Postcolonial Approah Essay1260 Words   |  6 Pagesrespond to the problem. I believe that women are oppressed because patriarchy controls women’s sexuality and dictates their sexual roles. Men, as players in the system of patriarchal capitalism, control women’s reproduction. Through colonization and globalization this system of domination seeks to convert the more egalitarian societies. An example of this spread of domination is the white settler’s attitude towards conquering and taming the nature, which was forcefully embedded in the Native AmericanRead MoreTheir Eyes Were Watching God1136 Words   |  5 Pagesagainst a strict patriarchal society and towards her empowerment and independence. Janie’s first relationship gives us a general idea of how women were treated during this time. Her journey towards independence begins with a guilt-centered marriage to a man much older than Janie, who is thought of as a provider. Logan, Janie’s husband, is thought of as a provider because he embodies the idea that women do not have the capability to provide for themselves. Moreover, it shows that society believes womenRead MoreThe, The Gender Knot, By Allan G. Johnson1158 Words   |  5 Pagesthey were. They were either men or women, there was no in between or changing it. Society today has come a long way in terms of gender identity and gender roles, but the concept of patriarchy still has the upper hand when it all boils down. Allan G. Johnson’s, The Gender Knot, provides for a more diverse outlook on the women’s expected roles in life, how they are expected to handle difficult situations in marriage, and how they demonstrate courage, in Mona Lisa Sm ile. For years the expected rolesRead MoreJane Austens Novel Sense and Sensibility: An Analysis1492 Words   |  6 PagesThemes like autonomy versus independence and the role of women in a patriarchal society are explored in Sense and Sensibility. Using two sisters to symbolize the different directions the female spirit can be pulled, Austen shows the variable ways women respond to political, social, and economic oppression. The women of Sense and Sensibility are both trapped by, and breaking free from, the conventions of marriage and motherhood. Marriage and motherhood are portrayed ironically as the natural course ofRead MoreCanterbury Tales Character Analysis997 Words   |  4 Pages Additionally, Morrison claims that the Wife’s vernacular demonstrates the trilingual society existing in fifteenth century England. The Wife references her sexual organs in the three prominent languages of her time; she uses the English term â€Å"queynte,† the French term â€Å"bele chose† and the Latin term â€Å"quoniam† (Morrison). The three languages represent the structure of the patriarchal society existing in England; Latin is the language of the church and government, French is the language of the nobilityRead MoreA Doll s House By Henrik Ibsen Essay806 Words   |  4 Pages In a patriarchal marriage the male holds control and power of property, moral authority and, social privilege, over women, at least to a large amount. The husband acts and thinks like their wife’s father. This makes the woman attracted to the man. As weird as it may seem, male have always been dominant of women. Women were not able to vote or own property for many year s. In some places they had a limit of how many children they could have. It wasn’t until August 1920, that the 19th amendment was