Women

Consider the various ways in which Wilde presents the role of women in contemporary society in A Woman of No Importance. Compare and contrast this with Shaw’s presentation of the female characters in Mrs. Warren’s Profession. Ensure that you offer alternative viewpoints in your answer as well as demonstrating aspects of the dramatic and theatrical from both texts. In both A Woman of No Importance (1893) and Mrs.

Warren’s Profession (1894) texts, there is evidence of shared and contrasting views regarding the role of women in contemporary society presented through characters’ attitudes, and this is particularly significant, considering that both plays were written near the turn of the century in a majorly patriarchal society, when the onset of equal right’s was finally beginning to be considered and the ‘liberated woman’ had surfaced. How exactly did Wilde and Bernard Shaw present this?

There Much Evidence to Ponder

An arguably atypical and progressive nature of some of the female characters in both texts is evident within, particularly in that of A Woman of No Importance’s American puritan Hester Worsely, ironically named after adulterous Hester Prynne of the Victorian novel ‘The Scarlet Letter’ (1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne). Hester is very much opposed to the aristocratic nature of the rest of the party and refers to English society as “shallow, selfish, foolish”, (act II, p33) believing in social and gender equality.

This is made clear when she goes on to show her outrage towards unseen infamous Lord Henry Weston, Lady Caroline’s brother, and how they “are unjust to women in England” and she believes “If a man and a woman have sinned let them both be branded”. Her somewhat inappropriately timed speeches suggest her views are regarded as estranged, perhaps due to her bashful naivety, and I believe the perhaps it was Wilde’s intention for Hester to symbolize ‘the New Woman’, and her out of place nature following initial introduction to Victorian society.

Hester’s outlook and views on society are not dissimilar to the “strong, confident, self-possessed,” character of Vivie Warren in ‘Mrs. Warren’s Profession’, who is also a firm believer in the liberation of women and equality of sexes, and whom, after immediate introduction demonstrates uncharacteristically male mannerisms and possessions, “A lady’s bicycle is propped up against the wall”.

The Women’s Rights Movement Women’s Suffrage is a subject that could easily be considered a black mark on the history of the United States. The entire history of the right for women to vote takes many twists and turns but eventually turned out alright. This paper will take a look at some of these twists and turns along with some of the major figures involved in the suffrage movement. The first recorded instance in American history where a woman demanded the right to vote was in 1647.

Margaret Brent, a property owner in Maryland wanted two votes in the newly formed colonial assembly to represent her vote and the vote of Lord Baltimore whom she held power-of-attorney. (Pleck, 2007) The governor eventually turned down her demands. The 1790 constitution of New Jersey allowed women property owners the right to vote through a loophole that stated that “all inhabitants” that met property and residence requirements could vote.

This loophole was closed in 1807 by a state legislator that had almost lost an election due to a women’s voting bloc. Other than these isolated incidents the first organized women’s suffrage movement can be traced back to the mid 1800’s with the Seneca Falls Convention. The organized movement started at Seneca Falls, NY with a meeting called by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott. (National Women’s History Museum, 2007) Both women received their start in the women’s suffrage movement by being active in the abolitionist movement.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was an important element of the Women’s Rights Movement, but not many people know of her significance or contributions because she has been overshadowed by her longtime associate and friend, Susan B. Anthony. However, I feel that she was a woman of great importance who was the driving force behind the 1848 Convention, played a leadership role in the women’s rights movement for the next fifty years, and in the words of Henry Thomas, “She was the architect and author of the movement’s most important strategies ad documents. ” Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born in 1815 into an affluent family in Johnstown, New York.

Now, while Stanton was growing up, she tried to imitate her brother’s academic achievements due to the fact that her parents, Daniel and Mary Livingston Cady, preferred their sons to their daughters. In trying to copy her male siblings, she got an extraordinary education: she went to Johnstown Academy and studied Greek and mathematics; she learned how to ride and manage a horse; she became a skilled debater; and she attended the Troy Female Seminary in New York (one of the first women ‘s academies to offer an advanced education equal to that of male academies) where she studies logic, physiology, and natural rights philosophy.

However, it wasn’t her education, but watching her father, who was a judge and lawyer, handle his cases, that cause her to become involved in various women rights movements. Stanton and Mott attended the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention in London in 1840 and were refused seating for being women. After this incident the two women started seeing a connection between the plight of slaves and the treatment of women in the United States. The women’s movement took a back seat to the slavery movement during the American Civil War as the women turned their attention to working through the war.

However, after the war was over the women’s movement thought they were in a good position to win some key battles due to their war work and the attention being paid to equal rights at the time. This was not to be so as the Republicans in power believed that women’s suffrage would hurt their chances to push forth rights for freed slaves because of the widespread unpopularity of women’s rights. (National Women’s History Museum, 2007)  After the war the women’s movement split into rival factions with Stanton and Susan B.

Anthony forming the National Woman’s Suffrage Association and Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe forming the American Woman’s Suffrage Association. The NWSA did not support the passing of the 15th amendment because the amendment did not address the giving of equal rights to women as well as blacks and fought against the passing of the amendment as a result. The AWSA supported the 15th amendment and wanted to fight for women’s rights in the states separately. Pleck, 2007) The two movements eventually reunited in 1890 to become the National American Woman Suffrage Association led by Susan B. Anthony until 1900 when Carrie Chapman Catt took over. Catt was integral in the strategy to work for women’s suffrage on both the federal and state level upon her re-election to president of the NAWSA in 1915 which led to another faction split between the NAWSA and a group led by Alice Paul who believed that the major push of the fight needed to be focused at the federal level. About. com, 2007)  Finally all the hard work of the women’s movement paid off in the summer of 1920 with the ratification of the 19th amendment. This was not an easily won victory however. Congress first took up the issue in 1915 but the bill lost in the voting and was shelved for almost three years. (“Women’s Suffrage,” 2007) On the eve of the vote President Wilson made a widely publicized appeal for the passage of the bill and this time the bill barely passed with the need two-thirds majority.

However, the bill failed to gain the necessary votes to pass the Senate even with another of President Wilson’s appeals for the passage of the bill. The bill would be voted down twice over the following year before finally gaining enough votes to pass due to Congress’ interest in having the issue solved prior to the presidential elections slated for 1920 and on June 4, 1919 the Senate voted to pass the bill to add the amendment to the constitution securing women’s rights. The effects of the 19th amendment on the United States can be seen everywhere.

More women now hold public office and the United States even has a woman running for the Democratic nomination for president. The women’s voting block is one politicians cannot forget about and still have hopes of being successful. The ability of women to vote, even though sparsely used until the 1980s, changed how companies did business and what legislation was passed for respect of the potential voting power of women. More women friendly policies exist, both in the workplace and in general life, which can be attributed to the hard work of the pioneers in the women’s movement.

Knowing that men controlled the ability of women to vote and that a way of life would be drastically changed makes the gains of women to vote even more amazing. I can stand back now and admire the bravery of the women who fought for what was and is rightfully theirs and for the bravery of the men to do the right thing by allowing women equal rights. You can just reflect about today’s life and affairs to see that the shift from legal rights to suffrage was successful.

Our public offices consist of many great female leaders, and the future for America is brighter with collaboration of men and women alike. The efforts of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns were indeed not in vain as they rallied up people to protest in unison and the results are evidenced by the American political structure today. References About. Com. (2007). Women’s History: about Carrie Chapman Catt. Retrieved November 25, 2007, from About. com Web Site: http://womenshistory. about. com/library/bio/blbio_catt_carrie_chapman. htm

National Women’s History Museum. (2007). Women’s Suffrage exhibition. Retrieved November 25, 2007, from National Women’s History Museum Web Site: http://www. nwhm. org/exhibits/tour_02-02d. html Pleck, E. (2007). Women’s Suffrage. Retrieved November 24, 2007, from Scholastic Web Site: http://teacher. scholastic. com/activities/suffrage/history. htm Women’s Suffrage. (2007, November 26). In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved November 26, 2007, from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/History_of_women’s_suffrage_in_the_United_States

The interest of scientists and historians in women’s Renaissance is still growing as there are different ideas and attitudes towards life of women in that historical period. Did women have their Renaissance? Some had, whereas others didn’t. However, Renaissance has played important role in formation women’s personality and identity. Renaissance was the first step on the long road to women’s freedom and equality.

The topic has been chosen as oppression of women and domination of men was a primary matter of concern in fiction literature, as well as in social and political tractates. Women were often oppressed and subordinated and, therefore, had fewer opportunities for their Renaissance. Before speaking about the impact of Renaissance on women history it is necessary to describe what role were imposed on women in society. (Zwanger, 1997)

Actually, women in Renaissance can be classified as traditional women who performed the imposed role and exceptional women who tended to show their personality and express their identity through art and literature. Generally, women were considered merely bearers of children and housekeepers. Therefore, they were inferior to men and customs kept them away from social life. Women’s tasks were routine and only wealthy women were allowed to escape from making clothing and administrating food production.

Since 13th century women were prohibited to take control over food suppliers as it was considered full males role. Renaissance women were active only in spinning wool and carding as it was considered female tasks. Wives were forbidden to participate in business as they had to keep their houses. Actually, Renaissance was the world of men and the world for men. Historians claim that women had more opportunities and jobs during the Middle Ages rather than during Renaissance. The reason is that capitalism led to more efficient production and women’s economic significance was reduced. More women remained unemployed and they were paid less for the same jobs. (Zwanger, 1997)

Nevertheless, there were moments in Renaissance history of women which impacted the future formation of women as personalities with equal rights and opportunities. In particular, some women tended to express their identity in art and literature making other women re-thing their social status and job opportunities. Such exceptional women were among the first to speak about women rights, their participation in business, social life, etc. with time women gained more freedom and were provided with more opportunities to express themselves. (Zwanger, 1997)

During Renaissance art was a powerful method to control women as it constructed a myriad of social pressures offering rich material for study female role. Economic restrictions and less opportunities prevented many women to devote their life to arts. Documented Renaissance artists were either children of noblemen or daughters of artists and they were expected to have literary and music skills. Despite they were talented, their careers finished after marriage.

However, they try to make art equal for men and women. Some women were active artistic patrons who arranged agreements with artists. For example, one of the noblewomen, Isabella d’Este commissioned significant amount of art having decorated her private studios.  Mostly, pictures represented traditional women virtues as chastity, moral purity and fidelity. Furthermore, some women used art to strengthen their power. For example, Eleonora of Toledo was married to Cosimo I de’Medici and she used her portrait with the son to strengthen her political power in Tuscany. (Zwanger, 1997)

In conclusion it is necessary to outline that the primary impact of Renaissance women on their future was the fact that through art they tended to strengthen their social political positions and to prove that they were personality who deserved equal rights and opportunities. Despite Renaissance was mainly a men’s world in which women were regulated and controlled by lack of independence and social pressure, little by little they started their war for freedom and liberty. (Zwanger, 1997)

References

Zwanger, Meryl. (1997). Women and Art in Renaissance. Retrieved May 1, 2008, from http://www.columbia.edu/cu/sister/Renaissance.html