Esther Jeeyun Hur
Professor J.
Mignano-Brady
English 102
5 December 2015
Male
dominance
Male
dominance still exists in many of our histories and societies today. Since the
beginning of the time period women have been ranked on the social beneath men
and have been treated as less than men. Our history shows that women have fought
for equal rights and freedom. Women have been controlled and dominated by the
male population. This tension is derived from men, society, and within a woman
herself. In the nineteenth century, women in literature were often described as
submissive to men. Literature of this period often characterized women as
oppressed by society as well as by the male influences in their lives. This era
is especially interesting because it is a time in modern society when women
were still treated as second-class citizens. Two interesting short stories portrays
a powerful and controlling man who uses his authority to pressure their weak and
indecisive wife and girlfriend. Two stories are “The Yellow Wallpaper” by
feminist Charlotte Perkins Gillman through the character husband John and unnamed
wife as well as “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway through
American boy and girlfriend name Jig. Male dominance and control in manipulation
of women which lead to their dehumanization, lead them socially and emotionally
oppressed within society.
The short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” discusses manipulation
and control from the men. Unnamed women who is forced into receiving medical
treatment by her husband John for her diagnosis of nervous depression. She is
forced to spend most of her time on bed rest and is not allowed to do much of
anything for herself. This was due to her suffering from nervous depression
after giving birth to her child. John forbid her to write but she still writes
when he was not around because writing is very important to her and it is only
way how she expresses herself. “There comes John, and I must put this away, he
hates to have me write a word. We have been here two weeks, and I haven’t felt
like writing before, since that first day” (Gilman 317). However, she lost wish
to write because John forbid her from writing. Her lack of freedom are
symbolized through the wallpaper. When the wallpaper is introduced toward the
beginning of the story, its color is described in the story as “repellant,
almost revolting; a smounldering unclean yellow strangely faded by the
slow-turning sunlight” (Gilman 317). This quote explains to escrive the
wallpaper, give of felling for the wallpaper that is almost sickening and a
sense can be representative of her illness. As his wife’s physician, he puts
his wife under the rest cure. Cure prohibits the patient from doing any form of
work. The inability of his wife to exercise her mind only seems to make her
more ill. Unnamed women states, “You see he does not believe I am sick! And what
can one do? If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures
friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but
temporary nervous depression- a slight hysterical tendency- what is one to do”
(Gillman 316). Women is skeptical of her nervous depression diagnosis, however
it is because of the dominance men hold in the medical filed she is manipulated
into seeing things through her husband, physician’s point of view. Men believed
women were must needed in the house and nowhere else therefore dehumanizing
them. John prevents his wife from the opportunity of expressing her feelings
and thoughts of her condition. Male dominance result women to oppression.
In short story, “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest
Hemingway, the couple arguing about whether or not the girl should have an
abortion. The American man in the story refers several times to the abortion as
the “the operation,” such as another quote, “It’s really an awfully simple
operation…It’s not really an operation at all” (Hemingway 115). The American
man wants his girlfriend to have the abortion, while the girl wants to keep the
baby. Jig states “Doesn’t it mean anything to you? We could get along” to which
the American man replies, “Of course it does. But I don’t want anybody but you.
I don’t want anyone else. And I know it’s perfectly simple” (Hemingway 116). The
American man pretends to car about Jig, but he feels that having a baby would
tie him down. American man definitely wants Jig to have an abortion just for
himself. American man seems like he is almost trying to trick her into doing
what he wants. Jig seems to be saddened by the situation, but is willing to go
through with the abortion if it will make him happy, as she makes clear several
times, “Then I’ll do it. Because I don’t car about me” (Hemingway 116). Jig
only cares about how American man feels. She doesn’t care about herself at all.
This shows girlfriend obeying men. This represents genders respective roles in
society. While the American man is the dominant and controlling member of the
relationship, he still acts like he has her best interests in mind. However, these
are his way of manipulating her and abusing his dominance.
In Deseret News, News title “Chinese ‘Feminism’ aims to
end Male Dominance”. One of the first women to become a minister in the
mainline Protestant churches of this capital, Rev. Gao seeks to build up
women's status in a land where male dominance has been a fact of life for 2,000
years. Her efforts have already gained her the label of "feminist,"
which is almost a pejorative. Gao has no need to verify that she’s got a
challenge. Women of all levels in society come to her for counseling. Mao
Tse-tung said, “Women can hold up half the sky,” and the Chinese government has
officially encouraged equality ever since the 1949 revolution. There hasn’t been
a lot of time for reflection, but Gao is ambivalent about the future. She’s
happy for those who finally have the opportunity to better themselves after all
that suffering. “It’s an important period of transition for China,” she says. Gao
says she preaches about Jesus’ messages on love and a caring community. Her
long days are filled with counseling, directing a choir, a bookshop, the church’s
finances, a youth program and women’s studies. And getting ready for next year’s
U.N. conference here on the STATUS OF WOMEN. Gao stands against the male
dominance with her status of women. This clearly shows that male dominance should
end.
In conclusion, overall male dominance lead to their
dehumanization. Two interesting short stories, “The Yellow Wallpaper”, and “Hills
Like White Elephants”. In addition news title “Chinese ‘Feminism’ aims to end
Male Dominance”, explains the male dominance. Through history women have fought
for equal rights and freedom. This era is especially interesting because it is
a time in modern society when women were still treated as second class citizens.
However now we are in 21st century, male dominance is now gone. Women
should stand up with their thoughts and ideas.
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