2010 Verus 19th Century

Gender roles, I think, aren’t that restricted as much as they used to be. The lines between women and men stereotypes are still clearly defined, but many people don’t follow or expect others to follow them as closely as people did in the 19^th century. Woman can dress and act as they like now, as well as men without fear or punishment.  Well, that’s somewhat of a lie. Although they may not receive physical punishment, or go to jail, they can be sometimes socially outcast. Its more of a psychological and social punishment. A social taboo; something that people look at and ignore it because they don’t know how to respond, or how to deal with the situation. 

If a woman were to dress a shirt and pants, (something that would be shocking in the 19^th century), no one would care. But if a man were to wear a dress or skirt, he would be almost ignored and labeled as gay. This is where the ‘loose restrictions’ come in. People are able to tell how woman and men should act, but there are only some lines that are acceptable to cross, like changing hobbies that are usually a stereotype for one gender. Other lines will gain the biggest shock factor of the universe, like a man breastfeeding. (It is possible.)

But, we have improved! In the 19^th century, woman were to keep the houses, raise the children, follow their husband like a dog waiting on a command. They weren’t allowed to get an education, get jobs or even keep the money if they were to become employed. Men had restrictions as well. They weren’t suppose to help with children or cooking. They had to go out and make a living for their family, make all the decisions and be forced to work. Now, this may not sound like ‘bad treatment’ but it does have its own pressures and stress. Imagine having to make a decision for EVERYTHING in the house, at your work, etc. And if you were to be fired from your job, it was YOU’RE responsibility to keep the finances up and get a new one. 

I’m also not trying to say the men had it harder. I’m just trying to level the playing field. I must admit that because men did all this, that they did get more privileges than women, but I just felt the need to show how it was for them too.

All in all, we have changed greatly from then that picture on blackboard was drawn. You don’t see all the woman parading in large dresses at home, only cooking cleaning and taking care of the children (Unless they are stay at home mothers, and even then they can go and pick up a job at will). Nor do you see men ignoring their children because that’s the mother’s job, or not doing housework. Society has grown into a much more accepting place than the 19^th century, as long as we stay within the right boundaries.

Judging Jane

Being a woman in the 19^th century must have really sucked. I mean, were they able to do anything? At all? No. They were expected to stay home, and take care of the children, the household and be some sort of ‘property to the man.’  It makes me worried that just in the 1990s things have changed for woman. Sure we’re finally able to get good jobs, get an education and be in control of our lives. But the whole male dominant species thing I think is still there.  We are still not treated equally. Girl sports still will never mix with guy sports, (And I know the real reason, but I’m pretty sure if all the teams were mixed it would be fine.) and men will always get looks when they are playing Mr. Mom (and I mean looks and teasing from mostly men).

But at least now women are more in control of their lives than in the 19^th century. Back then, woman were housemaids, mothers, nurses, and governess’, as Jane was.  They had strict social rules, including how they were suppose to act and their place in society. Only higher class woman were allowed to be educated, and they began at very young ages. Women were sometimes allowed to work as nurses and governess’, but if they were married they would have to get their husbands permission, and the money go to him.

As a governess though, woman’s roles became even more complicated. In Jane Eyre, Jane is a governess for the young Adele in the Thornfield house.  She was at the same intellectual level as the aristocrats, and her job was to teach Adele to be at the same level of education as the rest of the higher class woman. But Jane, like other governess’ was a middle class woman, and therefore not treated as higher class or a  member of the family. Governess’ were treated as servants, because they got paid to teach the children. So even though Jane had the education of a higher class individual, she was treated and seen as a servant, who was working under the master of the house.

I believe that the author wanted to convey that even though the story was set in the  19^th century, that Jane had a very different way of thinking that what society told her to think. She struggled with following the social structures of the woman, what with all the free ideas flowing through her mind. She had a free spirited and independent attitude that gave her great internal conflict on what she should be in society, versus what she was. Bronte wanted to show that woman in the 19^th century had the same ideas as men and even some of the same talent. But they were not allowed to express their feelings, because women were not expected to have the same talent, or ideas as man. Jane struggles with this independent mindset through the whole book, and has a hard time conforming to what society says a woman should act.

Actually, I don’t believe she ever really conforms to society rules…She still stayed independent in her mind. And for that, I applaud her.

Sad, But True.

Devor's text explains many points on how society sees men and women, and how children learn at an early age what is acceptable for their sex. I know I’m a girl, and I’ve known this since birth. Sure, when I was a baby I probably didn’t understand what that meant, but the lesson quickly came to me in childhood. To me as a kid, it meant I had to wear dresses, be nice, proper, stay clean and play house all day so that when I grew up, I could be a good mother. And, as much as it kills me to admit it, that’s how society sees women, and how they’re suppose to be.

I know that society’s view has a huge impact on how people see others, because only a few months ago my two younger cousins (both boys) came over to my house to stay a few nights. After we had eaten dinner, my sister and I got up to do the dishes. The boys tried to walk off, but I stopped them and told them to come help us, in which the oldest replied “No, you’re a girl, that’s your job.”

Needless to say, I made him do the dishes afterwards and gave him a long talk about how it shouldn’t matter if I was a girl or not. He had hands; he was capable of scrubbing a piece of glass with a sponge.

I don’t know about all the rest of the woman out there, but being home to take care of children all day is not my only aspiration in life.  I would certainly like to have kids one day, but I won’t let that stop me from getting a good job or going to school etc.

I enjoy being a woman. I really do. But most of the feminine norms for society don’t peak my interest.  I don’t enjoy shopping for clothes (Actually, I have no fashion sense whatsoever), I don’t like putting on makeup or doing my hair. I don’t like counting calories either. I’d rather be home, in baggy shirts and pants, playing gorey ‘shoot ‘em up’ video games, or listening to my hard rock bands. Society, therefore, labels me as ‘tomboyish’. I thought that people should be used to others bending the gender roles a bit, but because I still get stared at when I walk into Game Stop, I guess its still strange for a girl not to be dressed up like a barbie doll.

I’ve resisted a lot of feminine ways, but embraced others. I don’t mind my emotions, and told myself its fine for me to cry every once in a while. I also like just sitting and talking with my friends, or cooking, even caring or babysitting children is fine by me.

As for the ‘generalized’ and ‘significant’ others, I can say that I’ve had both, and they changed me greatly. Generalized other to me is more of the roles we see on tv, or in the movies, how girls were supposed to act. But the shows I watched mainly had guy characters, and the girls were always to prime and pretty for my taste. Significant others have to be the friends I’ve had and my parents. The whole ‘if your friend jumps off a cliff’ thing seems to play a role in learning how to see yourself as too. My junior high friends were all girls who loved shopping and clothes, so, to be accepted, I acted what I thought was right for my sex. That only lasted until High school though, when I got sick of everything and went back to my baggy shirts and worn out jeans. My friends quickly rejected me, but then I found other girl gamers who were more than happy to let me hang with them.

We may not like it, but society probably wont change on their views of woman and men for  while. Women will always be the quiet, child raising mothers who depend on the man for safety, and men will always be the strong, confident and assertive people who bring home the bacon. I can only hope that this will change.