FEMINIST CRITICISM & PATRIARCHAL IDEOLOGY

FEMINIST CRITICISM & PATRIARCHAL IDEOLOGY

"Feminist criticism is concerned with "...the ways in which literature (and other cultural productions) reinforce or undermine the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women."

Patriarchal ideology is an idea system that says men are in charge and women are secondary.

Disney princesses are examples of following patriarchal ideology.

In most of these Disney fairy tales, these beautiful princesses are rescued by handsome princes who carry them off to get married and live happily ever after.

These plots imply that getting married to "the one" or "prince charming" confirms a life of happiness.

These fairy tales also show female viewers that the only way to be saved by your "prince charming" is to follow the patriarchal gender role of "good girl," being angelic, sweet, and submissive. Also it gives off the idea that marriage is a way to escape their reality and enter a fantasy.

What about the bad girls?

Those women who do not follow the patriarchal gender role like the princesses do have no other choice then to be left with the "bad girl" label. The bad girls in these fairy tales; the wicked queen in "Snow White," the wicked fairy in "Sleeping Beauty," and the wicked stepmother in "Cinderella" are seen as vain, jealous and angry that they aren't as beautiful as these princesses.

In the book, Women at Point Zero, we notice how society gives women a "habit of seeing."

A "habit of seeing" is a way of looking at life that uses male experience as the standard by which the experience of both sexes are evaluated.

How does Firdaus not follow the "habit of seeing?"

Firdaus grows up in this patriarchal world, sexually abused by her uncle and then sent off to live with the abusive uncle when her parents die. Throughout the book she falls into the arms of many abusive men that take advantage of her. Firdaus becomes an independent prostitute and chooses prostitution rather than marriage. She seems to consider marriage in that society to be enslavement. However, as a prostitute she can chose the men she sleeps with and kick them out when they have paid. When she is taken over by a male pimp she learns that she can have no life that is not controlled by men. In the end Firdaus murders her pimp.

Not only does she show her non existent fear of men but she goes against patriarchy by becoming a successful prostitute and killing a man just to release herself from this opression caused by men.

KEY FACTS ON FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION:

• Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
• The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women.
• Procedures can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections, infertility as well as complications in childbirth increased risk of newborn deaths.
• About 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of FGM.
• FGM is mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and age 15.
• In Africa an estimated 92 million girls 10 years old and above have undergone FGM.
• FGM is a violation of the human rights of girls and women.

Societies that lean toward patriarchy are usually lacking in women’s rights. African and Asian countries and parts of the Middle East have a higher percentage of FGM. For example, Egypt,

Djibouti, and Guinea have over a 90% FGM rate. In

many of these societies, men rule what is the acceptable female image. The fathers of those girls who go through female genital circumcision agree with this rite of passage from girl to

womanhood is deemed necessary.

"Women are the victims of this patriarchal culture, but they are also its carriers. Let us keep in mind that every oppressive man was raised in the confines of his mother's home." -Shirin Ebadi

Thank you for viewing.

-Melissa Garcia

What is a "habit of seeing?"

What does FGM have to do with patriarchal ideology?

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In the book, Women at Point Zero, Firdaus is punished for questioning her paternity and gets circumcised.

Which brings me to my next topic, FGM: Female Genital Mutiliation

What is feminist criticism?

http://owl.english.purdue.edu

What is patriarchal ideology?