Redefinition of Female Gender Role during 19th Century - Essay Example

Redefinition of Female Gender Role during 19th Century The world has witnessed gradual and steady alterations in the social, political, economic and cultural activities of the individuals since the known human history. Religious beliefs, scientific and social theories and newly arrived inventions play most formidable role in bringing about changes within a social establishment. The same is applied with the socio-cultural alterations influencing the British society during the second half of 19th century, by introducing tremendous reformations in the lifestyle of women folk, and bestowing the message of hope, freedom and respect upon them in the wake of cultural changes, and established new roles for this social stratum eventually. History reveals the very fact that women had been leading an oppressive life in England as well as the rest of Europe for centuries, and their activities were confined to the four walls only. Being the reflection of the contemporary society, early nineteenth literature portrays the women busy in performing domestic chores and obligations without taking part in any political, social or economic activity. They used to go to excursions and attend balls and dinners under the supervision of family members; hence, they were not allowed to travel alone or without the prior permission of the family. The novels produced by Jane Austen, Dickens, Bronte sisters, Eliot and others depict the same male-dominated cultural scenario, where women were the direct target of discriminative behavior at the hands of male members of society. Somehow, the situation took a drastic turn during the second half of the same century, and the same Mary Evans Ann, who used to produce works under the male name George Eliot, got such courage that she started living with G. H. Lewes for more than 20 years quite as if his wife did not exist; Sarah Austin (the wife of the famous jurist), who wrote letters of such ardor and indiscretion to a visiting German prince as to invite blackmail. (Himmelfarb, 1961) The Victorian literature reveals that female writers, poets, intellectuals and artists used to feel hesitation in participating into any literary, social or political activity, for they were discouraged to get their works published. It is therefore the renowned authors and novelists including Bronte sisters, George Eliot and others had to conceal their female names while creating the pieces of literature. Though Victorian literature contained the works of female writers, but the atmosphere was not appreciable at all. The share of women community in social construction was not acknowledged, although they worked in fields, hospitals, teaching institutions and other professions at limited scale. Still the male domination was oppressive and tyrannical. At first, Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 19th century and Emma Goldman in the beginning of 20th century raised their voice for the women rights. However, later part of nineteenth century observed imperative changes in women’s role and responsibilities in society. It was the era when Charles Darwin presented his astounding Evolution Theory under the title “Survival of the Fittest” in his magnificent work On the Origin of Species (1859), and proved that only strong and powerful species maintained the right to survive and reproduce. Darwin vehemently argues in favor of the notion natural selection, and declares it as the law of nature. He is of the view that it is the law of nature that the favorable traits and features in species contain more probability of inheritance and transformation into next generations. (1872: 159) Renowned sociologist Herbert Spencer extended the same survival theory, called social Darwinism, and claimed that socially strong communities make sure headway in the world, while the financially weak people are sure to eliminate sooner or later. Nineteenth century women also got inspiration from this very notion to obtain freedom from the awkward clutches of suppression and humiliation. Thus, women’s strive for freedom is the product of nineteenth century England, where the social thinkers challenged the British economic policies. It was the antislavery movement that helped to forge a new instrument in British domestic politics---the weapon of organized moral indignation.” (Arnstein, 1988: 47) The women had acknowledged the truth that they would have to organize themselves by raising demonstrations on roads and public places in order to capture the attention of the authorities for obtaining equal laws for them. The entire effort was being made in the light of the Darwinian Theory, which declared power as the only source of survival. However, they could not obtain equal opportunities of growth practically. It was partly due to the bitter reality that prejudiced attitude towards them could not be diminished altogether. Women are still struggling hard to achieve equal status for them in the society; feminist movement is also the part of the long struggle of obtaining this status for them. The idea of division of labor on the basis of gender gave birth to feminism. It was a strong voice against the inequalities between men and women in respect of social status, division of power as well as work and gender discrimination. Low status of women has been descried in different pieces of 19th century literature depicting the unequal opportunities of growth for them. The works of twentieth century feminist writers including Virginia Woolf, Tony Morrison, Margaret Drabble, Dorothy Allison and others reveal how incorrectly and mistakenly considered as individuals of low worth. Victorian novel has been stated as one of the most sublime pieces of fiction in the long history of English Literature. It not only gave the novel new dimensions and wide-opened innovative avenues for it, but also it produced the art of depicting the salient features of contemporary society in an extremely lofty and elegant way. The era maintains imperative significance for the sonorous arrival of women writers, who made great contributions in the promotion and growth of the fiction of their time. “The Victorian era is known for the galaxy of female novelists, who not only determined new dimensions in this literary genre, but also formed the novel into its present shape.” (Singh, 2001:475) However, the basic root and source of all these efforts can be traced in Darwinian Theory, in the light of which the women discovered the secret of winning respectable place in society. Works Cited Arnstein, Walter L. “British Yesterday and Today: 1830 to the Present. Fifth Edition D.C. Heath & Company Toronto 1988 Darwin, Charles Robert. “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection” A Mentor Book New American Library, New York 1872 (Digitized 2006) Himmelfarb, Gertrude “Western Civilization. Volume II” Columbia University Press 1961 Singh, T. “History of English Literature” New Book Palace Urdu Bazaar Delhi 2001 249 Read More