Behavioral Change in a Fairytale - Essay Example

Fairytale A fairytale is a story told mostly to children to entertain and amuse them. It also instils good moral values that are appreciated in society. They represent the triumph of good over evil, the benefits of love, bravery, truth and the negativities of lies, malice, envy and greed. In reference to gender and sexual studies, they tend to portray female gender as being passive, inactive, adorable, dependent, weak and submissive (Isaack 113). All good women in fairy tales are victimized, oppressed, enslaved and are found in situations that they cannot act to prevent what is met upon them. When children are told fairy tales at a young age, they tend to programme the kids into roles portrayed in the story, and when they mature into adults, they unconsciously adopt the roles they were introduced to as kids. According to gender and sexual studies in this context, this will be an attempt to exhibit a more feminist fairy tale that does not promote a patriarchal system, but one that balances both gender roles in the story. There was a powerful king who had enormous wealth, feared and respected by his neighbours and loved by his subjects. His wife, the queen had borne him numerous daughters, but no son whom he wished for more than anything, a son who would succeed him as his heir. The queen did not manage to bare him a son, and their last born also turned out to be a girl, whom they named Makeba after their god of harvests. Makeba turned out to be a feisty child, who preferred to play with boys, and her father did not object to, but instead raised her as a father would raise a son. Unfortunately, her father was poisoned by envious brothers who had a claim to the throne since he did not have a son for an heir. She fled her homeland accompanied by her mother, elder brother and grandmother. In their new homeland, she flourished, and her strong character became even stronger. She won the admiration of many suitors, who tried to seduce her with wealth and stature, but she refused all their advances saying she would marry someone for their personality and good character, not because of their wealth or promise of titles. Makeba finally got her wish when she met a man who met her desires; he was a man who believed in hard work and loved her for who she truly was. They raised a family, and she ensured the education of all her children; two sons and three daughters. There was no gender parity, in her household. Her daughters grew up to be exemplary citizens in society through encouragement from their mother Makeba. One of her daughters Vera got married to an engineer of the roads in their new adoptive kingdom they learned to call home. Vera worked hard alongside her husband where she earned the respect and admiration from her workmates and society as a whole. Her sister Tori, who was the fairer of the two, became a victim of her own vanity; using her beauty to manipulate people to get whatever she wanted. Through her conniving ways, she was able to become a countess in the kings’ court where she was found in the company of the wealthy and mighty in the kingdom. Tori got married twice and bore two sons by different husbands she had married. She continued with her devious ways which compromised the safety and health of her two sons. Her sister Vera decided to take the two children and raise them as her own. One day Tori was poisoned by a jealous wife of a nobleman she was having an affair with and died. Their two brothers, Kanata and Benta grew up to be strong and brave men, who served in the kings’ army where they fought and won many battles. When they came home they were both knighted and given realms by the king to manage. Kanata the older of the two sons took in their aging mother and took care of her until her death. Benta went on to take one of Tori’s sons under his wings, and he grew up with his children. The way Makeba brought up her children together with her husband made many people in the kingdom change the way they raised their children. She continuously encouraged her fellow citizens to change the way they perceived the accepted cultural norms which were debilitating and pulling the society backwards. From the respect she had garnered from the people, she was able to gain audience with the king where she lobbied and finally convinced the king to pass a decree allowing equal education opportunities to both girls and boys. This opened up the kingdom’s potential, and went on to become the most prosperous kingdom, in the world, which was brought about by the participation of both men and women, in all sectors of economy, in the kingdom. Her efforts and achievements were mirrored in the other kingdoms. Makeba died a satisfied woman, knowing that she had changed her children’s fortunes by working against the societal norms, and by making sure they all got the same opportunities guaranteeing their future survival and prosperity. Analysis According to Johnson, patriarchy is a system that can be minimized to people who are involved it. He continues on to say “it is not people who are flawed, but the system that the society has put together that is flawed” (Johnson 30). Johnson continues to argue that if women are ever going to have real equality, then they need to behave differently, in a patriarchal system (Johnson 32). This is not the case in this fairytale where we see the woman taking an active role in advocating for better terms and conditions for all. Makeba’s mother and come out as individuals who strive to make sure that the children get better opportunities than they had in life by shielding them from gender stereotyping early in life which gave them a chance to dictate what they wanted in life on their own (Kallendorf 73). The role of men, in this story, shows the contributions that men in society can play in supporting their spouses’ ambitions and beliefs instead of relegating them their stereotypic duties or roles (Marlow & Davis 379). Makeba’s hard line stance that even her daughters would go through school even though the then accepted norms in their society was that it was not necessary to educate them since their roles in life and society were already predetermined (Tandon 166). She was able to empower her children’s ability to chart a path of life they desired (Isaack 118). The society has the responsibility to determine the role of a patriarchal system in their life and change what they desire (Barry 37). In conclusion, the way a society design its culture and the stereotypes it creates contribute to the magnitude of gender imbalance or balance. Behavioural change is the only sure way to ensure gender equality in the society. Work Cited. Johnson P. M. Toward a Patriarchal Republic: The Secession of Georgia. LSU Press, 1977. Print. Dworkin A. Woman hating. Dutton, 1974. Print. Kallendorf C. W. Humanist Educational Treatises. The I Tatti Renaissance Library. Illustrated Edition. Harvard University Press, 2008. Print. Marlow H. C and Davis H. M. The American search for woman. Illustrated Edition. Clio Books, 1976. Print. Tandon N. Feminism: Paradigm Shift. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. 2008. Print. Isaak J. A. Feminism and Contemporary Art: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Laughter. Re Visions / Re Visions. Illustrated Reprint. Routledge, 1996. Print. Barry K. The Prostitution of Sexuality. NYU Press, 1995. Print. Read More