Woman in the Nineteenth Century - Essay Example

?The concept of gender in the nineteenth century was consistent with suppression of those who were regarded as inferior. Women were often regarded ashaving a specific place in society to men that began to be questioned at this time. Margaret Fuller’s essay Woman in the Nineteenth Century creates a question of what gender meant during this time, specifically with who was entitled to carry out specific duties according to gender. This is similar to the viewpoint of Emily Dickinson in her poetry, specifically by creating a different status according to gender. The concept of gender and entitlement becomes questioned not only with the social structure that is accepted but also relates directly to questioning why the responsibilities are placed in a certain area and how this causes imbalance. Examining the theme of Fuller, as well as from poets such as Dickinson, creates a deeper understanding of the problems with gender and entitlement. The first concept that Fuller states is based on the superior position which man was naturally given in the nineteenth century. The entitlement which occurred was founded with changes in culture that dated back to the time of Orpheus and other Greek myth. In these myths, men were regarded as strong and as protectors who should rule the land. She describes this attitude by placing men in a place of power, specifically through war and rulership that creates an expectation of entitlement that men should have. “But he, the much experienced man, who wished to be experience din all, and use all to the service of wisdom, desired to hear the song that he might understand its meaning. Yes, distrusting his own power to be firm in his better purpose, he caused himself to be bound to the mast” (Fuller, 7). This quote creates a foundation that the gender and entitlement of men was based on power, service and wisdom that led the affairs of men. With this concept, entitlement was given that led to men expecting to be held in this regard and not with their true purpose. The concept of entitlement among men is furthered with the suppression of women which follows. Fuller states that men and women as a social concept both have unequal opportunity, first because men are regarded as superior and in power and second because women are not given opportunities for the same reason. The idea of entitlement then becomes one based on the expectations of each gender within society. Fuller relates this to the French Revolution and the idea of liberty that doesn’t regard women as equal within the idea of citizenship. “Before, she could be condemned to perish on the scaffold for treason, not as a citizen, but as a subject. The right with which this title was invested a human being was that of bloodshed and license. The Goddess of Liberty was impure” (Fuller, 8). The concept of entitlement then leads to the social rights one has and how this relates to all facets of life. The concept of entitlement for women is one that is shown through suppression and the inability to become a citizen of affairs in any state while men were subjected to the concept of being entitled to everything. The social concepts then become the expected means for justice without providing the right entitlement to those within society. Not only does Fuller relate gender to the concepts and perspectives of citizenship within society. This continues with the status within the home and the expected roles. Fuller shows that the status of the man is to provide the home while the woman is the heart of the home. However, this goes a step further to lead to entitlement because of the different roles. Fuller doesn’t state that the roles are bad or lead to a gender being subjected to the other. Instead, it is the role of men in society and the laws created around this that begin to build the problems within the home and the entitlement which one has. “It may well be an Anti – Slavery party that pleads for Woman, if we consider merely that she does not hold property on equal terms with men; so that, if a husband dies without making a will, the wife, instead of taking at once his place as head of the family, inherits only a part of his fortune, often brought him by herself, as if she were a child, or ward only, not an equal partner” (Fuller, 11). This example shows how the status and entitlement within the household begins with the expectations of roles. However, these are not necessarily filled by the individuals. Instead, the social status of men and women is what creates the alteration and expectations, leaving the sense of inequality and entitlement between men and women. Even though the entitlement that is a part of the nineteenth century creates division and inequality among men and women, Fuller also creates a challenge between genders to create a sense of balance. The challenge is to men that are able to move beyond the status quo and to individually realize that women should have the same powers as men. Fuller’s belief is that this change in gender is what will bring out the change in entitlement and the ability for women to no longer be suppressed. Not only does Fuller recognize this main component but also sees that the nature of individual women and men are both disregarded because of the status quo in society. She states “Man is not willingly ungenerous. He wants faith and love, because he is not himself an elevated being. He cries, with sneering skepticism, ‘Give us a sign.’ But if the sign appears, his eyes glisten, and he offers not merely approval, but homage” (Fuller, 17). This particular ideology changes the concept of entitlement. Instead of the gender being entitled to a role, there is a different entitlement that is based on men and women becoming equals through faith and love. Creating this approach to equality is what Fuller believes will entitle to change society and which will allow a difference in gender to be made. The challenge then becomes for men and women to change individually so the entitlement alters according to specific needs. This particular concept is one that is similar to Emily Dickinson and the approach taken with her works. For instance, in the poem, “A Narrow Fellow in the Grass,” Dickinson points out that the entitlement of gender is one which should not be regarded. The remark is one which Dickinson first points out as the description of the narrow man being “Without a tighter breathing, / And zero at the bone” (Dickinson, line 22-24). This shows that the man who has a specific status may not mean anything, or is zero at the bone, similar to the point which Fuller stated. However, the entitlement of the man and the way in which society reacts changes the quiet statement into something else. Dickinson writes “A narrow fellow in the grass / Occasionally rides; / You may have met him – did you not, / His notice sudden is” (Dickinson,lines 1-4). This shows how the entitlement of a man takes the main remark and turns it into one who is suddenly noticed, simply because he is a narrow fellow in the grass. It is the entitlement which Dickinson points out to show the main problem, specifically which creates a different approach to the gender division and the entitlement which is pointed out among men. The challenge that is pointed out by Dickinson is one which is similar to Fuller. The main problem noted isn’t one that is divided by gender and how others react to the difficulty. Instead, it is one which relates to the reactions within society and how others think of gender and the statements which are made. Both Fuller and Dickinson show that the social acceptance of gender and entitlement is what needs to change. It is not the ideologies of gender that becomes problematic. Instead, it is the belief that there I a difference in gender. Fuller points this to the ideologies which come from the Greek recognition of those within society while creating a different understanding of what it means in the nineteenth century to create a different type of knowledge and division with gender. The concepts which Fuller creates are a challenge to both genders in the creation of entitlement. Fuller shows how the idea of entitlement is what has led to the oppression of women and the expectations of men to have a specific status in society. It is not the gender problem that Fuller attributes to division, specifically with stereotypes that are the basis. Instead, Fuller shows that the main ideologies within society toward entitlement and gender are exaggerated. This is what causes the main division among both men and women. To change this, Fuller challenges men to take a different position that allows women to have equal status and to alter the social beliefs that are taking place. Both Fuller and Dickinson use the main challenge as the functions of society to show that gender divisions and entitlement differences are the root of oppression among women. Works Cited Dickinson, Emily. Poems by Emily Dickinson. Penguin Books: New York, 1991. Fuller, Margaret. Woman in the Nineteenth Century. Penguin Books: New York, 2000. Read More