How Far Do The Drovers Wife and Squeakers Mate Question Traditional Gender Binaries - Essay Example

? How far do the ‘The Drover’s Wife’ and ‘Squeaker’s Mate’ question traditional gender binaries? Introduction Gender binary refers to the division of the world into aspects that can be regarded as either masculine or feminine. The masculine aspects relate to men while the feminine aspects tend to relate to women. Gender binaries connote that men and women have many differences, yet at the same time they can be regarded as having many commonalities. The gender divisions with regard to gender binaries can be with regard to a number of aspects. This paper will look into how the Squeaker’s Mate and the Drover’s Wife question traditional gender binaries. How the ‘The Drover’s Wife’ and ‘Squeaker’s Mate’ question traditional gender binaries The two stories question the gender parity that existed between men and women in the traditional Australian society. In “The Drover’s Wife”, the hardships faced by the women in Australia are discussed by the author. According to Lawson, the Australian society glorifies men, but the women are left to suffer and they cannot address the difficulties they face. However, Lawson portrays women as people who play crucial roles in society. This can be seen with the drover’s wife. In the story, the author says that “while the children have already slept, their mother (drover’s wife) does not sleep.” Rather, she sits and sews and reaches for her stick when she hears some noise. This is an indication of her love and care for her children. The drover’s wife also questions gender binaries by indicating that a woman can take her place in the homestead and act like a man. This is the case when the author says “the thunderstorm and the wind go through the cracks of the house and are about to blow the candle.” In this context, the drover’s wife looks for a newspaper and covers the candle in order to prevent it from been blown off. In the traditional society, such roles used to be a preserve of men. However, the author portrays a woman carrying out such roles (Spurr & Cameronm 2000, p. 121). The “Drover’s wife” talks about a strong woman who, despite the gender parity in the Australian society, struggles endlessly to make sure that her children remain safe in a bush, in Australia. For example, the life of the bush woman (main character in the story) is characterised by emptiness, as well as challenges that inhibit her success. This can be seen in the context where she has to preserve poor conditions in the house; the house in which she stays is not properly built and it can be destroyed by extreme weather conditions. She also does not have any adult around with who she can have a conversation (Lawson, 2012). The strength that the drover’s wife exhibits can be seen in the context where she protects her children from imminent danger. For example, the author explains how the drover’s wife protects her children from the danger of the snake. The author says “she takes her children in the table and makes them sit on the table.” She ensures that they get supper and gets bedclothes and pillows from the house to prepare for the children a place they can sleep. She uses the kitchen table to make a bed for children and stays awake all night while waiting for the snake. This indicates that the drover’s wife has taken the responsibility of protecting her children from all the dangers posed by staying in the forest (Spurr & Cameronm 2000, p. 123). The drover’s wife can be regarded as a depiction of women as decision makers. The bushwoman (drover’s wife) can be seen to be playing the role of making decisions on her own. This indicates that women do not have to depend on the counsel of men when making decisions. For example, the bushwoman has raised her children alone and has succeeded to protect them from dangers in the forest. She has ensured that her children are well protected from fires, which are a common phenomenon in Australian bushes (Rutherford 2000, p. 18). The drover’s wife also challenges the traditions that segregate women and make them seem lesser human beings than men. Based on the story, women can be admired for their independence. Although her husband is absent, the drover’s wife has succeeded in fighting many battles, some of which even a man could find hard to endure (Pierce 2009, p. 169). Despite all the struggles she has had in life, she has managed to become an independent who can withstand many challenges. For example, when one of her children got sick, she walked for many miles searching for a place where she could get assistance. Despite such a traumatic experience, she managed to face numerous struggles in life. She faces life with a lot of enthusiasm, and this has enabled her to overcome the many obstacles that may be there (Rutherford 2000, p.19). The woman in the story plays her roles competitively, and she is excellent in all she does. The drover’s wife illustrates that, even in the absence of a man, women have the capacity to carry out some roles that seem masculine. For this reason, the bushwoman brings up her children as a single mother and provides for them food and other basic needs. Traditional gender binaries are also questioned in drover’s wife since the story depicts that women can handle some situations in the absence of men and leave the tasks to men when come back (Ousby & Abbott 1995, p.52). An example of where the story questions traditional gender binaries is through the portrayal of the bush heroine as a brave woman. This can be depicted when she tells her son off when the son attempts to kill a snake that threatens the family. Another example that portrays the brevity of women in the story is the fact that the drover’s wife has fought against extreme events such as floods, bushfires, and dangerous animals while in the forest (Rutherford 2000, p.18). The author contends that the drover’s wife is not a coward despite the fact that some recent events have made her get scared. She fears that her children whom she loves may be bitten by the snake. She does not want to lose a child from a snake bite; this shows the extent to which she cannot compromise the love she has for her children. The Squeaker’s Mate also questions the traditional gender binaries based on the various events in the story. The short story, written by Baynton and published in 1902, depicts a man together with his mate. The man, known as Squeaker and the woman known as ‘Mate’ are the main characters in the story (Winther 2004, p.108). The two walk in an isolated bush with the main aim of carrying out their usual activities of collecting honey and wood. In the Squeaker’s Mate, the lady can be regarded as more focused than the man. This can be exemplified by the fact that she is seen to concentrate on her tasks more than the man. For example, the author talks of the “mate” fetching more honey and firewood than “Squeaker.” Squeaker carries only small amounts of wood and honey and does not focus on his work than the woman. This portrays the extent to which the portrayal of women in society can be regarded as misinformed (Baynton & Sheridan 2009, p. 13). As the story begins, the author portrays the Squeaker’s Mate as a strong woman who is capable of doing things better than men. This is indicated by the phrase that says “the woman carried the bag containing the maul and axe, as well as wedges while the man carried the tucker-bags. The height of the woman gives her an advantage over the man and allows her to perform tasks even better than the man. While playing her roles, the Squeaker’s Mate portrays a sense of determination and hard work. This can be seen in the context where she encourages the man when they are gatherings posts and rails. This scenario questions society’s portrayal of women as weaker than men. The context shows that women have the capacity to do things even better than men. In the Squeaker’s Mate, the woman seems to be the one encouraging the man while the mean is depicted as the opposite of the woman. When the Squeaker’s Mate tells Squeaker to use the saw, Squeaker only does for a few inches and then starts looking at the sun. She shows the little determination in Squeaker as compared to his mate. Gender binaries are also questioned in the story through the depiction of Squeaker as an unintelligent, as well as an unlikeable person. Squeaker does not heed to the demands and the needs of his mate. Rather, he only concentrates on himself and this can be indicated by the selfishness that he portrays. Squeaker first satisfies his needs and takes long to respond to the needs of his mate. This creates a picture of men as self-centred beings who do not wish to see women happy (Baynton & Sheridan 2009, p. 14). Squeaker’s inadequacies are clearly brought out by the author, and the author uses these inadequacies to question men’s capacity to dominate women. For example, he is impatient with his Mate when she fell down instead of pleading with her and saving her from the situation (Winther 2004, p. 112). According to the author, women can be equated to machines that had to cook, clean, as well as wash. The discrimination of women was based on the argument that there was no way they could be equated to men. The society also had fewer expectations on women than it had on men. As such, women could not be trusted to perform some tasks, which were regarded as complex and requiring the knowledge and expertise of men. However, this is not the case as women have the same abilities as men (Baynton & Sheridan 2009, p. 14). In the Squeaker’s Mate, women are traditionally subjected to more roles than men. At the end of it all, it is women who make many contributions to the wellbeing of the society as compared to men. The author argues that men have numerous opportunities to better their lives than men. If women are given the opportunities that the society gives to men, they can employ their skills and improve their lives in society. The story questions the limited opportunities that the traditional gender binaries tend to subject women. Were it not for the traditional gender binaries, women can become great entrepreneurs and contribute to the economic growth in society (Baynton & Sheridan 2009, p. 15). Squeaker neglects his mate, and he does not want to contact a doctor who can come to treat her. This shows the danger women were subjected to, as well as the suffering they go through in the hands of men. Traditionally, the status given to women is a status that aims at neglecting them and leaving them alone when they are suffering. This is unfair since women play a crucial role in society and their contribution cannot be ignored. In the story, the author questions why the society considers the woman as a liability when she is faced with a challenge (Pierce 2009, p.169). This is contrary to the way men are treated; when men have a health condition, the society treats them carefully and the woman has to be there to nurse the man. Based on the arguments in the story, one can deduce that women ought to be given equal treatment with men when they are suffering from a health condition. There should be a change in the way society has always treated women (Ousby & Abbott, 1995). Conclusion In conclusion, The Drover’s Wife and the Squeaker’s Mate question the traditional gender binaries that existed in the Australian society. According to these stories, the female gender is depicted as isolated and discriminated while the male gender is treated with a lot of respect. Based on the arguments in the stories, women should be treated equally with men. There should be no subjection and discrimination based on gender. All are equal and every gender is capable of bringing changes in society. References List Baynton, B., & Sheridan, S. (2009). Bush studies, Sydney, N.S.W., Sydney University Press. pp. 13-15. Lawson, H. (2012). The Drover’s Wife. [Online] Accessed 15 April 2013. Available at: http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/l/lawson/henry/while_the_billy_boils/book2.1.html Ousby, I., & Abbott, M. (1995). The Cambridge guide to literature in English, Cambridge [England], Cambridge University Press. pp. 51-53. Pierce, P. (2009). The Cambridge history of Australian literature, Port Melbourne, Vic, Cambridge University Press. pp. 169-171 Rutherford, S. (2000). Henry Lawson, Glebe, [NSW], Excel. Pp. 18-22. Spurr, B., & Cameron, L. (2000). Excel HSC Standard English 2004-5, Glebe, N.S.W., Pascal press. pp. 121-123. Winther, P. (2004). The art of brevity: excursions in short fiction theory and analysis, Columbia, SC, Univ. of South Carolina Press. pp. 108-113. Read More