Premium Essay

Gender Inequality Odyssey

Submitted By
Words 1259
Pages 6
Gender Inequality in The Odyssey In Homer’s epic poem, The Odyssey, female inferiority and gender inequality are recurring motifs. As a woman during this ancient time period (approximately 700 to 750 BCE), it was common to be regarded as “a man’s property”, or in other words, to be held to a double standard. In his poem, Homer demonstrates the inferior role of women compared to men, through multiple female characters. One specific character that significantly captures the idea and role of female inferiority is Penelope, Odysseus’s wife. Through close analysis of Penelope’s character and her relationships with men, it is evident that women in The Odyssey are held to a double standard. Penelope’s relationship with the suitors reveals female …show more content…
In both quotations, Penelope is being regarded as if she were property, or an object. When Antinous says, “Direct her to marry whomever he father picks”, he is implying an arranged marriage in order to get Penelope married sooner (so that someone will hold power sooner). This is a clear representation of female inferiority, as the suitors genuinely do not care about her opinion or feelings, rather, they just want her to get married as soon as possible so that they can take the throne. Thus, Penelope is being treated as a mere marriage object by the suitors, representing how women and their feelings are not valuable, and how they only serve a purpose in marrying men and bearing an heir (a son) to the throne. This idea is constantly demonstrated throughout the second quotation as well, which elaborates on the suitors’ behavior. When Antinous says, “we will devour your worldly goods and wealth / as long as she hold out” and “we’ll not go back / to our old estates or leave for other parts, / not till she weds the Argive man she fancies”, he is revealing the stubbornness and greediness of the suitors. This portrays the suitors as greedy and power-hungry, as they only seem to care about “worldly goods” and “wealth”. In addition, they are revealed to be quite stubborn, since they refuse to leave, despite Penelope’s loyalty to Odysseus. Another example would be Telemachus’s view of the

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Gender Equality

...Gender equality has three aspects: equal opportunities, equal treatment and equal entitlements for both, men and women. It is directly linked with human development. The author says that patriarchy thrives on control of women’s sexuality, fertility and labour for male hegemony over economic resources. Economic institutions and policy can exacerbate existing gender inequalities instead of mitigating them. Laws and policies too play a significant role in determining the extent of gender inequality that exists in a society. They can serve to protect women’s rights or to reduce them. For example, in many countries, women still lack the legal right to inherit or own property and, in many others, violence against women is not considered a criminal offense. The paper argues that without transformations in economic relations or the implementation and enforcement of legal rights and protection, gender equality and the empowerment of women can remain an elusive goal. Women’s Studies have challenged the conventional indicators of development that focus on urbanization, higher education, mobility of labor, technological development, modernization, infra-structural development, industrialization etc. Through the lens of Gender Economics, the author contextualizes day to day survival struggles of women in the family, in the households, in the community and in the micro and macro economy with the perspective of power relations which control women and girl children's sexuality, fertility...

Words: 435 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Features of the Labour Market

...There will be three features of the labour market discussed within this assignment in order to highlight the inequalities. It aims discuss the inequalities amongst the gender factor, the concept of child labour and the links these factors have with unemployment. The argument which explains the gender inequalities within the labour market originates from the 1970s. However, it is fair to state that a lot has changed within society in particular the labour force since then. It is difficult to identify the particular factor that clarifies such segregation but many conclude on the basis of pay discrimination. Other factors to explain gender segregation could relate to comparative biological advantages, underinvestment in human capital, differential income role and entry barriers....(Bettio and Verashchagina (2009) Examples of gender inequality within the work place are common amongst contemporary society and this is because there are continued obvious biases in the labour market. There are hidden practices within the procedures of such institutions. According to Bettio and Verashchagina (2009) organisations lack to identify females’ skills and this inevitably leads to the ‘poor visibility of female skills’. These key thinkers argue that due to these female-dominated roles are often seen to lack such professionalism. This is further explained by justifying that due to this gender segregation...

Words: 1150 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Analysis and Responsse: Emma Watson Address

...economically, and socially. Although her intent is well-meant; her movement “HeForShe”, along with her address was flawed in many ways. Watson starts off her address by saying “We want to end gender inequality-and to do that we need everyone to be involved.” (Warren) but from there on she only talks about men. Watson patronizes men; unable to see the full spectrum of consequences that come with change, and the illogical statistics and statements that she presents, consequently these flaws have opened the doors to numerous media backlashes. The invitation to men “How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation? Men-I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation. Gender equality is your issue too.” (Warren) was patronizing to men as if being formally invited on a magnific stage such as the United Nations headquarters was just the thing us men were waiting for. Mia McKenzie reinforces my idea with her sarcastic remarks “It’s not because of the prevalence of misogyny the entire world over. It’s just that no one’s asked. OMG, why didn’t any of us think to ask?!” Now that we are formally invited let us see what could really happen with gender equality. Cathy Young gives an example of gender inequalities in favor of women but Watson’s “natural consequence” might not be what she had in mind. Young says when talking about child custody cases “…fathers began to fight against more covert anti-male...

Words: 832 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Gender Inequality

...Unequal Outcome of Gender Equality Introduction Gender equality is a sensitive issue that has raised concerns in the society. It is a human right as both genders remains entitled to experience a good living free from any fear. The concept tends to have a deep dwell on the women, who are thought to be less fortunate in society than men. The society has it in mind that empowering women and girls are similar to empowering a whole nation. The empowered section of women is popular since they contribute to an increase in health and productivity of the family and community in respective prospects of the next generation. The concept has been in the application, in the Millennium Development Goal, as an agenda, where the countries did aim at eliminating gender disparities in education before year 2015. The countries also did believe that achievement of this goal would lead to subsequent achievement of the rest of the goals. Contrary to all these concerns, the concept of gender equality has led to unequal issues in the society after extreme concentration on one gender. Some of the methods are in clear illustration in the two articles on the description. Article 1 summary The article is under the Bankrate.com Publishers. It title is Bridging the pay gap between the gender. In this article, the author is concerned of the pay gap that still exists among men and women. The gap is often in many times overlooked, or used as a factor of determining the success in women. Source of data from...

Words: 1186 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Infidelity In The Odyssey

...disapproval towards his own mother, which is ironic, considering the fact that Telemachus is her son. This is not just irony, but rather, a clear representation of female inferiority, since Telemachus is portrayed as the dominant figure who reprimands his own mother (the submissive). Furthermore, this reveals female inferiority through the idea that men are to give orders and criticism, and women are to receive them. This idea continues throughout this quote, especially when Telemachus says, “your heart was always harder than a rock!”. In any situation, it would be shocking to hear a son yell at his own mother. But, in a male-driven society within The Odyssey, it is not uncommon at all. Here, Telemachus openly criticizes his mother, and she is expected to accept it without challenge. This is, once again, a clear example of gender inequality, and how men can speak however they like, and women must accept that. Consequently, Penelope’s relationship with her son, Telemachus, represents how women are held to a double...

Words: 1190 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Perspectives On The Sirens In The Odyssey And Margaret Atwood

...Perspectives on Sirens Society has proven to be evolving throughout the years, as the problems are being addressed and taken into account. However, many still get distraught when glancing back into the ways of the past, even conveying their opinions in miraculous ways to provide their perspective on how it should be. There are many forms of doing so, and one way is in the form of a poem to express different sides to people or characters. In relation to one of the world-wide conflicts, gender inequality, Homer’s expression of women in the Odyssey, has caused poets, such as Margaret Atwood with Siren Song, to provide depth to their personalities. With the Sirens, Homer uses a more peculiar tone to describe the harpies, a deviant view on the powerful beings; while Margaret provides more human and complicated traits. Margaret purposefully displays the Sirens as more relatable and...

Words: 493 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Sylubus

...ANTHROPOLOGY 101 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Queens College / CUNY, Spring 2015 TuTh 12:15-1:30PM, Kiely 150 Professor: Ramona Lee Pérez, PhD Email: ramona.perez@qc.cuny.edu Office hours: Th 2-3 PM, PH 315H COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is an introduction to the range of human diversity through an exploration of the peoples of the world. We will cover the basic concepts, theories, and methods that anthropologists use to study variations in cultural norms and social practices, economic systems and rules of law, social organization and patterns of inequality, identity and worldview, and patterns of social and cultural change. Focusing on the culture concept and the method of ethnography, we begin with the historical foundations of anthropology and then follow its attempts to understand contemporary human cultures. Comparative analysis of multiple ethnographic case studies and major theoretical approaches illuminates the range of human diversity, the forces that shape cultures, and how people adapt to a rapidly changing modern world. The central objectives of this course are to develop your intellectual skills, your cross-cultural fluency, and your sense of civic and moral engagement in global society. I hope that this course inspires many of you to become anthropology majors or minors, and grants each of you an anthropological perspective on your own life. REQUIREMENTS This is an intensive course that requires full participation from every student...

Words: 9454 - Pages: 38

Free Essay

Japanese Anime

...ESSAY #1 From a historical standpoint, just about every culture on the planet has venerated males as dominate figures, while scorning females as the lesser sex. Japan is surely no exception to this method of opinion. Although, ironically male writers paved many of the pioneering days of shojo manga, many female writers emerged and revolutionized the shojo manga market and further gave women within Japanese society who read Shojo manga a sense of exemplification and ‘an air or authenticity’. This was an important mark within Japanese society, because it very closely related to the rise of femininity within Japan, as there were not many female artists before or after the World War. In came the era of the 1970s, and many female artists appeared to express their opinions by manga; their work met the demands of Japanese girls to read manga written from the female point of view. The development of manga had portrayed reality quite well, and sales within these girls’ magazines skyrocketed. As female artists maintained and developed more individuality within their art, Shojo manga in turn depicted the social roles and reduced responsibility that Japanese women had in society. Many of these magazines ‘pushed the envelope’ within society, as many of the relationships created within the stories were doseiai, or same sex romances. The writing and imagery reinforced a “visual of monotony, as many of the characters had similar facial features, and wore identical school uniforms as they...

Words: 2295 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

An Exploration of the Reproduction and Perpetuation of Socio-Historical Oppression in U.S. Schools: Pre-Prospectus

...A Phenomenology of Liberation From the very start, I am thus fully endorsing the premise that no account of race can be dissociated from a critique of power and a social historical ontology of ourselves (de Oliveira, 2010, 209). INTRODUCTION I grew up in rural North Carolina. When I was in the third grade, I watched as five of my white peers were pulled from class to attend gifted courses. I always wondered why, I, who had always worked hard, was never pulled for what I perceived as reward for hard work and good grades. During the first week of school of my fifth grade year, the same White gifted teacher pulled the same five White students to begin gifted courses. The buzz around the class was that the five elite were preparing for Odyssey of the Mind, which was deemed an honor for the brightest and best in the school....

Words: 6268 - Pages: 26

Premium Essay

An Exploration of the Reproduction and Perpetuation of Socio-Historical Oppression in U.S. Schools: Pre-Prospectus

...Phenomenology of Liberation From the very start, I am thus fully endorsing the premise that no account of race can be dissociated from a critique of power and a social historical ontology of ourselves (de Oliveira, 2010, 209). INTRODUCTION I grew up in rural North Carolina. When I was in the third grade, I watched as five of my white peers were pulled from class to attend gifted courses. I always wondered why, I, who had always worked hard, was never pulled for what I perceived as reward for hard work and good grades. During the first week of school of my fifth grade year, the same White gifted teacher pulled the same five White students to begin gifted courses. The buzz around the class was that the five elite were preparing for Odyssey of the Mind, which was deemed an honor for the brightest and best in the school....

Words: 6229 - Pages: 25

Free Essay

Human Services

...Page 1 Stanley H. King Counseling Recommended Reading A COLLECTION OF TITLES RELATED TO THIS WORK: Many of these titles have been suggested by past Institute participants. Please let us know if there are resources that you have found useful in your life and work, and we will add to the list. Apter, Terri E. MYTH OF MATURITY: WHAT TEENAGERS NEED FROM PARENTS TO BECOME ADULTS. 2002 Brown, Lyn Mikel. GIRLFIGHTING: BETRAYAL AND REJECTION AMONG GIRLS. 2005 Cloke, Kenneth. MEDIATING DANGEROUSLY. 2001 Clydesdale, Tim. THE FIRST YEAR OUT: UNDERSTANDING AMERICAN TEENS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. 2007 Crawford, Susan H. BEYOND DOLLS & GUNS: 101 WAYS TO HELP CHILDREN AVOID GENDER BIAS. 1995 Deak, JoAnn and Barker, Teresa. GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS: RAISING CONFIDENT AND COURAGEOUS DAUGHTERS. 2003 Deak, JoAnn. HOW GIRLS THRIVE: AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS (AND PARENTS). 2010 Dovidio, John F. and Gaertner, S. PREJUDICE, DISCRIMINATION, AND RACISM. 1986 Dweck, Carol. MINDSET: THE NEW PSYCHOLOGY OF SUCCESS. 2007 Elkind, David. ALL GROWN UP AND NO PLACE TO GO: TEENAGERS IN CRISIS. 1998 Elkind, David. HURRIED CHILD: GROWING UP TOO FAST TOO SOON. 2006 Germer, Christopher K. THE MINDFUL PATH TO SELF-COMPASSION: FREEING YOURSELF FROM DESTRUCTIVE THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS. 2009 Gilligan, Carol. IN A DIFFERENT VOICE: PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY AND WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT. 1993 Gilligan, Carol, Nona P. Lyons, Trudy J. Hanmer (ed). MAKING CONNECTIONS: THE RELATIONAL WORLDS OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS AT...

Words: 1649 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Sexuality in Ulysses, Lolita and the World's Wife

...marriage and intimate relationships as well as established gender roles. Despite the alleviation of religious and moral restrictions, sex embodies the warped animal reflection of the exclusively human concept of love, exposing primal desires and ensuring its continued belonging to the realms of the shocking and distasteful, while inadvertently strengthening its power. It is this power that lies at the heart of much modernist literature. The illicit imagery serves as a physical subversion of the dated foundations the writings oppose. Prominent in early modernist work was the theoretical influence of Sigmund Freud, most notably in the case of contemporary writer James Joyce whose literary techniques, such as the stream of consciousness writing in Ulysses, have come to epitomize modernist fiction. Ulysses not only challenges the censors’ attitude to sex, but also what were considered the sexual norms for men and women in pre-war Catholic society. Similarly, Vladimir Nabokov uses sexual deviancy to protest the theoretical ideas implicit in modernist literature through characteristics derived from post-World War II civilisation. The absence of structure or control left by the war undermined contemporary opinion of western stability, presented in Lolita through American culture. This subversion is mirrored in the poetry of Carol Ann Duffy through use of explicit language rather than sexual perversion, confronting the inequality in modern culture. Despite the distinct narrative styles...

Words: 4061 - Pages: 17

Free Essay

0001

...Magazines Catharina Landström This paper analyses cultural signification in the co-production of gender and technology. Focusing on the popular genre of motoring magazines, it discerns a pattern organising men and women in opposite relations to cars. Men’s relationships with cars are premised on passion and pleasure while women are figured as rational and unable to attach emotionally to cars. This “gendered economy of pleasure” is traced in a close reading of motoring magazine representations of cars and humans. Further, a DVD representation of the Volvo YCC, a concept car developed by women for an imagined female user, is discussed in relation to this semiotic pattern. The paper is conceptual, texts are interpreted in order to bring forward aspects of meaning-making that are not immediately obvious. The objective is to critically illuminate one aspect of the cultural production of the car as a masculine technology. Keywords: cars, gender, pleasure This paper suggests a way in which to think about the cultural construction of the car as a masculine technology. Interpreting representations in motoring magazines, it traces a “gendered economy of pleasure” that organises the symbolical meanings of relationships between humans and cars. The objective is to contribute a critical perspective on cultural meaning-making to the feminist interrogation of the co-production of gender and technology. The symbolical association of cars Science Studies, Vol. 19(2006) No.2, 31–53 with...

Words: 11429 - Pages: 46

Premium Essay

Women and Thier Forgotten Role in Slavery

...really invisible? Verene Shepherd, in Women in Caribbean History states that up until the 1970s Caribbean books neglected women because early historians looked at colonisation, government, religion, trade and war fare, activities men were more involved in. Also some historians felt that women’s issues did not merit inclusion and where women could have been included, such as slave uprisings, their contributions were ignored. Shepherd believes changes occurred with the influence of women’s groups who tried to correct the gender neutral or male biased history. There was also a shift into social history, looking at the non elite and into topics such as family life. Books started to look at women’s social and political activities. Unfortunately there was a lack of first hand accounts from the period of the transatlantic slave trade – accounts written by men at the time either ignored women or perpetuated the myth of female inferiority and stereotyping. Gender sensitivity history was one...

Words: 6900 - Pages: 28

Free Essay

A Cursed Love

...Resources for Teaching Prepared by Lynette Ledoux Copyright © 2007 by Bedford/St. Martin’s All rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. 2 1 f e 0 9 d c 8 7 b a For information, write: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116 (617-399-4000) ISBN-10: 0–312–44705–1 ISBN-13: 978–0–312–44705–2 Instructors who have adopted Rereading America, Seventh Edition, as a textbook for a course are authorized to duplicate portions of this manual for their students. Preface This isn’t really a teacher’s manual, not, at least, in the sense of a catechism of questions and correct answers and interpretations. Because the questions provided after each selection in Rereading America are meant to stimulate dialogue and debate — to generate rather than terminate discourse — they rarely lend themselves to a single appropriate response. So, while we’ll try to clarify what we had in mind when framing a few of the knottier questions, we won’t be offering you a list of “right” answers. Instead, regard this manual as your personal support group. Since the publication of the first edition, we’ve had the chance to learn from the experiences of hundreds of instructors nationwide, and we’d like to use this manual as a forum where we can share some of their concerns, suggestions, experiments, and hints. We’ll begin with a roundtable on issues you’ll probably want to address before you meet your class. In the first section of this manual, we’ll discuss approaches to...

Words: 57178 - Pages: 229