Feminist Role In Today's Society

Amidst the support and backlash, feminism has played a vital role in shaping today’s society. To some, feminism is the belief that the woman should be equal to men, while others have defined feminism as a movement that teaches women to see themselves as victims of an unjust society as led by perverted, power-hungry, misogynistic men. Of the varying definitions above, they all share one similar aspect: the standards and perception of a certain gender, specifically the female gender. In my eyes, feminism does not just pertain to females or female gender roles. Feminism is a multi-faceted movement to promote the belief in humanism, equality and individuality for all people, regardless of one’s sexuality, race or background. Everyone deserves to …show more content…
Ever since the beginning, women have had lesser status then men based merely on a generalized view of appearance, anatomy and physical stamina. Women were never allowed to go onto higher education because they were thought to have a lesser capacity for learning. Instead, their skills were deemed better used elsewhere like in the house or for tending to children. Women were never allowed the right to enact laws and make decisions because they had a more nurturing, soft-hearted, and loving disposition, which apparently did not merge well politics (according to men, of course). Women were never allowed to have the freedom to do the things they wanted to do without permission from their husbands because they were supposed to be obedient and listen to every order, despite their own personal views and values. Due to this unjust treatment of women, society evolved to possess a notion that women and men cannot be equal until women gain the same education, work, status, and socioeconomic background as men. Men are born and raised to be superior to women despite the fact that both are made of flesh and blood. In this sense, I beg to disagree with Severin’s statement. Women and men are both equal from birth, regardless of where they are from and how they are brought up. Women do not need to achieve certain heights before being on the same standing as …show more content…
The novel as one point discusses homosexuality when Severin first lays his eyes on Alexis and cannot seem to tear his gaze from the Greek male. Attracted to the allure and presence of Alexis Papadopolis that exudes power and strength, Severin himself is shocked by the feelings desire he has within himself. Severin later mentions that he admires Socrates loyalty towards Alcibiades, Socrates’ younger lover (a common homosexual relationship in Ancient Greece meant to enrich both man and boy). However, the rest of the novel does not mention homosexuality and Severin’s statement above seems to only confirm homosexuality as an unacceptable lust. According to Severin, women can only be reared by men, which not only goes against homosexuality (specifically lesbianism), but women’s independence. Not only are women not allowed to be with other women, but women do not have the ability to take care of themselves without the assistance of men. It is this notion within society that degrades the potential of women and belittles the relationship between women. On a similar note, I disagree that women can only be men’s slave or despot prior to “equality”. In the novel itself, although Wanda von Dunajew (the female protagonist) does play the role of a dominatrix in order to fulfill Severin’s lust for pain and pleasure, she ends up submitting