Regardless of cultural boundaries, women around the world have commonly faced paralleling issues with regards to gender roles, identity, and cultural norms and traditions connected to their native homes. Despite the distance, such issues have affected women across various social ranks, ethnic groups, educational backgrounds, and relationship status. This goes to prove that no matter the region, culture, or background, women around the world have faced similar oppression and biased views based on their gender. An example of this oppression was represented in The Joy Luck Club and The Year of the Elephant, where the main characters, Rose Hsu and Zahra, overcome the struggles of subjugation and failing marriages to ultimately find their own strength
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While reading the various aspects of Rose Hsu’s marriage to her husband, Ted, her behavior reflected a common stereotype about Asian woman. It has been commonly reflected that Asian women are very submissive or passive without the ability to fend or stand up for themselves without the support of males. This behavior was ordinarily found in the relationship between Rose Hsu and her husband. As the sole decision maker of their marriage, Ted made all of the decisions even personal choices that Rose Hsu should have been equipped to make herself. Yet, Rose Hsu was so accustomed to living in the shadow of her husband that she overlooked the certain strength she once displayed, illustrated by her insistence on marrying her husband. Once married Rose Hsu allowed herself to become a victim of her own personal fear of making decisions and to Ted’s need to overcompensate for her lack of self-efficacy. Her inability to stand firm and take responsibility became the underlying issue that led to the disintegration of their marriage. Rose Hsu allowed herself to become victimized by Ted’s dominance during the fifteen years of their marriage by permitting him to make all decisions in their life together without voicing her opinions about any situation. Her voiceless, passive attitude during their marriage directly reflects an example …show more content…
In both marriages, the women faced ideals of presumed gender roles based on the culture they aligned with. For example, in the Moroccan culture, Zahra was faced with many overbearing male roles in her life. Males were commonly seen as superior and this affected Zahra’s life for many years. She had grown so accustomed to living her life within the strict guidelines of her male counterparts that Zahra lost touch of her independence and womanhood. In comparison, Rose Hsu fell to the same submissive behaviors as Zahra. Instead of maintaining the strength she had entering her marriage, Rose Hsu allowed herself to withdraw in her fear of making decisions, which lead Rose Hsu’s husband to make all of the important decisions relating to their
While reading the various aspects of Rose Hsu’s marriage to her husband, Ted, her behavior reflected a common stereotype about Asian woman. It has been commonly reflected that Asian women are very submissive or passive without the ability to fend or stand up for themselves without the support of males. This behavior was ordinarily found in the relationship between Rose Hsu and her husband. As the sole decision maker of their marriage, Ted made all of the decisions even personal choices that Rose Hsu should have been equipped to make herself. Yet, Rose Hsu was so accustomed to living in the shadow of her husband that she overlooked the certain strength she once displayed, illustrated by her insistence on marrying her husband. Once married Rose Hsu allowed herself to become a victim of her own personal fear of making decisions and to Ted’s need to overcompensate for her lack of self-efficacy. Her inability to stand firm and take responsibility became the underlying issue that led to the disintegration of their marriage. Rose Hsu allowed herself to become victimized by Ted’s dominance during the fifteen years of their marriage by permitting him to make all decisions in their life together without voicing her opinions about any situation. Her voiceless, passive attitude during their marriage directly reflects an example …show more content…
In both marriages, the women faced ideals of presumed gender roles based on the culture they aligned with. For example, in the Moroccan culture, Zahra was faced with many overbearing male roles in her life. Males were commonly seen as superior and this affected Zahra’s life for many years. She had grown so accustomed to living her life within the strict guidelines of her male counterparts that Zahra lost touch of her independence and womanhood. In comparison, Rose Hsu fell to the same submissive behaviors as Zahra. Instead of maintaining the strength she had entering her marriage, Rose Hsu allowed herself to withdraw in her fear of making decisions, which lead Rose Hsu’s husband to make all of the important decisions relating to their