Wilcox believes that women should reject social norms about femininity and strive for independence. In “Woman,” Ella Wheeler Wilcox emphasizes the difference between the word “woman” and “lady,” “...one’s a term Full of fine force, strong, beautiful, and firm...And one’s a word for lackeys.” Wilcox compares both woman and lady in order to emphasize what a woman should desire to become. The word woman represents “full of fine force, strong beautiful and firm” Wilcox states how powerful and “strong” women should be. Wilcox contrasts this with her explanation of the word lady “...one’s a word for lackeys.” Wilcox compares the the word lady to being a servant, who are very disrespected during this time period. Lackeys are also very willing to
