The role of women has been overlooked in the past greatly, as in earlier decades women were seen as a male 's property; whether this being her father or her husband. Women were expected to cook, clean, and take care of the kids, whilst the men were the breadwinners of the family. Marian Engel presents Anita 's Dance, a short story in which challenges the stereotypical role of women during the 1970 's. Engel displays some obstacles that women were facing in order to become independent, and treated with the respect they gratefully deserve; no longer being confined to domesticity. The unconditional support Engel had for women 's rights, is clearly portrayed through Anita 's Dance, as in the story Anita is attacked for choosing to work and support
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Engel began her education at Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School, then continued on to complete a Bachelor of Arts at McMaster University in 1955, and enrolled in a master 's program for Canadian Literature at McGill University. The rise of feminism in the 1970 's is one of the most significant social movements, feminism changed every aspect of social order, and families were transformed as women explored new aspects of their identity. Women were no longer confined to the expected traditions of being a domestic house-wife but were given the opportunity to explore themselves in ways they did not know existed. However, even though this movement was coming into action, not everybody was for this movement, not all men supported women becoming their own person, in addition to being given the right to vote. Women were now given the opportunity to compete for the same jobs as men, thus opening many doors, and changing lives for the better, as women were starting to be treated as an equal to men, which they rightfully …show more content…
Jack (Anita 's brother), continues to treat Anita as "nothing", following the French Feminist Approach. Engel describes Jack as, "something of a bad dream: the one who hadn 't succeeded", it is displayed that Jack and Anita do not have the best of relationships, as Jack only comes to Anita when in desperate need of help, however, even though he is in need, he continues to believe he is more important than Anita. Jack denigrates Anita any chance he deems possible; " There must be something, the way you lie around reading all day", it is evident that Jack is in need of help, yet the way he approaches the affairs, belittles Anita, even so, when he suggests that he should do the labour work and, she should simply "take care of the kids", referring to the traditional role of women, not accepting the change in life, where women are becoming independent. With Jack conveying his feelings, it displays the long-established male figure he is still trying to represent, as he is not allowing room for a discussion with Anita, just demanding it upon her as if he is more important and has a final say in things. The language used in the dialogue between the two does not portray healthy communication, as the two are going back and forth not coming to a mutual conclusion, just ending with Anita giving Jack "ten bucks, and a subway ticket," before she
Engel began her education at Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical School, then continued on to complete a Bachelor of Arts at McMaster University in 1955, and enrolled in a master 's program for Canadian Literature at McGill University. The rise of feminism in the 1970 's is one of the most significant social movements, feminism changed every aspect of social order, and families were transformed as women explored new aspects of their identity. Women were no longer confined to the expected traditions of being a domestic house-wife but were given the opportunity to explore themselves in ways they did not know existed. However, even though this movement was coming into action, not everybody was for this movement, not all men supported women becoming their own person, in addition to being given the right to vote. Women were now given the opportunity to compete for the same jobs as men, thus opening many doors, and changing lives for the better, as women were starting to be treated as an equal to men, which they rightfully …show more content…
Jack (Anita 's brother), continues to treat Anita as "nothing", following the French Feminist Approach. Engel describes Jack as, "something of a bad dream: the one who hadn 't succeeded", it is displayed that Jack and Anita do not have the best of relationships, as Jack only comes to Anita when in desperate need of help, however, even though he is in need, he continues to believe he is more important than Anita. Jack denigrates Anita any chance he deems possible; " There must be something, the way you lie around reading all day", it is evident that Jack is in need of help, yet the way he approaches the affairs, belittles Anita, even so, when he suggests that he should do the labour work and, she should simply "take care of the kids", referring to the traditional role of women, not accepting the change in life, where women are becoming independent. With Jack conveying his feelings, it displays the long-established male figure he is still trying to represent, as he is not allowing room for a discussion with Anita, just demanding it upon her as if he is more important and has a final say in things. The language used in the dialogue between the two does not portray healthy communication, as the two are going back and forth not coming to a mutual conclusion, just ending with Anita giving Jack "ten bucks, and a subway ticket," before she