Dominique Pierre

Term Paper 1

Double Standards
Feminism is the belief that women and men should have equal
rights and opportunities. Feminism can be directed to movements that
share a common goal. A feminist is a person who believes in feminism
and wants to make a difference. Feminists goals are to have women
and men be treated equally in a political, social, and economic aspect.
Feminism is mainly the support of womens interests. Feminism starts
from womens right of freedom of speech, all the way to womens right
to receive equal pay. Every part of the world struggles with unequal
justice for women.
Just like the United States of America, other parts of the world
battle with women experiencing unjust situations. For example, woman
in Japan were looked at as unattractive and crazy because they stood
up for what they believed in. After World War II Japanese women were
given the privilege to pick their spouses, but the wages in the work
place still did not change. Till this day, women are still making less
than men. Before World War II, women were not supposed to work in
factories, only work on farms. Once a woman became married, they
were forced to stop working for an income. But the more men that died

from the war, the more women were obligated to become workers.
Women were supposed to be obedient and passive.
In Higuchi Ichiyo Separate Ways, Ichiyo shows many examples
on how she can be considered a feminist. In Separate Ways, she
represents a realism text by telling a story dealing with people in
various classes. She also explains that when you are poor, and living in
a lower class you are marginalized. Ichiyo focuses on two main
characters through out the story. One was a young boy named Kichizo,
and a young woman named Okyo. Ichiyo portrays a feminist because
she writes about the pressure a women has in Japans society. The
author explains the conflict Okyo has between her personal desires and
traditional obligations. Ichiyo focused on showing Okyo in a crossroads
in her life. Okyo had to pick weather or not she wanted to continue
working as a hardworking, independent, poor worker or if she wanted
her life to be about sex and depending on a man.
Ichiyo provides insight into Okyos experience in many ways. As
Okyo stated in The Norton Anthology of World Literature Volume E,
Im tired of these drab clothes. Id like to wear a crepe kimono, too, for
a changeeven if it is tainted (Separate Ways 912). Okyo laughed it
off right after she realized what she said. The author shows the
readers, that Okyo is extremely smart, but tired. She is stylist and

wants change to happen on a physical and personal level for herself.

She is tired being stuck in an isolated situation.
Its not that I want to. I dont have much choice (Separate
Ways 912). Separate Ways describes life as a woman to be difficult
because it does not give the main character, Okyo a positive choice.
Her choice of staying as a poor steam-stress will not let her better her
life, just like becoming a mistress to a man. Either way, both choices
are not helping her expand herself. Society has a placed Okyo into a
bubble. Society would like Okyo to believe that she is making the
ultimate decision, but in reality she is not. Society has put pressure on
women to not think about their self-worth, but to think about whats in
their best interest to their future, no matter what that is or how they
get there. The story portrays many grey moral areas, but the main
theme is that money is motivational. Depending on what class you are
in; it determines the persons actions.
Just like Japan, India encounters many unjust situations when it
comes to women. Feminists in India seek the same goals as feminists
in other countries. The major problem in India is the inequality in
marriage. In India, an arranged marriage is highly recommended.
Marring because of love is looked down upon. The argument is that
marring because of love is unsuccessful is because there are
supposedly more fighting once the passionate stage dies out. In India,

men have more privileges compared to women when it comes to

marriage. Females are supposed to be married off by the age of eightteen. Females spend most of their life being married, and having their
number one priorities be their children and family. If a female wants to
work, it is looked down upon as well. Also, if they work they have to do
something in relation to their duties in a house or marriage.
The author Pandita Ramabai is considered a feminist for many
reasons. For example, she points out what married life is like in India
because she wants to bring light to the unfair situations that are at
hand. She was extraordinarily direct and honest to her readers in the
story, Married Life. Married Life does not just focus on arranged
marriages, but brands off and focuses on early marriages, the capital
system, and structure of a household. Ramabai reached a larger
audience than just women in India. Ramabai shares both, men and
womens role in society, but her tone definitely displays that she is a
feminist. Her raw words and opinions let the readers know she had a
voice and was not afraid to use it. There are double standards that
should not be in place, as well as a say so in how a young girl should
spend the rest of her life. By writing a story on married life alone, just
shows that Pandita Ramabai cares, and would like to bring awareness
to the situation.

Ramabai provides insight into the female experience and unjust

situations they face everyday. As explained in The Norton Anthology of
World Literature Volume E, The earlier the act of giving the daughter
in marriage, the greater is the merit, for thereby the parents are
entitled to rich rewards in heaven (Married Life 615). Ramabai
indicates that, early marriages are not in favor for the daughter, but
are in favor for the parents, which is just one unfair example of what
women may face.
In Married Life a newly married woman has a very discrediting
life. Being a newly married woman is difficult, stressful, and a lot of
work. Ramabai explains that there are many different types of
marriages, and some girls get put into different situations compared
to others depending on what area you live in. There are three stages a
female and a male have to conquer before they are even allowed to
engage. Some girls have to leave their home at an extremely young
age, but until the young girl reaches puberty her mother-in-law takes
her in. The mother-in-law teaches her how to work hard around the
house, and teaches her what it takes to be a successful domesticated
wife. A married woman can never talk or laugh loudly, never speak to
the men in the house or male relative unless told to do so. If a person
is coming into the room she is in, she must cover her face with a veil or
run into another room. A veil or going into another room shows
respect to the other person.

In Southern Indian, women are mandated to remain standing as

long as their guests are in their presence, but they do not have to wear
veils. Also, there is a joint family system where the houses are divided
into two parts and the men and women do not have equal living
conditions. The mens living area is much brighter and happier, where
as though the womens area is much duller. Women are regulated on a
regular basis and are not thanked or even shown that much
appreciation for the hard work they put in every day. Pandita Ramabai
explains that India has made several differences to todays modern
time.
Pandita Ramabai and Higuchi Ichiyo can be compared to many
modern day feminists in many ways. Ramabai, Ichiyo, and modern
feminists have one main goal, which is to fight for female equality.
Fighting for female equality can be put into action in many ways, but
writing about it is extremely effective. Modern feminists believe that a
females voice is just as important as a mans, and they will attempt to
achieve the goal in every way possible. Modern feminists, Ramabai,
and Ichiyo have more similarities than differences.