Feminism and Sexism: the Scarlet Letter

Anaysa Viviana Arce Professor Dr. simulate Macon English Literature 1302 21 April 2013 Feminism & Sexism The Scarlet earn In Heavens own time, a new truth would be revealed, in order to establish the whole congenator between art object and woman on a surer ground of mutual happiness (ch. 24). The Scarlet Letter where there is a woman, a keep up, and a lover. A story where wo workforce atomic number 18 downgraded, humiliated, punished, and judged for their actions. It is an obvious that eras ready changed as well as customs, women now fix a say in our government.Therefore, we mainly focus on two political issues that have affected our society, feminism and sexism. We go in depth of researching how their definitions have changed through step forward time and how they have affected our society solely in the United States. The Scarlet Letter, is a grave representation of how feminism and sexism was affected in the era of the Puritans. Within the story, women were thought of as l esser than men. Womens purposes were to raise children and give them good morals and values.Women did not have jobs they wore the plainest clothes, and sat quietly by their husbands sides. temper and happiness were considered to be a sin in the Puritan faith. Hester Prynne, (the main character in the story), has to crucify m all obstacles in the novel, emotionally, socially, and psychologically. Living in a Puritan Society, where they had strict rules that everyone had to abide by, the society showed that men overruled women, and women were subjects to men. Hesters place within Puritan society changes within the novel, where she defies male authority.Feminism in its definition jibe to Barbara Smith in This Bridge Called My Back (1981) means Feminism is the political theory and practice to vacate all women women of color, working-class women, poor women, physically challenged women, lesbians, old women as well as white economically privileged hetero sexual women. Anything less t han this is not feminism, unless merely female self-aggrandizement. (Web. Vanderbilt. edu) Hester Prynne was hale to wear an embroidered A on her bodice of every garment as a signification of adultery. Women then, were punished more for such sexual transgressions.Unlike men, according to the Puritans women were considered to be ruled by their emotions, while men were considered to be governed by reason (Web. Public. gettysburg. edu). Therefore, we could bring to an end that women were humiliated and had no contribution to their society feminism was at its minimal. Women then in the United States started flake back, which lead to The Womens Movement. This organized feminism first initiated in 1848 (Web. Feminisim. eserver. org). From this movement several branches formed such as the Abolition of Slavery, the Social Purity and Temperance movement.Furthermore, after 70 years (1928) women were granted to pick out and finally have a word in society. Therefore, in comparison with T he Scarlet Letter and feminism, women have significantly evolved to become great idols in society. They have freedom and are at the level of a males authority. There is no such humiliation or judgment for committing any sin, women are allowed to be happy, independent and be with whomever makes them happy. Commonly, in todays society it is most popular that women are single mothers with a stable career to support their child.Consequently, women today are not forced to wear such embellishments like Hester Prynne, binding the before-and-today comparison on feminism and the impact it has on women today. Sexism, as previously mentioned has also been a political issue in women. Sexism means the prejudice, stereotyping, or dissimilarity, typically against women, on the basis of sex. The main overview of The Scarlet Letter is that Hester gets punished for committing adultery and conceiving a child out of marriage. In reality the only reason why Hester gets punished and forced to wear an A is because she is a female.Dimsdale, Hesters lover, being a pastor is suffering internally as the community is rising against Hester. Although the community doesnt know of his crime, he is remotely thinking of his rejection as a pastor in the case they ever do find out. Even then, the community go forth not severely punish him, judge him or make him wear an embroidered A solely because he is male. Just like feminism, sexism also presents itself as a discrimination and it is still being seen in todays society even with feminism reformations. It whitethorn be less than the puritan era, but questions such as Why dont we have a female president? arise. Overall in reality, unlike feminism, sexism will always be present. The discrimination of because she is a woman will still influence many points of view in people. Why do women commit adultery? What cause them to take such step? Questions that we wonder but at time have no answer. Although in Infidelity Facts. com we find a con implan ting answer as to why Statistically, women dont cheat for the sake of sex. Its of secondary concern for them. The 1 reason why they cheat is for an emotional connection.And this is in particular true of women over the age of 30. In more than a few instances, women wont even cheat physically. They will carry on emotional topics where theyll fall in love and experience emotional liberty with a men, while never taking it to the physical level. Its these type of involvements that can continue on for years, without ever being detected, and often leaving a wake of destruction in their path. Studies have found that in long-term relationships, women, whether they work outside of the house or not, often find themselves shut out emotionally.Over 70% of women are still the unproblematic caregivers for their children while also being the cook and the maid whether or not they have a full or part-time job. This leaves them precious little time for themselves to harbor a womans natural urge to grow emotionally. An urge typical ignored by men whose primary interest is physical contact. Thus the longing for a man who can see who they really are begins. And in the weeks, months or even years that follow, they will usually find such a man or think theyve found one.An interesting point to takeaway of this female need for an emotional attach affairs initiated by women generally last 3 times long than those initiated by men. We then refer back to the novel and as readers we discover a connection with what is presented and with Hester. Hester did not commit the affair because of sex. She was looking for love, love that Dimsdale had for her. Technically she did have a child out of marriage, but she did not have her because she was prostituting herself Hester had Pearl from deep intimate love and passion. All she wanted was someone to be by her side and love her for the person she was.Obviously in the Puritan community, adultery was a great sin but in todays society it is an o pen common issue. Some statistics on adultery complicate That over a third of married men will cheat on theirwives That nearly a quarter of all married women will cheat on their husbands And that more than 50% of all marriages will be impacted by one of the spouses being unfaithful. Back in the 1960s it was usually the husband who was unfaithful. Today, researchers are finding that women are just as likely as men to have an affair (Web. Kellybonewell. com).