October 21- You need a man
The idea that a woman needs a man has been around for centuries and is still greatly prevalent in today's society. Being in a relationship seems to be something that determines a woman's worth sometimes. I know many people who push the idea of getting into a relationship and act as though it is the most important thing in the world. Some parents push it on to their kids and some friends push it on to each other. I also notice that even some girls believe that their worth is determined by men. These things are truly bothering, even after so many years of feminist movements and the many woman who tell other women that there worth is not determined by a man, it is still is pushed by people. I have never been in a relationship and I have experienced others pushing for me to get a boyfriend. They don’t really come out and say “you should get a boyfriend” but they make comments like “do you have a boyfriend yet?” or “are you talking to anyone?” After hearing these comments over and over again, even if you didn’t want to before, you start to believe that you really need to be in a relationship. It really is irritating because what does it really matter to the people asking? Why should they care if I’m in a relationship or not? This old way of thinking may be much less in today’s society but it still exists which is really bothersome.
I totally agree with you! Women were expected to marry early in the past because they could not live with out a man providing for them. If they could not find a man, they would be set up in an arranged marriage. It has become better in modern society though. Now, women do not have to get married and can wait however long they would like. Even though we have more freedoms, women are still pressured into relationships by older generations because they still think we need men to survive.
ReplyDeleteHi there Victoria, I found your connection between the Sor Juana readings and today's society to be interesting. I totally agree with what you have written. Instances of this can be seen in everyday life. For example, when addressing an envelope, it is usually addressed to Mr. and Mrs. and then the husband's first name and last name. This implies that when a woman is married, she is no longer her own person; she assumes the identity of her husband. I also think that there should not be such importance placed on marriage and relationships unless of course, the woman herself desires a relationship.
ReplyDeleteEven though I'm a guy, I can relate to the pressures of finding a relationship. Nobody has directly told me to get into a relationship, but I'll still get questions about the topic from adults that I hardly know. My worth is determined by myself and myself only, so it's important to not worry about what others want. If I'm happy, then it's perfectly okay to not be in a relationship.
ReplyDeleteYES! Women are not encouraged to be independent! Women are expected to be in relationships then have children. It even provides context for contraceptive and reproductive laws; women are always told that they should wait to do anything permanent because they will "want children someday." Women are expected to want children and to raise a family. It is bonkers that people cannot fathom an independent woman without the support of a man.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post, Victoria. I assume you are reacting to Sor Juana's reading. I totally agree with your views. As you write, our society seems to determine a woman's worth based on her being in a relationship. I just wish you made the connection with Sor Juana more obvious. How do Sor Juana's writing address this problem?
ReplyDeleteI can't find a way to edit my post, so I'll make the correction here. The last sentence should read, How do Sor Juana's texts address this problem?
Delete