In the 20th century, women are given much more freedom than they were in the 1890s. In the past, women were not as liberated as men and were not privileged to have proper education or the right to vote, nor were they allowed to be outside of society’s expectations. The short story The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin and the essay “I Want a Wife” by Judy Brady discuss women’s issues. These two stories were written in different eras; however, regardless of when these literatures were published, it goes to show that women are still hindered due to society’s expectations and criteria.
The Story of an Hour” was written by Kate Chopin in 1894 during a time when war was frequent. Women were expected to stay at home with the children, waiting for their husbands to return from battle while men fought for their country with the hope of bringing home victory against their enemies. In this story, Louise Mallard was one of those women waiting for her husband’s return when suddenly she received news that he had died. She was naturally in mourning, but the story takes a twist as she finds freedom in her husband’s death.
In contrast, Judy Brady’s essay is about her desires as a woman and was written in the 1970s during a time when movements for women’s liberation were already present. The essay is a narrative of what Brady wants to experience as a woman – to be provided with all the needs and wants that she deserves. She expresses that having a wife would make everything easier because wives are devoted companions who can fulfill all needs and wants. While this may seem like an ideal situation from a male perspective, it can also be interpreted as Brady aspiring towards equality between husbands and wives.
Both of the literatures are about women and the struggles they face due to societal demands and expectations. Louise Mallard lived in a conservative and traditional society in 1894. Like many women of her time, she was married but did not have any children to care for. When she received news of her husband’s death, she was overcome with sorrow. However, as described by these lines: She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below, a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves. There were patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one above the other in the west facing her window.” It appears that she had been freed from some sort of chain that had been holding her back.
From a feminist perspective, Louise is constrained by society’s expectations of her. As a woman and wife, it is expected that she will serve her husband and potentially bear children while also caring for the family. Like many women of her time, Louise’s responsibilities limit her ability to pursue personal desires beyond being a good mother and wife.
However, in terms of personality, Louise is ahead of her time. Chopin describes her as repressed,” indicating that she yearns for freedom to be herself. She desires to explore the world and discover new experiences beyond what she or others in her generation have known. Perhaps she did not want the weighty responsibility placed upon her shoulders; instead, she wished to enjoy life as an unmarried woman.
Unfortunately, societal norms dictate that women like Louise should marry and have children at a certain age. If she were to embrace who she truly is, society would harshly exclude and label her as immoral or insane.
Identical to Louise’s problem, Judy finds herself wanting to break free from the norm. She expresses her desires as a woman by saying she needs a wife,” meaning she needs someone – not necessarily a woman – who will act like a wife and fulfill all of her demands, as outlined in her essay. At first glance, the essay may appear to be about lesbianism, but upon closer inspection, Judy Brady simply wants to express her need for equality with men. The demands she has written are mostly needs that men have, but if reflected upon, each of those standards is also a need for women. Although Judy Brady could be considered a contemporary writer, she still acknowledges that there is still a standard that women must follow in order to be accepted by society. Clearly, there is still an expectation dictating the duties and privileges of females.
Both essays demonstrate that women are still not completely liberated to pursue their desires. Despite numerous women’s movements advocating for gender equality and women’s rights, a significant portion of society still views a woman as someone who should get married and have children. While it is not negative for a woman to dream of having a family and being seen as normal,” limiting her potential is incorrect.
Every baby girl is born into a society that assigns her responsibilities and duties. Although there is no written law mandating these obligations, they have already been ingrained in the fabric of society. As she grows into a woman, she faces two options: conform to societal expectations and become a wife and mother responsible for caring for her family, or defy those expectations.
In conclusion, as human beings, we all have needs. Based on the written works of these authors, men are privileged compared to women. They are not expected to take care of and satisfy the needs of women; men only support the family financially and nothing else. It is disappointing to know that females are given more duties while men receive honor simply because they provide for their family financially. Women are easily judged if they do not follow societal expectations or fail to satisfy their family’s needs, but if a man cannot meet his family’s needs, it is acceptable – otherwise, women are blamed. These written works reveal that despite changing times, women have yet to achieve gender equality due to society’s demands.
Reference
Chopin, K. (1894). Story of an Hour.” Retrieved May 24, 2008 from http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/hour/.
Brady, J. (1971) I Want a Wife
