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Lessons In Chemistry By Elizabeth Zott

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In the 1950s and 1960s, women in patriarchal societies were forced to conform to stereotypes and oppression as a result of their sex. Many women in this time accept the stereotypes such as that women are unintelligent and weak. In Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons In Chemistry, Elizabeth Zott is an example of a woman who ignores these obstacles and does not conform to this status quo. Through her partner Calvin Evans, Elizabeth discovers a passion for rowing. She uses the skills and traits she learns through rowing to persevere and oppose the stereotypes and oppression she endures. Qualities such balance, communications, and optimism aid her in doing so. Therefore the qualities that Elizabeth Zott learns through rowing symbolize her unwillingness to conform …show more content…

In Particular, Elizabeth Zott demonstrates balance in her work and office gossip. At Hasting’s Research Institute, Elizabeth is a target for gossip as she is intelligent and is in a relationship with the smartest man in the office, Clavin Evans. She is able to withstand the rude comments from her coworkers such as “I don't understand her” and “Why’s she still here?” (Garmus 43). It takes a great amount of balance to be able to ignore such rude comments. Oftentimes, patriarchal stereotypes assume that women like to partake in gossip and office drama. However, Elizabeth disregards this stereotype as she ignores the negative comments. Elizabeth balances having some friends in the office and focusing on her research. As well, Elizabeth continues to portray balance when she continues her career while also battling episodes of PTSD: “Elizabeth, accustomed to the first words but stunned by the last, pressed herself against a wall, overcome by a wave of nausea” (Garmus 15). Undoubtedly, Elizabeth is stunned by the comments her boss Mr.Donatti calls her. The slur Mr. Donatti reminds her of the sexual assault trauma she receives from Dr. Meyers. She continues to show that women are able to neglect the false image that women are weak and cannot handle several difficult emotions while also being career driven and intelligent . In fact, this determination in her work demonstrates that women everywhere face discrimination based on their sex: “Gender issues play a part in every aspect of human production and experience” (Ahn np). Additionally, Elizabeth conquers rough waters since she frightens her boss at her second job, the broadcasting center Phil Lebensmal into a heart attack when he tries to sexually assault her. She entered his office to discuss her work when he attempted to sexually assault her,

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The first issue Murray takes on is the notion that women are intellectually inferior to men. She argues that, “we can only reason from what we know, and if opportunity of acquiring knowledge hath been denied us, the inferiority of our sex cannot fairly be deduced from thence” (133), effectively blaming the imbalance of education for perceived differences in intellect. Using this line of reasoning, she furthers the idea by comparing the intellect of 2 year old children as an intuitive example. From that age forward, “the one is taught to aspire, and the other is early confined and limited. As their years increase, the sister must be wholly domesticated, while the brother is led by the hand through all the flowery paths of science” (133).

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Elizabeth has a strong stance in her thinkings, however, her stance may be too firm for her to make the right conclusion; which altogether composes the characteristic of Elizabeth Proctor. (290

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The new dignity she had, “dumbfounded” her husband and she used it to her advantage: “if he went too far – if he beat her, or if he scolded too often or too unjustly –she would leave.” The author describes the power Elizabeth has created in her relationship as a knife because she had to go to that

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Elizabeth’s bravery and strength is a huge part of who she is. She is a source of goodness among so many others who chose to go along with the madness. Values as strong as these provide a shed of light in the midst of something as detrimental as the witch trials, where the poor values of others cost dozens of

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During the turn of the century the Jim Crow era, between the years 1895- 1950 there were two prominent black leaders that arose in order to accomplish one goal equal rights for African Americans. Although these two leaders shared different ideas and strategies for dealing with the Jim Crow era. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois dedicated their lives to gain equal rights for African Americans. Booker T. Washington was one of the most influential African Americans of the 19th century.

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For many centuries in our society women have been confined into a stereotypical idea of a patriarchal society. In today 's society the idea isn’t as much viewed upon with all the rights women have been given, but the concept still lingers in some of men 's minds. More so, than today, in the 19th century women were obligated to abide to the principle of gender roles and a male dominated culture. Women were seen as to be a slave and to act a certain way towards men as well as be able to gratify man 's lust of expectations of a perfect woman. These presumptions of women had been very much portrayed in short story , The Chaser by John Collier, in which a boy name Alan Austen seeks for a love potion from an old man, for a girl he likes name Diana.

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The 1920’s was a time of great change for women, how they lived, and the way they conducted themselves. The mentality of women and how they viewed their treatment of men was also drastically changed during this time. During the 20’s and 30s’ women began to show who they were; they did this by changing the way they dressed and how they looked overall. This change in appearence was used to show how women were tired of being under the control of men, it was in sorts, a rebel against everything previously thought of women. A perfect example of this shift in the mindset of women can be seen in John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”.

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