In the article “Traditions Subordinating Women”, Bonnie S. Anderson and Judith P. Zinsser explore the very strong opinions, theories and beliefs of female subordination within the eyes of various origin cultures through stories, passages and history itself. This article gives a vast understanding of a woman’s role, the purpose of her body, what is expected of her, society’s double standards and how literature and poems portray women.
Before Christianity, there existed many old cultures such as the Greeks, Romans, Hebrews, Germanics and Celtics, who all came in agreement to preserving the subordination of women. A woman’s main duties were to remain faithful to her husband, to be fruitful and to preserve and nurture her home. A woman was incapable
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Any woman who lost her virginity prior to marriage or without the approval of her father was considered a dishonorable one who disgraced her family. All marriage meant was the transfer of male guardianship from a woman’s father to husband. It was a negotiation where the slightest bit of love was only hoped for. The best woman was considered to be one who voluntarily made herself an accessory to man.
A woman was referred to as a whore if she initiated sex, a prude for refusing it, a dangerous monster that could not be in control in literature and as a slut for being a prostitute. A prostitute was additionally excluded from society, and had to dress differently so that it would be easy to differentiate between a whore and “good girl”.
The thoughts and beliefs of the origin cultures on subordinating women were cruel and insensitive. A woman should be granted the freedom to choose her life and how she wants to live it, rather than be deprived from it and given standards to live up to. Although these ideas may not continue to shape our society as dramatically as they use to, they are still present. It is for the reasons listed above that feminism is in fact still relevant, and should continue to be fought