Author: econnelly3 (Page 1 of 5)

The perception of women at the time was not held very highly if you supported women’s rights. They believed all rights to coverture that had been previously assigned to women no longer mattered. Women I think have always been fighting for a chance to be “in the ring” with men. That didn’t mean if by choice they no longer wanted to live the “typical” life of a woman they couldn’t.

If we collected all of the stories from women about their marriage it would no longer be a system that people wanted to enforce. It was no longer about love but an exchange of property. This goes well into West’s discussion about the power of narrative and what that can do to change laws.

“idealized feminist and feminine judge is, ironically, in many ways engaging in a type of decision making which owes more to a literary and narrative sensibility than the interpreting judge… idealized feminist or feminine judge finds herself facing interlocking wens of stories which she must somehow weave together and then complete.” (206)

West talks again about this “stock story” that law creates, which is not the experience of everyone affected by the law. This is why it is essential to acknowledge all voices and narratives that are generally not heard. Which in turn is the importance of the narrative. The law deals with people and their possible or actual experiences, so using this interpretation method that uses conflicting rules, principles, and theories disregards all other stories. The narrative allows the education of the ignorant and provides truth to the misinformed judgment. The feminist theory uses this strategy very strategically. But does that make it effective? Feminism and literature do the same thing– they want to bring forward excluded voices to change the legal theory. Feminism itself also follows this “stock” story of what the white heterosexual woman faces.

What is West’s point? That literature and feminist theory are both important in making a change in our society? Does she think that this will be successful? How do we push for literature that is outside the “canon” and highlight marginalized voices?

“… we shall all be better, I believe, for completing man’s ideal of religion and morals by that of a woman, and learning to ass to his Law of Justice her Law of Love, and to his faith in God’s fatherly care, her faith in His motherly tenderness– that blessed lesson forgotten too long: that “as a woman hath compassion on the son of her womb, even so, the Lord hath pity on us all!'”

The Education Act of 1870 was a massive step in the right direction for education. It provided funded schools for children and they were not forced to participate in religious activities. Yet, there was no discussion of women’s education, which leads us to Cobbes essay. I picked this quote because I think she was on to something when she discusses the benefits of what an educated woman could do. Being educated does not make you any less of a “woman”, but can allow for a new perspective on matters. If we have taught women to be such extraordinary mothers and philanthropists just imagine what they could do with a greater understanding. Cobbe also uses this tone of humor in a way when she discusses some of these topics. She pokes fun at the segregation happening between men and women. Not wanting to educate a woman because it is for men is like saying a woman can’t eat beef because that is what men eat. In her conclusion, she invites everyone to set aside their prejudices and preconceived biases and realize that it is acceptable for people to be multifaceted human beings. We are able to change and see things from other perspectives, even if that is not how it always has been. There is much to say about what a woman should be and not enough about what a woman could be.

Juliet had received some of her education through university classes and learned a skill that would be beneficial to her in the workplace. If a woman was not able to gain some education and had no man to rely on for income and security what welfare would be provided for her?

If I have no said here of the woman and children ’tis not for want of appreciation: they were the salt of the settlement. There was no nonsense of high principles about them: they have followed their husbands and fathers and brother to this outland spot as a woman will do” (75, Chapter 7)

This novel is different than the other books that we have read. Juliet is forced to go to work after her father dies. She is sexualized by the men she visits when searching for a typewriting job. They look her up and down trying to decide if she will be fit for the job before they even evaluate her abilities. She describes her duties as typing “Like the machine that I was”. There is a tone of humor in the way she reacts to the anarchists. After writing her resignation letter she describes herself as a “Free Woman”. She acts as if she is different from other women, less emotional and more rational and intelligent. I think that this quote is probably the way Grant Allen feels about women, rather than that all women are like Juliet.

What are Allen’s true feelings about women? Is there also an underlying joke in this story? Are we supposed to like Juliet? What is the purpose of the dog? How does Micheala differ from Juliet, other than their economic status (she describes her as childlike)?

In class notes:

• Saint references? Political references? Very intertextual, modern, intellectual
• Ulysses, Romeo and Juliet, Carmen and Michaela, St. George (patron saint of England), and the dragon (she is not the princess)–which role will fit her best?
• She tries out all of these different lifestyles and personas
• gender?
• pg 128