Feminism And Oppression

    Feminism exists today and has existed in reality and literature throughout our history as humans. Feminism is the belief and fight for women's rights and gender equality. On the other hand, oppression is the prolonged, unjust control and silence of someone or something. Sexism counters the ideology of feminism and exists today in the work place, the media, and in everyday life. In the work place, women are often paid less and not trusted with higher ranked jobs. Women are oppressed and ignored because of their gender. In the media, women are often dehumanized and airbrushed to perfection. Their real beauty is not accepted in the media. In everyday life, women deal with double-standards and thought of as weak. Even in most fairy tales, women are the princesses searching for that prince that will save them from their despair instead of saving themselves.  
In literature, many novels and short stories target feminism. In The Yellow Wallpaper, the narrator is ill and to heal her, her husband isolates her in a room with captivating yellow wallpaper. Her disease worsens and she breaks, becoming unstable. Her husband refuses to listen to her because he is the doctor and he knows what is best. In The Awakening, Edna is unhappy with her life and breaks away from her husband. She tries to change her life to achieve happiness, but she is unsuccessful. The only way she can free herself is through suicide. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Mariam and Laila are forced to marry Rasheed and have his children. He will not allow them to leave the house without permission and he beats them. This is accepted in their culture. In Afghanistan, the women are oppressed and viewed as possessions. Mariam has to murder Rasheed to save Laila and escape. She does not free herself until she signs her death contract, accepting her fate. These stories capture true ideologies that have occurred throughout history and people are fighting back.