Topic: Feminism and Femininity in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Thesis:
Although women have their social duties as mothers and wives, and the demonstration of masculinity in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
is meant to show women's submissiveness and men's power, autonomy and courage and not their physical differences, the issue of leaving women only as functional symbols and failure to consider their feelings and female empowerment weakens the aspect of gendered roles and positions.
Outline:
1.) Introductory paragraph
a. Hook: Men are the heads and leaders in their families and women should be submissive and adhere to the decisions made by their husbands, as emphasised in many societies. Question: Does being a man guarantee one power to control a woman?
b. Thesis
2.) Point of comparison 1: Both female characters are initially fragile and willing to submit to their male partners
3.) Point of comparison 2: The two women portray their strength and focus on gaining freedom and possibility of enjoying their human rights
4.) Point of comparison 3: The two heroes in both pieces are victims of traditionally masculine atmosphere, as demonstrated by their male partners.
5.) Point of comparison 4: The two protagonists have a time that they get transformed to being active, feminine characters who struggled for their female gender in the society that is led by traditional concepts of masculinity
6.) Point of comparison 5: Finally, both protagonists acquired their self-conscious and gained freedom and female happiness irrespective of the treatment received from those people around them
7.) Conclusion: Is it possible for men to behave in a way that they do not disrespect women based on their outdated gender roles/guidelines?
Paragraphs:
In the story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Jane suffers from postpartum depression because of life torture that she experienced in the hands of her husband, John and her brother who were both physicians, but full of intellectual superiority. Similarly, Buffy in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”
is exposed to the traditional patriarchal environment formed by his husband Buffyverse, They equally experience gender stereotypical issues as they husbands only focus on being successful in their lives, therefore denying them their female power. Buffer sustained violence from her husband. In the TV series, it is stated that "since femininity is not natural but constructed - through processes such as the castration complex but also, we might add, through things like watching movies - there are ways of thinking about femininity as just that, a construction. Femininity can be seen as a mask, a masquerade, performed by mimicking what being a woman is meant to be about." Also, Jane is wary of her husband, brother and sister-in-law who do not even care about her health when she tells them that she is ill. Jane says, “John is a physician… and perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster” (Gilman 76). Indeed, both characters are dominated against by the male characters who make them powerless.
In the short story, Jane explains her feelings when she I oppressed by her husband, John. Moreover, by finding herself in despair, she struggles to escape. At the end of the story, it is clear that although John deprives Jane, she uses her hidden intentions, as she locks herself in her room to rub herself on the wall. Nonetheless, in the end, she utters that "I’ve got out at last …….." It is clear that she shows the art of sacrifice to gain equality, as she sacrificed her companionship, goals, mental and physical health to pursue her rights. Equally, Buffy, despite being submissive and passive, and initially being subject to male gaze and quiet, she overpowers Angel by kissing him.
Consequently, she takes on the masculine role played by Angel. The two women portray their strength and focus on gaining freedom and the possibility of enjoying their human rights
Jane and Buffy are subjects of traditional masculine conduct as their partners seem to dominate them and deny them their freedom and human rights. Jane in the short story experiences abuse of her rights, therefore finding herself in despair. She is forced to conform to the societal norms. John, her husband, does not allow Jane to go to work and remains ignorant and patronising of her request for assistance. John even uses Jane to advance the personal career. Indeed, Jane's life indicates that men degrade women to prove their self-worth. Similarly, Buffy in the TV series has lived in a society where women are portrayed in stereotypical methods, which are developed through patriarchy. In her community, women as left as functional symbols, for instance, in the Buffyverse, it is stated that "no such thing as a woman.” Men like Angle seem to dominate Buffy. Angel used to ignore her and make her remain silent because of kissing her without considering her point of view. Indeed, Buffy lives in typical masculine and feminine roles, as she was regularly pummeled, thrown, and kicked in her evening battles with the other people. "I felt a responsibility about the way I portrayed violence the first time I picked up a pen. [ … 1 But you feel it, and at the same time and I’ve said this before a writer has a responsibility to tell stories that are dark and sexy and violent [ … ] because that’s what makes stories into fairy tales instead of polemics." This means that feminist ideology was denied to women and that is why Buffy was identified as a slayer. Indeed, male domination existed from masculine anxiety regarding female autonomy, which affected the lives of both protagonists.
Besides, after struggling a lot, the two protagonists managed to get transformed to being strong, feminine characters who fought for their female gender in the society, as directed by traditional perceptions of masculinity. After being subjected to violence by Angel, Buffy managed one time to kiss him, and she managed to make him have sex with her, therefore realising her dream. Angel's life is shaped and defined by females' who normally have sex with him. For instance, the series identifies that; "The deeply felt emotional bonds do not undermine the heroine's ability or independence. These men play a crucial role in their lives, but the heroines do not prioritise these relationships above others or their duties". Angel just because good because of Buffy who managed to turn him to be a reasonable man; however, Buffy turned him evil once more through allowing him a real period of happiness, by agreeing to have sex with him. Buffer finally kills Angel, and this enabled her to accomplish her duty of not letting her emotional bond with Angel take control. Similarly, after spending her life imagining being in a wallpaper, Jane finally became the woman in the wallpaper and changing herself the moment she was stripping away the paper, therefore generating the feeling of relieve for herself. John was also able to accept that his wife was improving although he continued driving her crazy through his actions. John sees that Jane was almost getting lost from his domination, as she was getting more independent and free from her condition, therefore exercising her freedom. Indeed, the two protagonists managed to get their freedom without their dominating partners knowing.
Finally, both protagonists attained their self-conscious and gained freedom and female happiness irrespective of the treatment received from those people around them. Jane and Buffer can get their freedom after winning over the domination subjected to them by their male partners. Buffer was identified as a heroic with the ability to use her female power to fight and kill evil or slay demons, vampires and more infernal creatures. The witch in her makes Buffer able to stand as a positive female hero and fulfil her capacity as the slayer. Besides, Jane acquires her freedom after regaining her self-consciousness once she identified herself as the woman in the wallpaper.
In conclusion, despite much disrespect that is portrayed by men to women due to their outdated gender roles, it is possible for women to regain their freedom and live a life based on personal control Jane and buffer in the two pieces are strong women who after going through the hell for being dominated by their male partners manage to live in freedom. The two characters demonstrate the fact that when men have some power, they focus on dominating women and through their masculinity to rule over women and make them subjects of the brutal world. Indeed, Jane and Buffy equally represent powerful feminism and femininity in their society lived as examples to other women who live in despair because of being subjected to masculine world.
Work Cited
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins Stetson. The Yellow Wallpaper: According to Solomon. Ediciones El Pais, 2016.
TV series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Retrieved from; https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/
