Sealing It with Clarissa

Hello, World.

       For this last post, I would like to conclude my discussion of Women's Literature by using Virginia Woolf's style of writing. This style of writing is one that is very jumpy, which quickly transitions between many different topics, and which resembles a train of thought. I believe that writing in this style will allow me to touch upon every subject, topic, theme, etc. that I have discussed throughout this semester. Let me start my creating a list of everything that I have talked about in this blog:

• Increase in female equality
• Domestic life
• The color red in women's literature
• Nature (innate behaviour vs. society)
• Prejudice
• Beauty
• Media and the industry
• The working world
• Beauty vs. intelligence
• Rape
• Identity, ignorance, clothing (Jasmine specific)

      Now begins my train of thought:

       It is amazing how much has improved throughout the year regarding female equality and equity. But, it is also amazing how little has change (especially in people's minds). Women, although statistics show that they are increasingly getting high-paid jobs, attending 'better' universities and becoming more free, they are not necessarily getting the respect and rights they deserve. However, I am extremely proud and happy with the positive change.

       Regarding domestic life, like in Jury of Her Peers (1916), by Susan Glaspell, women are usually expected to be stay at home moms. Men constantly adopt a haughty behaviour which establishes an unfair and unwelcome supremacy. They don't realise that women are extremely bored and not used to their full capability. Well, not used in that manner, used as in useful. Where they feel like they have purpose, rather than being tossed aside. 

       Women's Literature is one that contains numerous references to the color red, especially in The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood. it symbolises an extensive library of things, including periods (a women-specific 'ritual', death, and love. Red itself is a very powerful color and is therefore used often to symbolise the powerful topics within Women's Literature.

       Nature is also a very 'hot topic' sparking many debates and fights within Women's Literature. The idea that female inequality is natural or innate is very debatable. Dr. Umemoto has said in class said all ancient civilisations usually worshipped a Mother Goddess, and society is the cause that all religions and governments now are usually patriarchal. This change demonstrates what I believe: that inequality is completely societal, that it has been built rather than implied.

       Prejudice is usually regarded as something that is only applied to different cultures (different countries, tribes, etc.) but it also applies to women. Woman are said that they can't drive, that they must be beautiful, that they aren't strong or not capable of men's tasks. These prejudices are common and terrible. They must be fought with full force! This is especially true because every woman are different, and even though an attack on women is bad, a generalisation of women is even worse.

       The media and the industry are a great cause for female inequality. Although they directly don't harm them, they kill women internally. They constantly bombard us with advertisements and impossible ideals that rot away our finances and soul. It is so depressing to see so many people force depression and self hatred.

       Women's Literature, and feminism in general fights a constant debate between beauty and intelligence. Women are often said that they can only be one or the other, that they can either be beautiful or intelligent. This is due to the fact that beautiful women don't have time to study, because they are constantly exercising or putting make up on. The same applies for the reverse because intelligent women don't have time to take care of themselves because they must study, research, etc.

       An important aspect of feminism, is rape. As I discussed in my blog sequence, rape is a violation of women because it directly harms and controls the vagina, which is the major symbol for women (obviously because they are the only who has it). Rape is scarily prevalent yet very ignored. This is dangerous because victims become mute and the fight can therefore never be won. This is also supported and emphasise by the glorification of rape through images and videos that the media constantly throws right into our face!

      Jasmine, a fantastic book about cultural clashes, really exemplifies and showcases the struggles that a woman faces as she completely changes cultures. It is so interesting to see that women fight many of the same issues worldwide and that yet, no global effort is being made to end cruelty to women. This novel also discusses in depth the issue that many people (not just women) have: multiple identities. It is so hard, especially for someone (like me!) who moves a lot to identify yourself as one person, or identify one place as your home.

      In conclusion, (wow, a final conclusion), Women's Literature is something that is so often overlooked and ignored, yet really exemplifies a wealth of knowledge. I have learned so much throughout this course and looking back on just the number of topics that I have covered just throughout this post (Mrs. Dalloway-style), I realised how many different layers of feminism there are. Women fight so many battles that are not even acknowledged.

For the last time...

Goodbye, World.

The Consequences of Rape: What it Does to Victims (4)

Hello, World.

       I would like to finish this blog sequence by discussing the consequences of rape. Rape, as previously discussed, is a serious violation of the woman, because it directly violates the major symbol of a woman, her vagina.
      Rape, can be a very emotional disaster, which both physically, emotionally, and mentally damages a woman. In the Beauty Myth, by Naomi Wolf, the author discusses the effects of rape in her section titled 'Sex'. Firstly, she says that there is a "prevalence of sexual violence" which means that rape is common, and more important, violent. It has tremendous consequences (155). One such result is that it "prohibits female sexuality from developing organically, and makes men's bodies appear dangerous" (155). This is especially relevant to a rape victim, who, after she has been violated, will be scared to start a anew with men. Of course, I am not saying that all rape victims become lesbian. I am trying to say that rape, which is such a traumatic experience, can seriously affect and influence a women's perception of men.
       In addition, women, after they become victim to a rape incident, can and most likely will live a life in constant fear. They will be constantly paranoid because something that they thought would never happen to them, or that wasn't common is now a blatant reality to them. Now, they are scared that it will happen again, since they're first catastrophe was so devastating. Not only does rape make men's bodies appear dangerous and scare women from developing a normal relationship again, they become constantly paranoid and fearful.
      Another example of this is in the Vagina Monologues, by Eve Ensler. In one of her many personal stories, she discusses an incident with a man where the women does live in fear. The victim stated that her vagina was "never opened for business again" since 1953! (28). The consequences can be very drastic as is also seen in another interview: 'The Little Coochi Snorcher that could'. The woman interviewed talks about how she was raped, when she was ten, by her father's best friend. After that, she says her vagina is a "very bad place" or a "a place of pain, nastiness, invasion and blood" (79). The consequences are tremendous and impossible to avoid.
       To conclude this sequence, I would like to say that rape is something that is grotesque, scary, yet prevalent. It is something that affects both men and women, ALL, in negative ways. It cannot be ignored, and is something so traumatic that it needs attention. Victims, as hard as it is, need to speak out so that we can win this war against rape.

Goodbye, World.

Well, it isn’t Schizophrenia… (3)

Hello, World.

       In this last post, I will discuss the last two topics of this sequence: the stereotypes and ignorance that Jasmine faces as well as the clothing motif in Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee.
       When one talks about cultural changes, stereotypes and clashes form the basis of conversation. For Jasmine to have switched from one completely different culture (India) to another (America) lays the foundation for Indian stereotypes to be shot at her. This is especially relevant because she lives in Iowa, where, pardon me, but people are not the most sophisticated or educated. A optimal example of this is when Jasmine was cooking dinner for some of Bud's friends:

“You aren’t making the yellow stuff, Mrs. R.?” I detect disappointment.                               “I will if you name it".                                                                                                                I see him whispering to Du, and Du’s bony shoulders shrug.                                      “Globey?” he says. (19).

For me, the attitude in which this was said was very condescending in two ways: naming their food 'stuff' and that Globey seems like a mumble of sounds, rather than a beautiful foreign language.
       Another instance of ignorance, is when she says: “Taylor’s friends in New York used to look at me and say, “You’re Iranian, right?” If I said no, then, “Pakistani, Afghan, Punjabi?” (33). This is typical American ignorance that everything apart from their own little world is the same; all African countries are the same, all asian countries are the same, all European countries are the same. They refuse to acknowledge difference and diversity and Jasmine becomes a victim of that, in her new society.
       Another important aspect of this novel is the recurring motif of clothing. A very important dissimilarity between cultures is clothing and Mukherjee plays on this very frequently. As Jasmine arrives in America, American clothing seems to have such a huge importance. One of the first steps of her recovery from the rape-incident, for example, was a trip to the Mall with Lillian. After she settles down for a bit she says a very powerful statement: “American clothes disguised my womanhood” (145). The clothing serves as a significant symbol because it is so different and new. She feels American inside it because she resembles an American citizen. She finally integrates in the culture she has actively sought.
       Finally, clothing acts as a seal, or a conclusion to her settlement in America. She says that "Lillian used to send me twenty dollars and a pair of hand-knitted pink wool slippers every Christmas" (136). This is important not only because it displays kindness in America, but also because clothing (which is also a general given to survival) is being frequently given to Jasmine. She has finally thrived beyond survival in this wilderness we call America. She has settled and emerged victorious.
       In conclusion, there are many themes, motifs, and metaphors throughout the novel: multiple identities, the clay pitcher metaphor, stereotype, and clothing, which identifies, explains, and discusses the general and major theme of cultural clash in Jasmine, by Bharati Mukherjee.


Goodbye, World.

Well, it isn’t Schizophrenia… (2)

Hello, World.

       In my last post, I discussed the multiple identities (and their consequences) of the main character in Jasmine by Bharati Mukherjee. In this post, I am going to continue this sequence by discussing the clay pitcher metaphor throughout the book.

       The clay pitcher metaphor is an ambiguous recurring metaphor throughout the book which undoubtedly has an important significance. Mukherjee introduces it through the villagers in Jasmine's hometown, Hasnapur: “The villagers say when a clay pitcher breaks, you see that the air inside it is the same as outside. Vimla set herself on fire fire because she had broken her pitchers; she saw there were no insides and outsides. We are just shells of the same Absolute," (15). In my opinion, the author introduces this metaphor to emphasize the culture clashes that Jasmine faces to explain the difference between her internal and external selves, the her soul/personality and the variable environment around her. There are numerous dichotomies throughout the book, including a clash between her internal and external selves. Her internal self constantly tells her to have good morals and to stay true to her heritage whilst her external self seeks out happiness (which mainly consists of a significant other). This is evident when Jasmine says: “Fact is, there was a difference. My father was right to notice it and to let it set a standard. But that pitcher is broken. It is the same air this side as that. He’ll never see Lahore again and I never have. Only a fool would let it rule his life.” (43). She talks about the difference between her old and new life, and the consequences that occur because of that difference.
       This dichotomy reflects the same battle between her soul/personality and her constantly changing environment. When she becomes a rape-victim, when she arrives to America, she contemplates suicide and takes a giant step towards death. Her balance, her sanity, and her life are very shaky because her femininity has just been violated and because she has just completed the largest 'etape' between her old culture and her new one. She prays to the God of Death, and says that the “The pitcher is broken” (120). The pitcher, in this instance, represents the emotional balance that can be easily disturbed in a cultural clash.
       I will conclude this sequence with my discussion of the stereotypes and ignorance she faces as well as the recurring clothing motif in Jasmine.

Goodbye, World.