Over the centuries woman have been through the gauntlet. We have transcended from tribal equality with men—constantly fighting to survive—to the period where we were submissive and cherished to the point of delicacy and an almost negligible existence. Since the time of Shakespeare men tell the world that a woman’s role has gained importance in society, but who’s to say anything has changed at all?
Playing devil’s advocate to woman’s progression over time from Shakespeare’s female roles to now, one could visibly tell there is a difference. From Shakespeare’s Othello, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet Women were portrayed as desperate, clinging, weak, and rarely outspoken towards their husbands. Desdemona herself listens to Othello rant on how he will murder her, yet sits pleadingly in their marriage bed rather than fight for her life. Today women frequently participate in politics, initiate divorces, sue, and succeed when challenging their husbands and even the government itself. We are very capable of paving our own path and acquiring a job and pursuing personal endeavors without a second thought. From then to now it was like flipping on the light switch of gender equality.
On the flip side we are not any better off than Shakespearian women. Violence and denounced rights run rampant not only in the American Government, but all over the world. Desdemona was accused of being a cheater and was smothered. Women in the Middle East are accused of immodesty and are doused in acid or boiling water—less lethal in some cases, but worse in morality in every way. In Mexico the sex slave trade and young female kidnappings are so high that it is advised to not travel there even as a protected vacation. In the world of work, it is reported that a man with a ‘C’ grade average and no experience will still receive higher salary that a woman with working experience and an ‘A’ grade average her whole life. Equality is not even close to achieved.
Some women fight in radical feminist groups to attain more rights and deviate further from our submissive history. Emilia in Act V of Othello fights all the governors of Venice to see the wrongness of Desdemona’s death, but in the end she’s laid to permanent rest as well. Others sit stoic and watch life pass by without attempting to attain any lawful progression of gender and die without any legacy at all.
Whichever direction woman’s role in society is heading—either static from Shakespeare to the now or slowly progressing over time—the question remains clear, what will become of tomorrow? Will you get up at raise awareness of women’s plight? Or will you remain unaffected and watch as you’re suppressed back to the dainty being you were born as?
Playing devil’s advocate to woman’s progression over time from Shakespeare’s female roles to now, one could visibly tell there is a difference. From Shakespeare’s Othello, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet Women were portrayed as desperate, clinging, weak, and rarely outspoken towards their husbands. Desdemona herself listens to Othello rant on how he will murder her, yet sits pleadingly in their marriage bed rather than fight for her life. Today women frequently participate in politics, initiate divorces, sue, and succeed when challenging their husbands and even the government itself. We are very capable of paving our own path and acquiring a job and pursuing personal endeavors without a second thought. From then to now it was like flipping on the light switch of gender equality.
On the flip side we are not any better off than Shakespearian women. Violence and denounced rights run rampant not only in the American Government, but all over the world. Desdemona was accused of being a cheater and was smothered. Women in the Middle East are accused of immodesty and are doused in acid or boiling water—less lethal in some cases, but worse in morality in every way. In Mexico the sex slave trade and young female kidnappings are so high that it is advised to not travel there even as a protected vacation. In the world of work, it is reported that a man with a ‘C’ grade average and no experience will still receive higher salary that a woman with working experience and an ‘A’ grade average her whole life. Equality is not even close to achieved.
Some women fight in radical feminist groups to attain more rights and deviate further from our submissive history. Emilia in Act V of Othello fights all the governors of Venice to see the wrongness of Desdemona’s death, but in the end she’s laid to permanent rest as well. Others sit stoic and watch life pass by without attempting to attain any lawful progression of gender and die without any legacy at all.
Whichever direction woman’s role in society is heading—either static from Shakespeare to the now or slowly progressing over time—the question remains clear, what will become of tomorrow? Will you get up at raise awareness of women’s plight? Or will you remain unaffected and watch as you’re suppressed back to the dainty being you were born as?