Feminism is Equality

The Scarlet Letter is an effective means of not only showing the fallacies of Puritanical beliefs, but also highlighting the stark inequalities women face. Hester Prynne is made to bear the brunt of a crime she and Dimmesdale committed together. As a woman, Hester is seen as a disgrace to her community. She is ostracized and made to wear a letter "A" to symbolize her transgressions. Dimmesdale on the other hand is able to keep the secret to himself, until he wishes to confess. Hester is forced to endure her community's stares, gossip, and judgement.

As we discussed in class, there exists double standard for men and women. And as the Deborah Tanner states, it is rooted in our quotidian actions
such as, the way we speak. For example, many men believe they are acting chivalrous when they say "ladies first";rather, a different message is conveyed. This statement is antiquated. This statement portrays that women are weak, and that they need the support of their male counterparts. Yes, this may have helped many women when the Titanic was sinking, but in today's society it is time each individual is able to fend for themselves. Women have shown others that they are fully capable of managing their own lives.

Despite all the advancements in women's rights, women, as Lily Myers says, "are still forced to grow in" while "men grow out". In her original piece for Button Poetry, Lily comments on now she witnessed her mother shrink to accommodate for her father's "growing" ego. Tanner, too, agrees with this. In her prose, The Unmarked Woman, she states that she could not concentrate on the topic of discussion at her meeting because she was too consumed in deciding where to have another slice of pizza. This is a dilemma that many women today can relate too. If they take more food people around them will judge them for being greedy, but if they don't eat, then people will wonder why not. On the other hand, the man sitting beside the woman will likely be eating heartily and talking away.

This inequality for women is a problem that needs to be addressed and resolved right away. Men and women together need to make a conscious effort to allocate space for women to grow. Women are the rightful counterpart to men, and so should not be treated any other way.

Watch Lily Myer's piece here, and reflect on what she says.