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The evolving representations of women in society


Jiamu Li

The world is always changing, even more so in the day and age we live in, along with it, the representations of women in society are changing too.

In the past, majority of women were seen as “damsels in distress”, weaklings that need the help of men to “rescue” them.  They had a specific role in their household, which was to bear children and deal with the household chores, while the men were supposed to get a job and support the household. This role does not require them to be educated or the ability to think for themselves. While this stereotype is a portrayal of the time it was born in, it isn’t necessarily healthy or beneficial to either women or men.
However, as time progressed, more and more women were fighting to tear down this stereotype. They were fighting for their education, the right to and equal pay as men, and a different portrayal of them in society. This sparked many movements for gender equality, and paved a way for the improving world we live in today.

In the current world, though the situation is not perfect, we are progressing towards a society where everyone is equal. Unlike a few decades ago, there are many female role models we can look up to today. Michelle Obama, for example is a great role model she is inspirational, strong, and does not pale in comparison at all to her husband.

I hope to learn more about how the portrayal of women in different fields, and how they have changed throughout time.



Comments

  1. Your post expresses how society is progressing towards equality over time in a clear, concise way. I think that the portrayal of women in different fields over time would be a very interesting topic to consider, especially since now women have a wide variety of career options compared to older time periods.

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