Title : Patriarchy and Women’s writings

By Tulika Saha
Sub theme name : Literary portrayals of women in education and the education of women in history

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Abstract
A male dominated Patriarchal society has formed the social fabric of most of the modern
countries around the world, tingeing the lens of women’s perceptions of themselves and
their female counterparts fabricating a structure which is inherently detrimental to their
own growth and progress. Women authors, in several countries through generations, have
broken the mould to express themselves through their language, characters and their
stories to inspire generations and carve small but significant pathways into existing social
attitudes and eventually, in social structures.
Literary portrayals of female characters by diverse women writers from across the globe
like Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, Sudha Murthy, Jhumpa Lahiri and J K Rowling.
The paper explores the creation of characters in their books especially female characters
and comparative autonomy exercised by them in the spheres of personal relationships
within the family and in society. The influence of patriarchy on relationships with other
women in the light of acceptable behaviours and norms is also explored. Male characters
are touched upon providing a suitable backdrop to the female characters and a basis for
comparison.
The female protagonist’s character, role played in the story and romantic or otherwise
liaisons with the male characters are explored in the relevant period. Analysis and
arguments are put forth purely on the basis of language and socio literary contexts taking
note of the prevalent literature of the period drawing a comparison with their male
counterparts. It is intriguing to note the difference in vocabulary, images and symbols
used by men and women in the same period. The nature of characters created by the
writers represent accurately the aspirations of women of the period within the parameters
laid down.
Briefly stated, the paper brings out the strong variation of language, the description of
social norms and universally known and loved female characters created by some of the
women writers mentioned here. The writers predominantly represent modern trends as
rapid changes have been experienced in the last century and literature across borders has
become accessible to the masses. A cross section of dominant contemporary male writers
are explored of the time to provide backdrop for these writings. The literary works of
writers and canons of English literature are used as sources for the research.
The goal of the paper is to demonstrate the increase in sphere of control of women though
still bound by the chains of patriarchy with a view of changing incorporating a perception
of positive change. The paper aspires to alert educationists to the subtle messages passed
on to students in higher education through the appropriate selection of texts which could
influence impressionable minds to create a more favourable social structure for women in
the future. Albeit revealing substantial change, some aspects, quite crucial to life, remain
the basically the same.
*******

Introduction

Women writers conform to patriarchal stereotypes in the characters that they depict in
their stories and novels with little evidence of any significant departure from expected
behaviorisms leading to further edification of these regressive roles and role playing,
doing nothing to further the cause of women’s emancipation.

The paper discusses the works of five prominent writers of the modern age 19 th and 20th
century, from different parts of the world focusing mainly on their choice of characters
and their characterization with the aim of bringing out the influence of Patriarchy in the
writings of women from different periods and different places, alerting educators to the
propagation of such stereotypes.
What is Patriarchy?
Patriarchy is the social and ideological construct which considers men to be superior to
women. Walby (1990) states that it is a social system in which the role of the male as the
primary authority figure is central to social organization and where males hold authority
over women, children and property.
The definition of Patriarchy is as given by Allan G. Johnson in his writing, ‘Patriarchy –
the system’ in which he clearly distinguishes between the individual oppressor and
society of a propagator of practices and systems which oppress women. According to
Johnson, the process of socialization propagated predominantly by the educational
system and the path of least resistance are the chief causes of the continuation of
Patriarchy. Women realize that the easiest way to get what they want is to submit to the
oppressor. This leads to the view that while some women take on the system and
endeavor to formulate a change, most believe that as long as they are able to lead lives of
their choice, societal change is not their moral responsibility. The works of women
writers which have been chosen, largely demonstrate this lack of commitment to the
cause of women’s empowerment. The writers who are products of their own social
circumstances, can by no means be held completely responsible for their compliance with
patriarchal norms so strongly imprinted by society on their minds.
A few definitions of Patriarchy are as below:

 System of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the
family and descent is reckoned through the male line.
 System of society or government in which men hold the power and women are
largely excluded from it
 Society or community organized on patriarchal lines.

The authors have been laid out chronologically in order of their birth and writing. Jane
Austen, who is best known for central women figures in her novel. Louisa May Alcott
represents the best of American writing in the 19 th century, Jhumpa Lahiri, an expat
American, represents the amalgamation of the ancient and modern cultures, Sudha
Murthy represents the best of modern writing in English in India and finally J K Rowling
is the most representative writer of the British in modern times

Jane Austen
Jane Austen, best known for her iconic characters, was born on 16 December 1775
(beginning of the American War of Independence) in the rectory of Steventon
(Hampshire), where her father was a vicar and a distinguished classical scholar. In 1811
she published her first book Sense and Sensibility, followed by Pride and Prejudice
(1813) and Mansfield Park (1814). Her health deteriorated as she began to suffer from
fatigue (Addison´s Disease) and she passed away in 1817 at 41 years of age.
Jane’s writings are as cloistered as her life. While she displays unprecedented mix of wit
and wisdom, they exude an old worldly genteel charm of their own. She is often accused
of being oblivious to the greatest events of her time namely the American war of
Independence, Waterloo etc. which only serve to emphasize her complete ignorance of
the impact of the world around or the fact that her femininity abhorred wars and violence,
whatever the cause.
Characters and Characterization
Jane Austen created enduring characters in Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. The
trepidation of Mrs. Bennet at leaving behind five unmarried daughters as the sword of
having to give away the property to a nephew as she had no male heir, hangs over her
head and is reflected in her utter and complete preoccupation with arranging marriages
for her daughters. The fact that Mr. Darcy is rejected by Elizabeth several times despite
being the most eligible bachelor, is a cause for great consternation to her.
The characters described are based on their merits or appeal to the other sex in a story
completely based on finding spouses for the Bennet sisters. Elizabeth is the only one
among the sisters who though desired by Mr. Darcy, keeps thwarting his advances till she
is convinced of her own feelings towards him and the fact that he has not been betrothed
to Lady Charlotte’s daughter. His income of 10,000 a year endear him as a suitor to the
Bennets, far more than his change in demeanor.
Comparison with other authors
Jane Austen’s near contemporary Charlotte Bronte delves into a more moralistic world
but portrays Jane as an independent woman who is forced by her impoverished
circumstances to be subjected to cruelty and humiliation first at the Reeds, then at
Lowood and finally at Thornfield when Rochester keeps the truth about his wife Bertha
hidden from her till her Wedding day.
Louisa May Alcott
The author, Louisa May Alcott, born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, on November 29,
1832, was a feminist American writer who is best known for her book, Little Women, the
first of a series which was followed by Little Men, Good Wives and Jo’s Boys. The book
is semi- autobiographical with the main protagonist styled mainly after the writer herself.
Written in a simple appealing style, its honest depiction of reality has made it popular
over the ages. Moulded by the great minds of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David
Thoreau, she held independent views on the emancipation of women and was the first
woman to vote in Concord where she lived. She wrote and took on whatever work she
could find in order to support the family. Having published some works of mystery and
adventure, Alcott was urged by her publishers to write a ‘girls’ book’. Uncertain whether
she could do so, she thought of drawing on her life and the characters of her sisters to
bring out Little Women.
Character and Characterization
Jo or Joanna, the main protagonist in the book, is outspoken, intelligent and fair with
infinite kindness and compassion. She stands out as the moral compass of the four girls
who make up the March family which consists of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy along with Mr.
and Mrs. March. She too writes to earn money, just as Louisa does. In the mid-1860s,
Alcott adopted the nom de plume, A. M. Barnard which gave her the freedom to write
fiery and passionate stories. The character created by her marries an older, not so wealthy
man giving up the wealthy, young suitor who adored her, to her younger sister, Amy.
Louisa says of herself that she is “"I am more than half-persuaded that I am a man's soul
put by some freak of nature into a woman's body. …’ However, the main protagonist of
her story, marries for she would be less a woman had she not. It is because of her
husband that she is able to start a school for young boys and teach them. Her sacrifices
and her commitment to nurturing young boys, is commended by all, for it requires
patience and compassion, inherently associated with the female gender.
The protagonist, in fact, gives up writing, as soon as she finds a suitor. This incredibly
demonstrates the instinctive knowledge of erudition in women being frowned upon or
looked upon with disdain, by the males of that time.
Alcott traces the lives of these women and her feminist views give rise to the novel Jo’s
boys and how they turned out. The school run by Jo after she marries the professor,
educates a host of students including the daughters of her sisters namely Daisy and Demi
– Meg’s daughters. Some of the characters depict Alcott’s desires to see women in the
world of work. Demi goes into the publishing business while Nan, who always wanted to
be a boy, becomes a doctor. Daisy is a ‘little woman’ and marries Nat Blake. This
generation of women is able to pursue careers which were denied to the girls in Little
Women. The book reflects the fast changing attitudes towards women taking up work.
Comparison with contemporary authors
Little Women is classified as juvenile literature describing the coming of age of young
girls. According to the essay, Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of 'Little Women' and
Why It Still Matters by Anne Boyd Rioux, the easy use of colloquialisms and
common signs made it immensely popular and continues to be widely read by the public
though side lined by the chunk of literary work produced at that time. She also stands out
as the most successful woman writer of those times.
A contemporary writer and an acquaintance of Louisa Alcott, was Nathaniel Hawthorne,
best known for the Scarlet Letter. Nathaniel personally states that ‘a woman who writes is
akin to a prostitute’, gives an honest depiction of society in which ostracizes Hester who
wears a scarlet scarf inscribed with the letter ‘A’ which stands for ‘Adulteress’ . The fact
that the father of her daughter, Pearl, is as much responsible for her condition is not even
a passing thought whilst Hester’s husband and others humiliate and isolate her. Mark
Twain, another popular American writer who is often used to represent the canon, depicts
fastidious women of particular intellect, dwelling on the side lines of society after leading
an independent existence as Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. Across the Atlantic,
Charles Dickens, rarely focuses on any female character and uses them as tools to support
his male characters exemplified by the immortal representation of Miss Havisham.
Alcott writes In the light of the severely unforgiving views of women held by Hawthorne,
Louisa presents a kinder, more benevolent picture of women on the whole.
J K Rowling
Born on 31 July, 1965 at Yate near Gloucestershire in England, she has lived a typical
rags to riches story wherein she was plunged into poverty through divorce and rose to
become the wealthiest woman of her times through her fantasy series, Harry Potter. The
first story Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone was published in 1997.
The constraints of gender biases in the Patriarchal society prevents the author from
declaring her first name. Her publishers advise her to keep initials as boys wouldn’t be
open to reading a book written by a woman while girls would be open to reading books
by both men and women, thereby slicing her readership in half. So, J. K. Rowling
(Joanna Kathleen Rowling) came into being in the 20 th century. Her identity was outed as
the books became immensely popular and she was awarded for them. Initially, J. K
Rowling didn’t interact with the press and missed on the adulation heaped on her
characters and kept readers guessing. Who was the writer? The argument put forth by her
publishers made sound financial sense. It is infinitely more important for a writer to have
her story told than to put her name on it.
Character and Characterization
Likewise, the excellent, balanced and good Hermione, never becomes the heroine so to
speak despite finding a way out of each of the problems the three friends, Harry, Ron and
Hermione get into. Hermione Granger was born in a Muggle family. So she was
considered a Mudblood. She received 10 O.W.Ls(ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL).
She could cast non-verbal spells. After leaving Hogwarts School of witchcraft and
wizardry, she became the ministry of Magic. Extremely compassionate and quick to help
others who are defenseless, Hermione exhibits all the characteristics of ‘good’ girl.
Showing compassion for those who are defenseless, such as Neville Longbottom, First-
years, House-elves, fellow muggle borns, half giants like Hagrid and Werewolves like
Lupin, she ignores what bullies such as Draco Malfoy. She prevents Harry and Ron
retaliating and thinking of some way to outsmart him, leading them away to a no conflict
zone which does not put an end to her pain. To Rowling’s credit, the punch she throws at
Malfoy in one of her later books, brings in a modicum of respect to the submissive, law
abiding girl that Hermione is projected as.
Hermione herself a Muggle born witch and thus somehow inferior and states in Deathly
Hallows that she is a ‘Mud blood and proud of it’. The fate of an intelligent girl is always
to be linked to someone who cannot match her intelligence and it’s the girl who takes a
back seat, who wins the hero. So, it is with Hermione. She complains that Ron doesn’t
see her ‘like a girl’ in the Goblet of fire. She marries Ron, the clumsy, not so bright boy
while Harry marries Ginny Weasley. The writer, though a woman, cannot break out of
the stereotypes of so ingrained in the culture of the society, even more regressive than her
predecessors.
Right from the first book, the Philosopher’s Stone, Hermione is the brains behind every
plan. Harry, on the other hand, is privileged by birth, as is every boy in society and
follows his instincts. More likely to taking uncalculated risks, Harry is described as ‘an
idiot’ by Hermione when he shoots off on his broomstick following Malfoy in the
Chamber of secrets, which he doesn’t even know to ride. But when a well thought out,
complex, fool proof plan is required, it is certainly, Hermione, the woman’s intellect that
takes over.
Rowling’s foray into adult literature with the Casual Vacancy, also depicted a strong
female character, Krystal, whose only concern seemed to be the wellbeing of her brother
through various levels of abuse and deprivation. While the book depicts the multicultural
society of England today, the female representations take on regressive stereotypes,
justified by their social positions or ethnicity.
Comparison with contemporary authors
J K Rowling’s works fall predominantly into the category of Fantasy fiction and cater to
the juvenile segment of the population. A contemporary, Rick Riordan, who combines
Mythology with fiction in his Percy Jackson series, relegates females to the most
miniscule of roles, only capable of being rescued or obscured by the hero, Percy.
Compassion and nurturing seem to be a common thread woven into all female characters
created by writers. The treatment of the character of girls is regressive and nondescript
with few instances which stand out and prove to the contrary in all the works of the said
writer.
The intricate detailing of plots and complexity of subplots make both these writers
extremely popular amongst the young teenage crowd. A cross section of populist writers
like Jeffrey Archer, Dan Brown and Mary Higgins Clerk all conveniently create a strong
male protagonist with a moral compass and consideration for women, proving that the
bias is as strong in the 21st century as it was in the 19th.
Sudha Murthy
The modern, eminent, woman writer, Sudha Murthy, was born on 19 August, 1950 in the
small town of Shiggaon, North Karnataka. She completed her BE  in Electrical and
Electronics Engineering from the  BVB College of Engineering & Technology, standing
first in her class and receiving a gold medal from the Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Murthy completed M.E. in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Science,
standing first in her class and receiving a gold medal from the Indian Institute of
Engineers. Her legendary postcard to the Chairman of Tata Engineering and Locomotive
Company (TELCO) resulted in her becoming the first woman to be hired in the company.
She writes in Kannada and English and is a recipient of the Padma Shri in 2006.
The tone of her novels is always tinged with sadness. She is well known as the founder of
the Infosys Foundation that has helped build houses, provide education and rehabilitate
disaster affected victims.
Characters and Characterization
Shrimati in ‘Gently falls the Bakula’ is the ideal dutiful wife, placing her needs and
ambitions after all other requirements of her husband, Shrikant and his family. Her wish
to start a family is always relegated to the background of Shrikant’s career ambitions and
then dies a natural death when they are informed that they can’t have children. After 10
years of being taken for granted by her husband, Shrimati finally decides to pursue her
dream of studying further and takes the scholar ship offered by Professor Collins. Her
name belies her existence as an individual. Shrimati – means Missus – which is the
overpowering role that Shrimati plays throughout the novel. The last stand when she
decides to leave Shrikanth to go the States and pursue her Ph. D instils some individuality
and self-respect in the character. Drawing a parallel with the author’s life, Sudha herself
gave up her active role in the company she founded along with her husband to nurture her
kids. She later took on academic work and set up the foundation, choosing to stay away
from an active career. Mridula, though depicted as a career oriented woman, is teased
often by Sanjay, her husband, about the fact that her salary couldn’t compensate for all
that of all the servants that they had employed to perform the tasks that she would have
to. In many ways, the emptiness that Mridula feels when Sishir is about to leave home for
higher studies, may be a reflection of the author’s own emptiness when her children left
home. ‘Sanjay and Sishir left like two friends and Mridula was left standing alone on the
porch’, Sudha writes.
‘How I taught my grandmother to read and other stories’ show the young girl and her
grandmother are both self- assured and not afraid to break out of the mould to do
different things as role playing is not clearly defined for them as Patriarchal families
afford them more freedom. However, once married all of Sudha’s female characters tend
to fall into the mould of model wives and daughters-in-law so as not to upset the
applecart of Patriarchy. Some of these lead characters demonstrate an iota of self- respect
and redeem themselves towards the end of each book
Comparison with other authors
Sudha Murthy cannot be classified with her contemporaries. Her style is distinct, direct
and the stories she tells are of real life and living in India. Other Indian writers like
Chetan Bhagat and Amish Tripathi, though rooted in the Indian milieu, break away from
reality to explore some fantasies or move back into an older India where more gender
equality existed. While Chetan Bhagat’s depiction of female characters, stand out as
strong women, redefining typically feminine roles in India, which Sudha Murty herself is
wont to do. Other women writers like Sashi Deshpande, write more about urban India,
therefore telling vastly different tales of greater regression and role playing than even
Sudha Murty.
Jhumpa Lahiri and her works
Born on July 11, 1967 this American author of Indian origin writes about the Indian
diaspora in general while sometimes going back to her roots as exemplified by the
Namesake. He grows through his affairs with Ruth and Moushumi but never commits to
any one. The women are just used an instrument of his growth. The female characters in
her short stories are ideal wives and workers. Adultery forms a part of many of her short
stories. One of the characters actually thinks of buying things appropriate for the
situation of a mistress! Her most
So, while women have entered the world of work and live in a first world country, they
continue to follow their traditional Indian roles while men take advantage of the freedom
of the new society indulging in adultery. Her contemporaries like Sudha Murty and J K
Rowling, also greatly affected by the patriarchal societies they live in.
Conclusion
A lot of texts based on girls and women have been included in the syllabi of schools to
those catering to higher institutes of learning. However, they do not seem to have the
desired impact on the future generations who seem to cling to rather than break away
from traditional role playing. According to Lewin, the father of Social psychology, any
action that is seen as viable by a group must generate a positive response to stimuli.
While inclusion of works of women, with strong female protagonists who perform
indomitable feats by women are by no means to be ignored, the fact that no male
counterparts are depicted participating in these activities alongside the female makes the
reader skeptical of such content.
It raises two questions in the minds of the female who is processing the content. Since
only the woman performs the task, are they really viable? Are these achievements the
ones that women are allowed to have or will they result in conflict? Both these questions
are deeply entrenched in the psychology of Patriarchy. The approach to presenting
content in education needs to be revisited showing a parity between the genders thereby
encouraging young girls and women to take up challenges and risks which are also
deemed fit for men. Another aspect that is clearly brought out is that a Feminist writer
may not write a feminist book as it wouldn’t win commercial acclaim. So, they pander to
the tastes of the masses. The paper presents significant authors from the 1800s to the
present times. The attitude towards women’s writings has not significantly evolved,
amply demonstrated in the similarity of circumstances of publishing for Louisa May
Alcott and J K Rowling.
It is therefore recommended that in Education, texts be carefully chosen and discussed
keeping in mind and counteracting the effects of Patriarchy. Demonstration of strength by
women must include parallel activities by men for it to create a positive impact on the
impressionable minds of young readers.
References :
The Role of Gender Consciousness in Challenging Patriarchy
Laura L. Bierema
University of Georgia, USA
The Role of Gender Consciousness in Challenging Patriarchy
Laura L. Bierema
University of Georgia, USA
Bierema, Laura L. (2010). Role of Gender Consciousness in Challenging Patriarchy
International Journal of Lifelong Education 2003(1):3-12 · November 2010
Rawat, P. S. (2014). Patriarchal Beliefs, Women’s Empowerment, and General Well-
being. Vikalpa, 39(2), 43–56. https://doi.org/10.1177/0256090920140206
Biographies of Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott, Jhumpa Lahiri, J. K. Rowling and Sudha
Murty from https://en.wikipedia.org/
Johnson, Allan G (2014-01-01). The gender knot: unraveling our patriarchal
legacy. ISBN 9781439911853.
Vyomakesisri, Tippabhotla Presentation of Women in Literature from Past to Present