The Redefinition of female gender roles in the 19th century and the Essay

The Redefinition of distaff gender roles in the nineteenth century and the use of Darwinism toward Political objectives - Essay ExampleHistory reveals the very fact that women had been leading an autocratic life in England as well as the rest of Europe for centuries, and their activities were confined to the four walls only. Being the reflection of the contemporary society, early nineteenth books portrays the women busy in performing domestic chores and obligations without taking part in any political, affable or economic activity. They employ to go to excursions and attend balls and dinners nether the supervision of family members hence, they were not allowed to travel alone or without the prior permission of the family. The novels produced by Jane Austen, Dickens, Bronte sisters, Eliot and others depict the same male-dominated cultural scenario, where women were the direct target of discriminative demeanor at the hands of male members of society. Somehow, the situation took a drastic turn during the second half of the same century, and the same Mary Evans Ann, who used to produce whole shebang under the male name George Eliot, got such courage that she started living with G. H. Lewes for more than 20 years quite as if his wife did not exist Sarah capital of Texas (the wife of the famous jurist), who wrote letters of such ardor and indiscretion to a visiting German prince as to invite blackmail. (Himmelfarb, 1961) The Victorian literature reveals that female writers, poets, intellectuals and artists used to feel hesitation in participating into any literary, social or political activity, for they were discouraged to get their works published. It is therefore the renowned authors and novelists including Bronte sisters, George Eliot and others had to conceal their female names while creating the pieces of literature. Though Victorian literature contained the works of female writers, but the atmosphere was not appreciable at all. The share of women communi ty in social construction was not acknowledged, although they worked in fields, hospitals, teaching institutions and other professions at limited scale. Still the male domination was oppressive and tyrannical. At first, Elizabeth Cady Stanton in 19th century and Emma Goldman in the beginning of 20th century raised their voice for the women rights. However, later part of nineteenth century observed imperative changes in womens role and responsibilities in society. It was the era when Charles Darwin presented his astounding Evolution Theory under the title Survival of the Fittest in his magnificent work On the Origin of Species (1859), and turn up that only strong and powerful species maintained the right to survive and reproduce. Darwin vehemently argues in favor of the notion natural selection, and declares it as the law of nature. He is of the assimilate that it is the law of nature that the favorable traits and features in species contain more probability of inheritance and tran sformation into next generations. (1872 159) Renowned sociologist Herbert Spencer extended the same survival theory, called social Darwinism, and claimed that socially strong communities make sure headway in the world, while the financially weak people are sure to eliminate sooner or later. Nineteenth century women also got inspiration from this very notion to obtain freedom from the awkward clutches of suppression and humiliation. Thus, women