PURPOSE AND IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL TEXTS

In my views every person has freedom and right to speech. Writing is also a way to explain one’s views, ideas and thoughts. First of all I want to define the word “politics” according to Dictionary.com – it says political is “ having a definite policy or a system of government.” It means that politics is directly or indirectly related with government and its policies of any country. Then we can say that “political writing” is a kind of writing focus political and social issues, problems and concerns which is directly related to the common people of the country or state. I personally think that political texts and writing are much valuable and necessary to get acquainted with different dimension of any issue or policies of government. This acquaintance and awareness to pros and cons help to take quality decision, as we (people) are familiar with the every aspect of problems and issues. The taken decisions can also improved by comparing and contrasting with different point of views and ideas. We take an example from the article “Women’s Capabilities and the Right to Education in Bangladesh” that says “by paying girls to go to school, and by offering a curriculum that does not challenge the status quo directly . . . enhance girls’ capabilities” (Arends and Amin, 138). In these sentences, the authors are giving their analysis and the influence of this policy- they saw in the rural people of Bangladesh. They clearly mention that these policies do not help women to enhance their standard in the society and challenge social customs or norms. But families allow girls to take education only to enhance “marriage capital” and to get a perfect groom for their daughter.

People can easily understand from this text because writers’ exploit chances to criticize and support government policies at the same time. These texts are helpful as it have enough potential to start discussion regarding the motto of the policy and how successful this policy in terms of achievement. These talks and texts also pressurize government to take right measures and unbiased decision that suits minority and majority of the country. At the same time it also inhibits policy makers to take any decision that goes against peoples’ will and concerns.

Consequently, we can say that political texts are quite important to know the strengths and flaws of existing policy matter. It encourages constructive criticism of the policies and also helps government to incorporate proposed changes and check faults. And these modifications can play very significant role regarding policies that ultimately affects people’ life and future of the country.

Works cited

Arends-Kuenning, Mary and Amin, Sanjeda, “Women’s capability and right to education in Bangladesh .” International Journal of Politics and Society, Vol. 15, No.1, September 2001. Print

“Political.” Dictinary.com. 7 April 2013.

IS ECONOMY LEADS TO WOMEN EQUALITY?

Amartya Sen, a noble prize winner economist, in his article “More than 100 Million Missing Women,” presents grounds and explanation behind missing of large number of women from this planet. One of his paragraph, he questions one of the prominent prejudices i.e. “economic development” is directly proportional to women’s equality. As economy of a country grows, the status of women at home; work places and in society also uplifts (Sen, 4). He uses example of “mortality at childbirth” – which surely decreases with economic developments that significantly improve hospital’s facilities and provide better child care. He acknowledges economic development as an important factor for betterment of women status but does not rely on it wholly. He strongly refutes this claim by providing example of Sub-Saharans countries which are poor and under develop, but have substantial “excess of women.” (Sen, 5). Then he gives example of Punjab and Haryana – which is amongst the richest state of India, which have very low women to men ratio (0.86) in contrast with Kerala – poorer state of India having women to men ratio (1.03) (Sen, 5). By these examples, he strongly counters attack “economic explanation” for women inequality.

He uses statistical evidences and logics to rebut and disagree with the purely “economic explanation.” I think the strategy works best in this paragraph, because he initially stated opponent claims clearly with their possible reasons. Then he acknowledges with them partly but disproves this at the same time. His use of logical and statistical analysis is strong enough to refute purely “economic explanation” and supports his overall claim.

The claim of this article is that “women at gainful employment” have better chances of survival along with other social, cultural and economic variables (Sen, 11). In this paragraph, Sen strongly disagrees with the “economic explanation” purely for women inequalities. The paragraph as a whole helps him to builds his claim. The refutes, he provides help readers to logically analyze the statistical situation and also thinks about other variables that affect women mortality rate and women to men ratio at the same time. Consequently, we can say that this one paragraph works for Sen to strengthen his claims and also to persuade and convince his readers.

WORK CITED
Sen, Amartya. “More Than 100 Million Missing Women.” Nybooks Archives. Dec 20, 1990. Mar 4, 2013

NEED OF ROOM FOR WOMEN IN SOCIETY

Virginia Woolf seems much moved when she confronts with the lost identity of women in the history. She compares this lost status with the status women enjoy in the poetry and other literary works. By this comparison she comes to a mournful conclusion that there is a wide gap between statuses of women portrayed in history and poems.

The fictional story of Judith Shakespeare is much similar to the stories of “women” that are lost in the history. The only difference between the women of these two is that women do not posses any qualities or creativity other than doing household chores. Moreover, in this fictional story Judith is shown with creativity, intelligence and talents. From this comparison, she surely wants to focus what might be the consequences of a girl with multiple qualities? She explains the truth that no one values the talents of a girl and this ultimately led to the miserable and pathetic end of her life. On the other hand, when she gives Judith Shakespeare all the qualities that women in a poetry or literary works mostly have. The distinction between these women occurs when Judith suicides and ends her miserable life. Although, in literary works women do not suicides rather than they inspire and encourage others to tackle and sort their problems.

So we can say that Woolf successfully incorporated qualities of “women” portrayed by historians and poets in her fictional character Judith Shakespeare. I think she creates an entirely fictional story because she wants to portray that neither historians nor poets are right in portraying women. She also tries to illustrate that combination of these two images are true for women. But as a matter of fact that she does not have any specific evidence like records of history or personal diary of any women. So, she describes her imagination in the form of fictional story.

Work Cited
Woolf, Virginia. “A Room of One’s Own.” Fort Washington: Harvest Book. 1981. First published 1929.

GENDER: NATURE OR NURTURE

What we all think about gender? Everyone has some unique qualities and attributes. Can we imagine what might be our qualities, when we are of an opposite sex? This is not an easy question to answer. It is very difficult to say, what I might look like or behave when I born in a different family, different country or even to a sex. However, we can say from our experience that some of our qualities must be changed if we are of other sex. It is according to society views that some qualities suit a gender better than other. We consider some qualities necessary or important for one gender and at the same time, we claim these qualities made other gender inferior. Can anyone explain what may be the reason for this drastic shift in societal views regarding gender? Although, doing gender is always justified by religion, science, law and society’s believes in morals and values. This also proves the truth i.e. gender is very much prevalent in our society. Sex and gender are very much embedded in each other. These two are very closely related that most of the time; both words are taken as synonym of each other. We cannot deny the fact; it is not easy to draw line between them. But in reality, these are two very different word having different meaning and interpretation.

We cannot inherit gender as it is not a natural phenomenon but we it is created by our society. Gender is a created by a continuous process of teaching, learning and enforcement by generations over generations (Lorber, 56). Some believes that gender comes from physiological differences i.e. differences in men and female genitalia and reproductive organ. But it is not the truth: Sex and gender are two different things. Sex is about the physical difference in men and women bodies due to difference in gene and chromosomes. But these genes cannot define social construction of gender that follows in every society. Gender is a way in which human organize themselves. People always want to put themselves in particular gender so that they feel togetherness. It provides different gender with different status and position in society. It also categorizes same gender of people with same types of works than other. And these distinctions led to greater gender gap that exists in our society.

Consequently, we can say that gender is not natural but it has been nurtured by society. Judith Lorber also supports this notion by saying that “the devaluation of women and the domination of men have social functions and a social history. It is not the result of sex, procreation, physiology, anatomy, hormones and genes predisposition.” By these lines, Lorber acknowledges that gender is not a result of nature. It is a social structure, which reinforces men and women differences by constant process of learning and teaching.

Work Cited
Lorber, Judith. “Night to His Day: The Social Construction of Gender”. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1994. Print. 19 Feb. 2013.

PLATO: HALF FEMINIST

We all know that feminism is a modern phenomenon. When it comes to Plato, who existed in ancient Greece, it is very difficult to say, whether his writing favors feminism or he is an anti-feminist. I think that it is total injustice to Plato and his writing to see it through feminist glasses. The term feminist do not existed at that time, so we cannot say that the term is fully developed in his writing or not.

The condition of women was pathetic in ancient Greece and they were considered inferior to men. Their only duty and responsibility was to reproduce and rear children and take care of families. Women were subjugated as property of men and men enjoyed entitlement over their bodies. Plato’s writings echoes influences of that time but he also opened possibility for some women to be equal to men and this idea can be considered as revolutionary. In symposium Socrates gave the speech that he heard from Diotima (a wise woman from Mantinea). This is considered as totally unique as philosopher like Socrates is repeating the words of a woman. This certainly enhances the standard of women. Although, we can also say that he is appreciating only an attribute of woman. I know this is true, but at the time when the condition of women was miserable and Plato is mentioning a woman is praise worthy.

Later is his speech, Socrates (by the voice of Diotima) uses “female metaphors” (Plato and Feminine characteristics) to exemplify love and forms of beauty in philosophers. He also discusses that reproduction occurs in both men and women. This means that he gives credit to women’s ability to reproduce. And that’s why he uses word reproduction also for men philosophers to give birth to wisdom and knowledge. Along with this he also brings the fact that the labor is painful and women suffer from this to give birth to new life.

Besides few places, he says that women are inferior and weak. They are not educated and so lacks in wisdom and knowledge (symposium). All these ideas easily suggests that he is not a feminist, as he do not gives equality to men and women.

We can say that Plato’s writing expresses his complex and inconsistence attitude towards women. Sometimes he praises women but most of the time, he acknowledges women are inferior to men. So we can say that Plato cannot be considered as a feminist but at the same time we cannot ignore the status given to some women by him. He allows the possibility of women to be equal to men, at the time when no one thinks of it. So, we have to give credit of his unique idea to Plato. And because of this, I think that Plato can be considered as “half feminist.”

Works Cited

Plato. The Symposium. Plato: The Complete Works. Ed. Cooper, John M. Cambridge: Hacker Publishing Co. 1997. Print.

Women Status In Symposium

Plato’s writing “Symposium” is plotted in ancient Athens, when women were not treated a par with men. They seem weaker to men not only physically but also in their ideas and thoughts. The condition of women was not much better than slaves. Philosophies of that time were also based on the under-lying men women differences in their status. All speaker at the symposium clearly mentioned in their speeches that the status of women is very low as compared to the men as women lacks wisdom, courage and body strength.

Phaedrus says in his speech “no one will die for you but a lover, and a lover will do this ever if she’s a women” (179 b). By these lines, he probably point out the lower status of women i.e. they are not strong and able enough to do anything for other. But at the same time, he praises the virtue of lover and says that a woman can also risk her life for the sake of her lover. Here he does not actually praises women strength to risk her life and show courage but actually praises the virtue of love, because of which she is risking her life. Although, he seems to give status to some women but in reality he makes a distinction. In this particular example, he tries to persuade that women are not actually capable of giving any sacrifice but they do because of being in love.

Lastly Socrates speech somewhat improves the standard of women at that time. The standard of women seems to us elevated because of the fact that Socrates gives his speech from Diotima’s (a wise woman from Mantinea) point of view (209 b-c). Socrates discussed the pregnancy in both women and men (with seed of wisdom) and also confessed that the labor is very painful for both of them. By these words, it seems that he is praising women for the creation of another life but in the end, he ultimately gives this credit to man. He justified his point by saying that the birth of wisdom and knowledge is more important than that of giving birth to human children.

Thus we can say on the basis of symposium that women were not considered equal with men. Even women’s love and devotion for their love ones were enough to prove them weak and sensitive. So we can say that most of the speaker’s speeches support the idea of inequality in gender that leads to unequal status of both of them in same society.

Analysis of poem “An Introduction”

In poem “An Introduction,” the poet Kamla Das beautifully portrays the pathetic and miserable condition of women in Indian society. The poem does not have any specifically defined stanzas, rhyme and rhythm but it flows very smoothly and nicely. The poem is able to grab readers’ attention because of its strong diction, perfect use of imagery and poet’s firm voice. In these line “Don’t write in English, they said, English is/Not your mother-tongue. Why not leave (7-8),” she wants to convey that her society confine women in houses by assigning them the duties of good wives, sisters and mothers but also wants to captivate their emotions, ideas and feelings. Women are not even allowed to use the language of their choice to express their feelings and emotions.

The poet seems to be master of imagery (literary device). She perfectly used imagery in these lines. “When I asked for love, not knowing what else to ask/ For, he drew a youth of sixteen into the/Bedroom and closed the door, He did not beat me/But my sad women body felt so beaten. /The weight of my breasts and womb crushed me. / I shrank Pitifully (27-32).”  A very clear picture is painted by the words of the poet which strongly hit the concern of readers. In these lines, the poet describes the  miserable condition of sixteen year old girl or “so-called women” who does not know anything about physical relationship and love but compelled to do so. Then she feels an unknown pain that not only affect her body parts but her psychology and thoughts about the world.

The poet says “Of rivers, in me… the oceans’ tireless/ Waiting. Who are you, I ask each and everyone (49-50).” In these lines, the poet is probably comparing the metaphor of “oceans’ tireless” to her desires and wishes that she dreamed of but unable to fulfill because of the society she belonged. The poem also indicates towards the dreams of women that doesn’t come true because of her duties, responsibilities and obligations towards her society.