The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath Essay -- society, gender stereotype

Literature is the superlative resource when one is attempting to concern or fathom how society has transformed over the centuries. Many pen flirtswhether fictional or nonfictionalexpress the views of gender roles and societies expectations. Sylvia Plaths The Bell Jar is an exemplary impertinent that explores these issues. Ester Greenwood was portrayed the superficial and authoritarian values of the mid-twentieth century American society through her experiences of gender inequalities and favorable correctities. Plaths own life was correspondingly mirrored in this novel which in turn left the reader aware of the issues in her snip period. At the conclusion of The Bell Jar, the audience realizes that she was pushed to completely conform to society. During the ordinal century, gender roles were outrageously strict. Linda Brannon, a Doctorate Professor of Psychology at McNeese State University, states a gender stereotype consists of beliefs about the psychological traits and ch aracteristicsof, as well as the activities appropriate to, men or women (160). These stereotypes were supposed to be adhered to sternly. Obviously, the stereotypes for men and women were polar opposites. This patriarchal society viewed the male as the peak of the household. They were expected to be the workers in the family. Men were expected to be powerful, brave, worldly, rational, independent, and sexual. Joletha Cobb, a minister and an NCCA licensed clinical late(prenominal)oral counselor, explained the expectations of genders in accordance with past centuries with an emphasis on the bible. Women were expected to bear children, stay home, cook and clean, and take care of the children (Cobb 29). They were expected to be weak, timid, domestic, emotional,... ...her writing career. The Bell Jar was an especial(a) novel that can be used to view the ideas of gender roles. Ester, who detest marriage and focused on education, went through multiple events that pushed her to subvert and conform to societys expectations. Womens literaturesuch as this workof the nineteenth century provided confirmation of societys emphasis on The Cult of Womanhood and Domesticity. Plaths life mirrors Esters and ultimately brought awareness to the oppression of women. ReferencesBrannon, Linda. Gender Psychological Perspectives. 4th ed. Boston Pearson/Allyn And Bacon, 2005. Print. Cobb, Joletha. Women Who You Are in Christ. Durham Joletha Cobb, 2006. Print. Hogeland, Ronald W. Women and Womanhood in America. Lexington, Mass. D.C. Heath, 1973. Print.Plath, Sylvia. The Bell Jar. New York Harperperennial, 2006. Print.