Paper #1 Gender Inequality

Gender Inequality

Gender inequality refers to the unequal treatment of individuals wholly or partly to do with their gender. Gender inequality is a common theme depicted in Sophocles’ “Antigone” and in Tennessee Williams play “A Streetcar Named Desire.” In both plays, there is clearly a sense of male dominance depicted within society. As it may be surprising, even today in our modern world, there are places where women still are treated and looked at as being below men.

            Men and women were not equal in Greek culture. This was especially shown in the play “Antigone” written by Sophocles. In the play, Eteocles claimed the thrown for himself and exiled his brother Polyneices from Thebes. Polyneices decides to gather up a giant army and attacks Eteocles for the thrown. Neither of them won because they both ended up killing each other in battle. The male dominant figure, Creon, takes over the thrown and resumes power. He declares that Eteocles will receive a proper burial, however his brother Polyneices is denied a proper burial. King Creon announces that Polyneices will be left on the streets of Thebes for the dogs and vultures to eat as a punishment for his disgrace to the city. Anyone that tries to give the body a proper burial will be punished by death. Antigone believes her brother deserves to have a proper burial. She believes in the laws of the gods that everyone deserves to have a proper burial. Antigone is a very strong-willed woman and decides to go through with attempting to bury her brother, knowing the consequences of this action. She confronts Ismene and tells her about the plan to bury Polyneices. The way in which Ismene responds to this reveals a women’s place in society in Thebes. Ismene responds by saying “Our own death would be if we should go against Creon and do what he has forbidden! We are only women, we cannot fight with men, Antigone!” (45-47) Ismene is showing weakness and her belief that women in Thebes society are powerless. She believes woman have no say over men and what men say/do is what goes. Antigone was disappointed with her sister’s response because it showed she did not want to defy a man to give her brother a proper burial like Antigone was willing to do. Creon is one that can be said looks down upon women the most in the play. When speaking with his son Haimon, Creon says, “No, no: good lives are made so by discipline. We keep the laws then, and the lawmakers, and no woman shall seduce us. If we must lose, let’s lose to a man, at least! Is a woman stronger than we?” (536-540) This statement by Creon greatly shows his viewpoint in women. He is totally in agreeance with the thought that woman are inferior to men. He believes that losing to a woman or falling before a female is unacceptable and should never happen. Gender inequality was a common theme depicted in Sophocles’ play “Antigone”.

In the play “A Streetcar Named Desire” written by Tennessee Williams, male dominance and gender inequality was a common theme. Stanley is depicted as the stereotypical male within society during the time period. Stanley is Stella’s husband and she heavily depends on 

him. He displays dominance and an overall power. Throughout the play, Stanley does all he can to put the other characters out of their way. Stanley mostly fails to consider the implications his own needs and wants have on other people. Instead he is the one in control, the only person invested with power and command, therefore the only one taken into consideration. His authority is shown with his over powering presence within the poker games. Stanley asserts dominance by making powerful statements and passing judgements on the game. Stanley says “When I’m losing you want to eat! Ante up! Openers? Openers! Get y’r ass off the table, Mitch. Nothing belongs on a poker table but cards, chips and whiskey.” (Page 45-46) This statement shows that Stanley is who sets the rules and doesn’t allow any other opinion. Another way male dominance is portrayed in this play is through abuse. Stanley after a poker game charges at Stella. Stella says “You lay your hands on me and I’ll— [she backs out of sight. He advances and disappears. There is the sound of a blow. Stella cries out. Blanche screams and runs into the kitchen. The men rush forward and there is grappling and cursing. Something is overturned with a crash.” (Page 57) Stanley is abusing his powerand position in order to further his own dominance. What makes it worse is the way Stella viewed this. Blanche and Stella speak on the topic of the assault and Stella decides to defend her husband. She is showing her inferiority to Stanley and just granting him greater power and dominance by making excuses and defending an action that should not be tolerated. Stella defends Stanley by saying, “I know how it musthave seemed to you and I'm awful sorry it had to happen, but it wasn't anything as serious as you seem to take it. In thefirst place, when men are drinking and playing poker anything can happen. It's always a powder-keg. He didn't know what he was doing… He was as good as a lamb when I came back and he's really very, very ashamed of himself” (Page 63) Actions like this cannot be excused because one is intoxicated. It is especially worse that Stella is blowing this all off and just showing her inferiority. Stanley’s portrayal of his dominance did not end here. Him and Blanche never got a long since the very beginning. They had tension built up between them and she even tested his dominance throughout the play. In Scene 10 they have an argument which ends in Stanley raping Blanche. The stage directions state, “[She moans. The bottle top falls. She. sinks to her knees. He picks up her inert figure and carries her to the bed. The hot trumpet and drums from the Four Deuces sound loudly.” (Page 130) One that is raped is totally not in control and can be destroyed as a person. Stanley’s action of raping Blanche was his way of showing absolute dominance over Blanche. 

Gender inequality still exists today in our modern world. China is a prime example of this. Among countries with advanced economies, China has one of the greatest economic divides. Women living in China have many reasons for displeasure. “The state-led Women’s Federation recently concluded a campaign that turned up the volume on the ticking biological and social clocks of successful professional women, warning that they would be “leftovers” if they didn’t marry and procreate by their mid-20s.” (Otis) This shows that China wants mother’s roles to be to ensure a successful future for their children. This campaign is meant to encourage women to make domestic realm a priority over their own careers. This isn’t fair because the role of men in the household is ignored. State laws in terms of divorce has also impacted women. State laws have made it difficult for women to keep claims to the value of housing when involved in a divorce. Access to land rights have been being lost by rural women. Throughout the world it is known that women make less than men on the dollar. “…the wage gap between men and women has grown steadily; urban women now earn 69 percent of male wages, largely due to occupational sex segregation.” (Otis) Another source of inequality in China is the retirement age. It is made mandatory that women retire between the ages of 50 and 55. The men’s age for retirement is 60 years old. This gives men an extra 5-10 years to earn wages. Women are still treated as inferiors and gender inequality still exists in many ways even today.

            Gender inequality is a common theme in “Antigone” by Sophocles and “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams. Male dominance and women being inferior to men is portrayed in both plays and can even be related to gender inequality in the modern world. 

            

Works Cited

Otis, Eileen. “Inequality in China and the Impact on Women's Rights.” The Conversation,The Conversation US, Inc, 19 Mar. 2015, theconversation.com/inequality-in-china-and-the-impact-on-womens-rights-38744.

Williams, Tennessee. A Streetcar named Desire. W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2017. 

Williams, Roy, and Sophocles. Antigone. Bloomsbury, 2014.