Feminine Freedom

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An essay about a book and women I wrote last year Many years ago Ghandi said, “Of all the evils for which man has made himself responsible, none is so degrading, so shocking or so brutal as his abuse of the better half of humanity; the female sex.” 1879 to 2017 is a gargantuan time difference, and so much has changed, especially women’s rights. Over the course of the story, Nora breaks away from the domination of her overbearing husband, Torvald. He treats her like an object, a living doll if you will. Women now are fierce and vehement, we’re business owners, single moms, and well renowned doctors. Women have done so much for the world as we know it, and we’re credited for it so few and far between. In the 1800s women were toys for men to play with, or use and toss out. Though this still happens, it’s rare considering how powerful we’ve become. Back in Nora’s time, women couldn't vote, own property, run for president, make contracts, open a bank account without their husband’s consent, and even weren’t in control of their own body. In 1870, the 15th amendment was passed saying that people can vote no matter what race, color, sex, and previous servitude. This being said, not everyone’s plays along nicely with the rules. A woman’s right amendment was attempting to be made in 1878, but didn’t come into action until 41 years later, in 1919. . Women were made to strive the idea of serving others, and were supposed to fawn over men and drop to their feet to serve. In 2017 women have become a great force to reckon with. We have high profile jobs, and seldom are turned away for the gender we are. Women are not held back anymore. They now can be anything they set their minds to. Sally ride, Sandra Day O'Connor, Jeannette Franklin, and Hillary Clinton are all examples of women breaking through close minded ideas. Astronauts, senators, doctors, teachers, these are all jobs women couldn’t have ever dreamed of having back in 1879. Women are in control of their body (though accessing legal abortion is still hard to do). We are beautiful creatures who are very free, and have access to our dreams. Women still do not necessarily have equal rights as men, but they have more rights than they did in the late 19th century. Opportunity to be free, to be loved, to receive recognition, shouldn't be something only for white men, and it no longer is. To conclude, women now in 2017 are incredibly unimpeded, unlike in Nora’s time. We have come abundantly far, and we’re not showing any signs or stopping even remotely soon to fight for what’s right. So much has pushed women to where they are, that will never get as much credit as it should. In A Doll’s House, Nora says “Before all else, I’m a human being.” She knew women shouldn’t have been objects, and they aren’t now.