Gender and Identity

Gender and Identity

Society has often stereotyped gender roles based upon what you are expected to do according to your sex. In addition, gender and power often determines the opportunities you receive and the success you gain. For many centuries, men have been the dominated power when it comes to society, culture, and politics. The power between men and women has become more equal because of the world we live in. In my essay, I am going to compare and contrast the roles of men and women in society by using the works “Another Evening at the Club” by Alifa Rifaat and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

There are many similarities between the two pieces of literature. “Another Evening at the Club” by Alifa Rifaat and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman both take place in a patriarchal society. In “Another Evening at the Club”, Samia was about to tell him not to sell the emerald ring, however at that moment, Abbouh pats her on the cheek. In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, John and his wife go to their summer house for a vacation. John gave his wife the nursery. In both stories, the marriage between the husband and the wife represents a child/father relationship. Later in the story “Another Evening at the Club”, Abbouh asks her to go out for dinner and Samia responded “As you like, Why not? (pg.386 Rifaat)” In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, the wife just had a baby. She was feeling depressed and she wanted to go out into the world so she can be active. John, the husband who is doctor, told her to stay home and try to relax. In both cases, the reality sinks in and the women come to term and accepts the fact that they have to go along with it. They must obey their husbands, trust their judgement no matter what, and also their ideas are of no value. They cannot truly express their feelings and they accept their role in the marriage. In all short stories in the Gender and Identity section, they all question the institution of marriage.

There are also differences between “Another Evening at the Club” by Alifa Rifaat and “The Yellow Wallpaper. In the story “Another Evening at the Club”, Abbouh asks Samia’s father for her hand in marriage. He was a rich man