(Student’s Full Name)
A General Framework
I have always been interested in the role of women in different regions of the world, especially in the Middle East and Asian regions. I was always fascinated by the ways in which women were treated in these parts of the world. This is because women have been known to be discriminated against. This discrimination is seen when women are placed in servile positions rather than in positions of authority. I have always wondered what was the prevailing mindset that governed the way women were treated in these parts of the world. I have always wondered what were the forces that were at work that allowed them to be subjugated and placed in submissive roles. I read books, perused magazines, and looked at websites that discussed the topic. I have even watched documentaries and news items that discuss the topic.
My dream to become even immersed in the culture of one of the countries located in the Asian region. This country was China. I was given the opportunity to learn about this country during my summer holidays. In addition, I worked part-time jobs to save up money to so that I can take care of daily expenses. In the months before the trip I read books, poems, and short stories on how women are treated in that culture in the library at the university and the public library. One of these short stories was Eileen Chang’s “Stale Mates.” In this story, it shows how Lo had to get a “lawyer” to “write his wife” an “alarmingly worded request for divorce” (Chang 35). Lo had to do this because his mother had disapproved of her, and had “loudly and ostentatiously excused her” from her household “duties” (Chang 35). Lo did this despite his wife not violating the “‘Seven Out Rules’” (qtd. in Chang 35). While at China I found out the “‘Seven Out Rules’” were “seven conditions” under which a married woman can be put away by her husband (qtd. in Chang 35). Therefore, as a result of reading this short story and going to China, I have come to the conclusion that the role of a woman in China is not only a servile and submissive one, but she is to constantly live up to the very demanding expectations placed on her by the society.
In addition to looking at how women were treated in China, I also looked at how women in Japan are treated. While studying the Japanese culture, I discovered that suicide plays an important role in the culture as it pertains to preserving a person’s honor. The woman’s role in Japan aligns itself with this prevailing mindset in the country. I noticed this while reading Yukio Mishima’s “Patriotism.” In this short story, it is said that a Japanese woman “who had become the wife of a soldier should know and resolutely accept that her husband’s death might come at any moment” (Mishima par. 5). Reiko showed her resoluteness to Shinji, her husband, by showing him her dagger, which she planned to kill herself in the event that her husband died. Therefore, in the Japanese culture, the woman is obligated to show her loyalty to her partner even at the expense of their own lives.
Another culture that I chose to focus on as it relates to the woman’s role in society is Algeria. Algeria is an African country that was once colonized by the French. Therefore, in the Algerian culture, the woman is required to be subjugated to the dictates of the patriarchy and the forces that control the colonization process in that country. The novel, A Sister to Scheherazade by Assia Djebar, illustrates this. The novel appears to suggest that domestic or household work is to be the major role of the woman. This is demonstrated by the following, which describes Hajila’s actions: “[Y]our right hand wretches the cloth away.” ( Djebar 31) “[Y]our hands linger over the bunch of coriander and fresh mint” (Djebar 54) and “Your trembling hands plunge into the soapsuds” (Djebar 56). The above shows how the woman’s role is relegated to the domain of the household or the domestic sphere.
Therefore, it is clear that I have done some initial research on the subject but I have not done anything too in-depth. Hence, I would like to use this opportunity to do further research on the role of women from different cultures, specifically in China, Japan, and Algeria.
Specific Focus
It is crucial for me to incorporate some background information for the texts that I will be discussing in my research. This should include historical, cultural, and social information regarding the countries in which the texts are set. This is important in order to set the context for the research paper. However, my primary focus will be on the similarities and differences of the role of women in China, Japan, and Algeria. In addition, I will show how the prevailing mindset within a country has helped to determined how women are treated.
Works Cited
Chang, Eileen. “Stale Mates.” The Reporter. N.p., 20 Sept. 1956. Web. 27 May 2016.
Djebar, Assia. A Sister to Scheherazade. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1987. Print.
Mishima, Yukio. “Patriotism by Yukio Mishima.” Mutantfrog Travelogue. N.p., 20 Jan. 2005. Web. 28 May 2016. <http://www.mutantfrog.com/patriotism-by-yukio-mishima/>.
