Do you see the concept of the ‘new woman’ and ‘new man’ in our culture today?
When examining the template of either a new man or woman, it is important to consider that the boundaries constituting their identity is relatively fluid in nature and will ascribe more or less likely to the defined model as well as conforming more or less at different times depending on circumstance; therefore, the concept is wholly organic. In examining the new woman or man's identity generally and according to its marked boundaries, it can be suggested that the overall concept still holds a degree of relevance. However, the unsettling of the boundaries between masculinity and femininity in terms of their social criteria has become more difficult to place within templates and cannot be simply attributed to either the traditional male breadwinner against the ‘New’ man or the domestic female model against the ‘New’ woman. Instead, within our society now we have more awareness in terms of identity, how we like to be perceived, how we perceive others and who we actually want to be. The rise of individuality as an identity can be considered as an evolutionary offshoot of the ‘New Woman and Man model’ and still carries features from both, as well as from traditional models. Individuality, as a socially constructed gender has allowed for the cherry-picking of attributes across masculinity and femininity encouraging a sort of ‘self-stylization’.
Why did working outside the home change how women were defined?
Working outside the home altered how woman was defined for several reasons. Most importantly, such a movement opposed the traditional domestic role of women as ‘of the home’ from which they had previously been seen as synonymous entities. Consequently, women’s traditional role as subservient to the male breadwinner began to dwindle in relevance and allowed women both the freedom of choice, from which their traditional role indirectly deprived them, and allowed for women’s self-sufficiency; in effect, ‘women became less dependant on both men, economically and intellectually’ (Riegal, 1970, pg.240).
What similarities can be seen between the ‘new woman’ and the ‘new man’?
One of the main similarities between the New Woman and New Man can be seen through the causal effects. The dramatic changes in economic and social standards provided an opportunity for men and woman to escape the confines of previous stereotypes and ideals of gender roles. Differences however, occur in the direction, such change takes, with new women gaining greater autonomy in terms of social rights, whereas the new men, already in possession of many of these rights, subvert traditional masculinity and move towards ideas of spectacle with a greater interest in personal appearance and sexuality which had been seen earlier as within the realm of femininity. As suggested, many of the similarities concern rights and the right to subvert and acquire. Naturally, the most prevalent similarities between the new men and women detract primarily from a gender issue and begin to transcend into racial difference. Whilst privileged white men had access to many rights, black communities, whether male or female still lacked this to a large degree. The invention of the new male and female went some way to combat this and black males in particular began to garner many of the rights provided for white females, in terms of entitlements of breaking out of domestic roles and increased opportunities to break out into the social and intellectual world; an idea suggested by Alain Locke (1925) as part of an evolving psychology of young black community's consciousness.
How do you see the definitions of the ‘true woman’ and the ‘new woman’ still in effect in our culture?
At present, it can be suggested that both the ‘true woman’ and ‘new woman’ roles do exist within broader contexts, however, due to increased opportunities and ever-increasing rights for women and further ideas concerned with being an individual before a gender, these roles are starting to become a choice, with some women and men wishing to ascribe to one particular way of life. As suggested earlier, however, it is important to consider these new roles as something relatively un-gendered and more a selective choice of individuals. In terms of definitions, masculinity and femininity are becoming obsolete and accurate boundaries as to what constitutes masculine or feminine behaviour are questioned on a daily basis. In effect, increasing women’s rights to the point of a fairness of social equality will provide the necessary changes to devolve gender roles, potentially making the ‘true woman’ and ‘new woman’ obsolete in our culture unless revived out of choice.
References
Locke, A. (1925) “Enter the New Negro,” Survey Graphic, March 1925: pp.631–634
Riegal, R. (1970). American Women: A Story of Social Change. Online : Goodreads.
