Female Role Models in Male Dominant Societies

“How do ‘Secret Life of Bees’ and ‘Mother’s ruin’ present strong female role models in male- dominated societies”
Throughout the 1960’s society was typically male dominant. The males were the leaders of the society; they obtained all jobs and were expected to be the ones who finically support their families. The women were not born and raised to believe that they were to have a successful career, they were raised to believe that the only way they could truly be a woman is if they fulfill their duties of being a wife and a mother. Women had fewer legal rights, and career opportunities, it was viewed that motherhood and wifehood were the most significant profession for woman. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and Mother’s Ruin by Kitty Neale are two books written by powerful female authors presenting strong female role models in male dominant societies throughout the 1960’s. Kidd and Neale both use the strong characterizations of two women to show their rejection to the social order, to represent strength and independence in females. From slavery to success, betrayals to independence and abuse to courage these novels show all the avenues in which women have overcome difficulties to become strong role models. The children played in these novels are victims of broken homes, and broken emotions due to the abuse of their fathers. The guidance that is offered to allow them to continue with a healthy, happy life and overcome the struggles from the past is given by women. The treachery characterizations of males in these books allow the reader to view furthermore into the positive characterizations of females. The betrayal acted by the males in these novels is an opportunity to show the females strength to be independent, not to rely on a male and to hold their own backbone in creating a successful life for themselves.

August Boatwright (The Secret Life of Bees), Sally and Ruth (Mother’s Ruin) challenge the social order of society by the actions and attitudes they show towards the ‘social norm’. Kidd and Neale use characterizations to represent the strength of women in male dominant societies. These three women arise from harsh experiences and pasts to grow into strong women and fulfill their long term dreams. August Boatwright is an African American woman living in the 1960’s in Tibourn, America. Throughout this time period there was a great amount of prejudice and racism towards the black community, and after being a servant for many years for a white American family August grew into a strong woman, fought the racism and prejudice and became a successful business woman. Once her grandparents left her and her two sisters a beautiful house August Boatwright began her bee keeping, honey making business. Society was shocked about the amount of confidence August had, it was unusual for a woman to be successful in a business, but, for an African American woman, in the time of racism to be a successful business woman was viewed as impossible. August fought the criticism and racism and became a successful woman, to many she was viewed “the living feeling of acceptance and happiness”. August never thought it was necessary that she needed a male in her life to be successful, when asked why she never married and she simply explains that she “…didn’t want to give up her autonomy”. August demonstrates these characteristics of independence all throughout the novel, which allows the reader to relate and understand the capability and strength of a woman.

Ruth (Mother’s Ruin) rejects the social order by being a single mother and re marrying after the death of her husband. Before the birth of Sally, Ruth’s husband was serving at war therefore was never around for her to be loved and comforted; one night Ruth met this “handsome young fellow” Andrew from Scotland who fulfilled Ruth with all of her expectations of love and comfort. Once falling pregnant with Andrew’s baby, Andrew fled back to Scotland and Ruth never heard from him again. This betrayal of a man made Ruth grow stronger, instead of crying about his departure she told her self that she would be “confident and raise this baby well”, and there was no need for a man to help her do that. While the husbands were at war, it was expected that women waited for their husbands faithfully, but Ruth denied these requests and cheated on her husband. Ruth rejection of society’s expectations is a representation how Ruth rejects the social order of society; Ruth cheating signifies that she is stronger than her husband because she is not of the consequences and thought about herself before her husband. The return of Ruth’s husband led her to many emotions, she was pregnant with another mans baby and had adapted to her independent lifestyle. Ruth’s husband then died when Sally was at a young age therefore Ruth had no choice but to raise her daughter as a single parent. Being a single parent was un-common in society but this merely just represented the strength and independence of Ruth. Once Sally grew older, Ruth reunited with Andrew the man she had loved when she first laid eyes on him. Re marriage after the death in 1960’s South London was viewed as disrespectful, you were to continue to be faithful to your spouse after death, but, Ruth as an independent minded woman rejected the social order and society’s expectations and re married to Andrew. Ruth’s characteristics are a representation of women strength, she rejects orders from male dominant societies and becomes an independent minded women.

Mother’s Ruins and The Secret Life of Bees are feminist books. The females are the dominant characters throughout; they are characterized as loving, strong, independent and able to overcome horrible events. The cruel allegations made about men are opportunities to further explore the strength and courage of a woman. Mother’s Ruin and The Secret Life of Bees can relate by the representations made about men in their novels; the men are represented as disloyal and cruel. In Mother’s Ruin Sally, her husband Arthur and their beautiful daughter Angela all live happily, although, it is not until Arthur is unfaithful to Sally, as he cheats on her with their neighbor. Sally was once a woman who was dependent on her husband; she relied on him for money, comfort and power, but, it wasn’t until this incident where she gained the courage herself to transform her life. After this incident, Sally was a changed woman; she no longer needed to fall on a man for her needs and was capable of looking after herself and her daughter. The guidance that allowed Sally to transform her life was from her mother, a woman. The independence and strength of Sally’s mother, gave her confidence and assurance that she was able to push forth with her life, and accept, forget and have the courage to forgive all that was done to her. The characterization further shown in Sally is a representation of female empowerment- although she once needed the backbone of a male, with her mother as her role model she was able to become herself. Similarly to The Secret Life of Bees, 14 year old Lily Owens has been repeatedly betrayed and abused by her father. After losing her mother at the young age of 4, Lily is a lost child searching for guidance and freedom from the trapped life she lives in. Lily runs away from her home, and is led to a place called ‘Tibourn’ where she is certain it is the destination where she can escape all troubles. Once Lily met August Boatwright an “African Bride”, she is given guidance to allow herself to grow the courage to become her own. The courage that grew throughout the characters of Lily Owens, and Sally were the result of strong female role models whose guidance influenced them to realize their own strength.

A central motif and symbol in The Secret Life of Bees are bees; bees symbolize guidance and strength. In The Secret Life of Bees “most people don’t understand the complicated life going on inside a hive”, in this novel bees are not just insects but are a way of guiding and teaching Lily Owens about life. Lily relates to bees and from the beginning when hundreds of been flew in her room she new there was a connection, and from that moment the bees became Lily’s ‘life’, she constantly compared her life to theirs and matched up all the connections between herself and the bees. Lily captured a bee and when that bee flew away, it was the sign that Lily needed to come to realization that she too need to fly away. Throughout her time of bee keeping Lily learns a lot about the power female bees have over male bees; this then relates to women in society, as Lily furthermore understands that she has great strength within her. Lily learns that 90% of females make up the bee community, and that the queen bee is the mother of all bees and they all worship her and fly around her body in sign of respect. As August as her role model and the guidance from the bees Lily develops as a woman and finds her own voice and begins to appreciate others around her. Lily finds the relationship she has with August and the other Daughter’s of Mary, which empowers her with strength and confidence.

Guidance is a common theme throughout these two novels. Women in the 1960 heavily relied on their husbands or fathers for guidance. It was very rare for a successful female role model to offer guidance in ways that were expected from men. The guidance, affection and major role models that come throughout The Secret Life of Bees and Mother’s Ruin are strong female characters or female symbols. Although in The Secret Life of Bees the guidance that is given to Lily Owens comes from August Boatwright, the guidance that is given to August Boatwright (and all the black women apart of their group) comes from a Negro Mary (also known as Black Madonna). The Negro Mary is a symbol of guidance that gives women comfort, courage and strength. At the beginning of the novel we read about “a box I (Lily) keep in the peach farm” about Lily’s mother- in that box is a photo of a Negro Mary- on the back of this photograph has the words “Tibourn” written on it. This is the beginning of the new life Lily was going to start for herself. Once running away and seeing the same photo of a Negro Mary on a honey jar, Lily has assurance that this is where she is meant to be. Once meeting the Boatwright sisters, Lily asked “Why do you have a Negro Mary on your honey jar?” it is then where Lily learns about the strength a woman can possess. August explains how the Negro Mary represents “power within the female community” she is “our savior to the black people”- every night the ‘Daughters of Mary’ (women who worship the Negro Mary) pray and ask her for guidance. This expresses the feminine spirituality and the guidance and strength that can come from a female figure. These women do not worship ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ but a female spiritual character therefore further implying that strength can come from women not only men.

Mother’s Ruin is a novel partly focused on a young boy Tommy (neighbor to Sally’s mother) who is a victim of a broken home due to his alcoholic parents. At eight years old Tommy has already witnessed things that should be innocent of the eye of a young child. Once Tommy got kicked out of his house, worry grew and Ruth became extremely concerned about Tommy’s well being and future. Without hesitation Ruth offered her love, home and comfort to Tommy. Ruth is a single woman, her husband had passed away and the father of Sally lived abroad, yet that never stopped Ruth from being a strong independent woman capable of raising her daughter and looking after her ill mother alone. This demonstrates the strength that a woman can possess without a male figure in their lives. Ruth becomes are role model for Tommy, although a woman, Tommy still aspires to be like Ruth; her strength and courage guides Tommy and inspires him to be courageous and not afraid.

The characters in The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd and Mother’s Ruin by Kitty Neale present various characteristics that represent the strength of women of male dominant societies. The actions they portray constantly reject society’s expectations and the social order therefore allowing them to be independent and have their own voice. August Boatwright and Lily Owens (The Secret Life of Bees), a black woman and a white little girl living together creates gossip throughout the community but refuse to agree with the social order and continue to live independently. Sally and Ruth, the women have been betrayed and hurt by men are forced to live independent lives, although, the strength they give each other allow one another to ignore the expectations given to them from society and live there own lives with their independent minds. Kidd and Neale allow the reader to connect and become emotionally involved with the characters in these two novels, it gives women strength for their own lives and shows society the strength women role models can have in male dominant societies.

2,196 words
Bibliography:
http://angelnorelation.com/writing/academic/the-world-gone-mad/
Date viewed: 13/10/11
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http://www.wic.org/misc/history.htm

Women 's History in America
Presented by Women 's International Center

Date Viewed: 13/10/11
Excerpted from Compton 's Interactive Encyclopedia
Copyright (c) 1994, 1995 Compton 's NewMedia, Inc.

http://www.colorado.edu/AmStudies/lewis/2010/feminism.htm date viewed: 13/10/11
© 2002 by Chris H. Lewis, Ph.D.
Sewall Academic Program; University of Colorado at Boulder
Created 7 August 2002: Last Modified: 18 Nov. 2002
E-mail: [e-mail]
URL: http://www.colorado.edu/AmStudies/lewis/2010/feminism.htm

Bibliography: Excerpted from Compton 's Interactive Encyclopedia Copyright (c) 1994, 1995 Compton 's NewMedia, Inc.