There Is No Unmarked Woman By Debroah Tannen
Throughout history, men dominated the planet. Their ability to withstand hard physical labor launched males as the superior gender for centuries. As society progressed, the necessity for physical labor decreased. Today, only a select few jobs require hard labor while the education system influences the job market. This change in society opens the door for women to excel at the same pace as men, however, men continue to insist on enforcing outdated gender roles. These enforcements hold women back in a society where equality should thrive. Socially constructed gender roles hinder individual expression and slow human progression as a whole. From personal experience to paper, Debroah Tannen’s “There Is No Unmarked Woman” shows the key differences
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between men and women in society. “Unlike women, they [men] had the option of being unmarked” (Tannen 12). In the quote, Tannen explains how women conform to an impossible social standard forced upon them by gender norms. Men come into a place of professional business with a different hairstyle, suit style, or shoe style than other men; not one person, male or female, take a second glance at these men. If a woman enters a professional business, her character instantaneously put on trial based solely on her clothing choices. While some women choose the spotlight, other women prefer to remain undetected but find themselves denied the option. Women turn into a symbol rather than a human when marked. This not only applies to women in the workplace, but women working at home.
Since the civilized age of man began, women took on the role of taking care of house. Even in modern day society, a wife staying at home to take care of the children and the house is considered normal. A working mom receives a fair share of disapproving glances and hushed whispers about her choices at home. Judy Brady flips the tables in her article, "I want a wife" explaining why she wants a wife by detailing their daily life. "I want a wife who will not bother me with rambling about a wife's duties" (Brady 5). Brady uses her words to guide the reader into understanding a house wife's perspective. House wives find themselves not only expected to perform their work flawlessly, but also to remain silent about their work. This projects the idea that a woman's work should simply be done and never boasted about unlike men’s work. Men tend to assume that women simply comply to their ideals based upon their implied dominance.
Often times in society, women marry for love, money, or looks. Men, however, tend to marry for the convenience of a wife. Brady explains that men remarry more quickly than women to regain the convenience of a wife. “My wife must arrange to lose time at work and not lose the job. It may mean a small cut in my wife’s income from time to time, but I guess I can tolerate that” (Brady 3). This quote gives insight on how men perceive women in society. Although a woman works full time, men assume that the woman will take care of the children. Taking a more in-depth look at the quote, Brady uses vague terms such as “I guess” to explain how a man expects his wife to not only sacrifice her time and her pay, but also insuring his dominance by “tolerating” this sacrifice. Men also claim their brain to be larger than a woman’s, furthering their drive for dominance.
Biologically, the male body is larger than the female body.
The bone structure and average muscle mass differ between the sexes. A woman’s brain being smaller, therefore presumed as less effective than a man’s, often becomes an arguing point without evidence to back the claim. In the nineteenth century, a scientist by the name of Paul Broca attempted to prove women’s inferiority to men. “We are therefore permitted to suppose that the relatively small size of the female brain depends in part upon her physical inferiority and in part upon her intellectual inferiority” (Gould 4). Broca tries to back his theory initially with nothing more than physical attributes; explaining how females already accepted their role as the less intelligent sex, using their smaller bodies to help to prove this fact. In 1980, Stephen Jay Gould reexamined Broca’s findings which spawned a following of misogynistic scientists. Gould discovered key errors in Broca’s argument based on his recordings. Broca calculated that the average male brain weighed in at 181 grams heavier than a female brain. Broca recorded his process of discovering this information, allowing Gould to point out a fact that could collapse the entire argument. “Brain weight decreases with age, and Broca’s women were, on average, considerably older than his men” (Gould 9). From the moment of birth, a human begins to die. As the years pass, the brain deteriorates along with the rest of the body. Broca’s inaccurate variables forced his flawed argument out of the
spotlight.
The entirety of history shows the uphill battle women fight in order to level the playing field. While it appears in modern day society that women possess the same abilities and advantages as men, history tells a different story. From lacking the option to dress without judgment to taking on double responsibilities during daily life without recognition, women fight a ageless battle towards changing society. In recent history, leaps and bounds slowly close the gap between the sexes but the battle will not cease until the gap closes completely. Today’s advancing society allows women to further their drive for equality, Outdated gender roles hinder society and will only change when society’s view of women change.
between men and women in society. “Unlike women, they [men] had the option of being unmarked” (Tannen 12). In the quote, Tannen explains how women conform to an impossible social standard forced upon them by gender norms. Men come into a place of professional business with a different hairstyle, suit style, or shoe style than other men; not one person, male or female, take a second glance at these men. If a woman enters a professional business, her character instantaneously put on trial based solely on her clothing choices. While some women choose the spotlight, other women prefer to remain undetected but find themselves denied the option. Women turn into a symbol rather than a human when marked. This not only applies to women in the workplace, but women working at home.
Since the civilized age of man began, women took on the role of taking care of house. Even in modern day society, a wife staying at home to take care of the children and the house is considered normal. A working mom receives a fair share of disapproving glances and hushed whispers about her choices at home. Judy Brady flips the tables in her article, "I want a wife" explaining why she wants a wife by detailing their daily life. "I want a wife who will not bother me with rambling about a wife's duties" (Brady 5). Brady uses her words to guide the reader into understanding a house wife's perspective. House wives find themselves not only expected to perform their work flawlessly, but also to remain silent about their work. This projects the idea that a woman's work should simply be done and never boasted about unlike men’s work. Men tend to assume that women simply comply to their ideals based upon their implied dominance.
Often times in society, women marry for love, money, or looks. Men, however, tend to marry for the convenience of a wife. Brady explains that men remarry more quickly than women to regain the convenience of a wife. “My wife must arrange to lose time at work and not lose the job. It may mean a small cut in my wife’s income from time to time, but I guess I can tolerate that” (Brady 3). This quote gives insight on how men perceive women in society. Although a woman works full time, men assume that the woman will take care of the children. Taking a more in-depth look at the quote, Brady uses vague terms such as “I guess” to explain how a man expects his wife to not only sacrifice her time and her pay, but also insuring his dominance by “tolerating” this sacrifice. Men also claim their brain to be larger than a woman’s, furthering their drive for dominance.
Biologically, the male body is larger than the female body.
The bone structure and average muscle mass differ between the sexes. A woman’s brain being smaller, therefore presumed as less effective than a man’s, often becomes an arguing point without evidence to back the claim. In the nineteenth century, a scientist by the name of Paul Broca attempted to prove women’s inferiority to men. “We are therefore permitted to suppose that the relatively small size of the female brain depends in part upon her physical inferiority and in part upon her intellectual inferiority” (Gould 4). Broca tries to back his theory initially with nothing more than physical attributes; explaining how females already accepted their role as the less intelligent sex, using their smaller bodies to help to prove this fact. In 1980, Stephen Jay Gould reexamined Broca’s findings which spawned a following of misogynistic scientists. Gould discovered key errors in Broca’s argument based on his recordings. Broca calculated that the average male brain weighed in at 181 grams heavier than a female brain. Broca recorded his process of discovering this information, allowing Gould to point out a fact that could collapse the entire argument. “Brain weight decreases with age, and Broca’s women were, on average, considerably older than his men” (Gould 9). From the moment of birth, a human begins to die. As the years pass, the brain deteriorates along with the rest of the body. Broca’s inaccurate variables forced his flawed argument out of the
spotlight.
The entirety of history shows the uphill battle women fight in order to level the playing field. While it appears in modern day society that women possess the same abilities and advantages as men, history tells a different story. From lacking the option to dress without judgment to taking on double responsibilities during daily life without recognition, women fight a ageless battle towards changing society. In recent history, leaps and bounds slowly close the gap between the sexes but the battle will not cease until the gap closes completely. Today’s advancing society allows women to further their drive for equality, Outdated gender roles hinder society and will only change when society’s view of women change.