Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, a romantic novel published anonymously in three volumes in 1813. The growing relationship between Elizabeth Bennet, the daughter of a country gentleman, and Fitzwilliam Darcy, a rich aristocratic landowner, is the focus of this classic of English literature. Pride and Prejudice is set in rural England around the turn of the nineteenth century and follows the Bennet family, which consists of five very different sisters. Jane, the eldest, is mild-mannered and modest. She is Elizabeth’s confidante and friend. Elizabeth, the novel’s heroine, is intelligent and vivacious. She shares her father’s disdain for society’s conventional views on the importance of wealth and rank. The third daughter, Mary, is plain, bookish, and pompous, while the two youngest, Lydia and Kitty, are flighty and immature.
This story depicts key societal themes and the impact these themes had on the lives of the novel’s characters. One of these themes is social class, which is a major contributor to the story’s characters’ problems. Social class is an underlying issue in the lives of the characters, and it has a significant impact on the decisions they make throughout the novel. Every character recognizes the significance of social standing, and it plays an important role in the development of each individual in Pride and Prejudice. Although they were initially estranged from each other due to misunderstandings and prejudices based on first impressions (it was the first name of the novel). By refusing to dance with Elizabeth, he insulted her. He stated, where she could hear him, that he was not in the mood to prefer young ladies who had been slighted by other men. Despite this, he began to admire Elizabeth, and after further contact with her, he realizes she is the most intelligent, discerning, and virtuous woman he has ever met. He falls in love with her, but his pride prevents him from lowering himself to her social class at first.
This particular part is very similar to Spivak’s Subaltern because in his book he discusses about how the power dynamics affect the lives of two different groups. He explains the relationship between the subaltern who in this case is Elizabeth and its oppressor who is Mr. Darcy. Something that is very similar between these two relationships is the oppressor is always in the illusion that he is great. Mr. Darcy, for example, is the most obviously proud and prejudiced character. On the one hand, his pride is understandable given his wealth and social standing. He is accustomed to being treated as a social superior and an authority figure, and social codes of behavior ensure that characters of lower social status respect him. Darcy’s pride, on the other hand, is obvious, and he clearly sees himself as superior to the other characters with whom he interacts. Darcy also exhibits prejudice and is quick to pass judgment on the people he meets. He does not keep his opinions to himself and is willing to persuade those around him. For example, he admits to Elizabeth that he tried to break up Jane and Bingley’s relationship, saying, “I have done everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister.” In his letter, he later explains that he did not believe Jane truly loved Bingley. This demonstrates that he believes his observation of Jane was correct and that he did not consider whether his assumptions about her feelings were correct.
What people can take away from this story is that it is important to understand the other person before making assumptions or using information that you make not know is true against them. It also tells us that having pride in doing good things is acceptable but thinking that no one is above you and everybody has to meet your requirements in order to interact with you is wrong. Although the social class plays an important role in building pride, it all comes down to how well you behave.
Austen, J., Langton, S., Birtwistle, S., Firth, C., & Ehle, J. (1995). Pride and prejudice. London: BBC Production.
Let’s talk more about this issue shall we? So what does sexism mean?
Prejudice or discrimination based on one’s sex or gender is known as sexism. Sexism can harm everybody, but women and girls are the ones who are most affected. It’s been related to stereotypes and gender roles, and it could involve the assumption that one sex or gender is fundamentally superior to the other. Sexual harassment, rape, and other types of sexual violence may be encouraged by extreme sexism. Gender discrimination is discrimination against persons based on their gender identity or gender or sex differences, and it can include sexism. Gender discrimination in the workplace is characterized in certain terms. It could be a result of societal or cultural norms and conventions.
We are all aware that sexism, gender stereotypes, and prejudice have harmed various groups, mainly women, throughout history. It prevented women from voting until the early 1900s… after all, how can a lady have an opinion on politics? Many women were prevented from pursuing careers because they were forced to stay at home and in the kitchen, baking pies and sewing instead of making an effect. It leads to lower pay for women in Hollywood (and many other industries), despite the fact that many female stars are far superior to male actors.
But what if we told you there was one profession where sexism was directed at males rather than women? Would you be taken aback? To what industry are we referring? Nursing. Let us acknowledge right away that the title “nurse” does not help men. It has many connotations that contribute to the industry’s overall sexism. It conjures up images of mothers nursing their children and traditional, female nurses walking the hospital floor. Neither of these images is incorrect; they simply do not contribute to the problem. And it is, in fact, a major issue. For the last decade, the proportion of male nurses in the UK has remained stable at around 11.5 percent. In the United States, the percentage is comparable. That means that for every nine female nurses, you’ll only come across one male nurse. Unless you stay in the hospital for an extended period of time, you will almost never encounter male nurses. This, in and of itself, helps to explain why there are so few male nurses. Some men, for better or worse, are uncomfortable working almost entirely with women. If they choose to be a nurse, they are essentially ensuring that they will be surrounded by females almost every day.
An excerpt from “I Am Not a Male Nurse,” an AJN Viewpoint from 2006,
“Many people seem to feel that men are not only emotionally different from women, but that men are somehow emotionally inferior-that they’re not as capable of caring. I’m saddened that men need to assert their worth and abilities as caregivers, rather than being accepted and valued in that role in the same way that women are.”
This statement clearly shows that there are some stereotypes and prejudices against males being nurses and continuing this behavior can really cause a lot of distress.
The Problem:
Ideally equality is the goal for professions that serve the public equally. There are always going to be some professions that cater more towards one gender than the other because they cater to that gender predominantly. However, in a field like nursing it would be best for the population of nurses to mirror the population of people they represent.
Interestingly, men were the first nurses when you look at the history of the profession. It was not until World War II until women started to become the primary nursing population (Ford 2021). This is interesting because after women started to pop into the industry, men stopped becoming as interested in the position. While there some “feminie” undertones to the idea of nursing this is because of the patriarchy associated with fields women tend to populate. Although most of these fields were primarily made up of men too big with.
A big reason for the over-population of women in nursing is due to the sociological term called “male flight.” The idea of male flight is once more women start to populate something (a profession, an area, an interest) men are no longer interested in that thing anymore in order to preserve their masculine image. This is comparable to “white flight” when minority groups start to take interest in something and they leave. Most commonly this can be seen when a few Black families move into a predominantly white area white people then begin to leave because it has been “corrupt”.
This idea is explained by Margarita Torre in “The flip side of segregation: men in typically female jobs,” they explain that women tend to leave male dominated jobs because of exclusion and harassment, but men tend to leave female dominated jobs because “the existence of gender-specific social pressures derived from expectations about stereotypically male attributes such as ambitiousness, competitiveness, dominance, and economic leadership.” They continue by saying that not only does this push men out but stops them from entering in the first place because “some men would rather endure unemployment than accept a relatively high-paying women’s job and suffer the potential social stigma.”
There are two distinct differences with these issues of “sexism” and it is because in the first when women enter male dominated fields they are discriminated against by the opposite gender because of their job. In this situation the societal pressure to be manly is presented by the same gender that the oppressed individuals are a part of because it is other men who create these social pressures. And it might not be as cut and dry as individual men that think nursing is feminie, but that societal construct that it is. The issue is not that nursing is not a respectable and challenging profession, but that it has been associated with femininity for so long men that are interested in joining are finding it hard to break through the societal barrier that exists because of these constructs discussed.
The Solution:
The sexism that goes on in the world about male nurses is not right and is extremely overlooked but I have compiled some things together as ways that the world can try to fix this overlooked issue. The first thing I would propose is that we should try to normalize the idea of male nurses. Typically when people talk about the nursing field they have a preconceived idea of a woman because typically male nurses are made fun of by people which is kind of sad because the nursing profession is one of helping others. But the fact that people joke about male nurses and don’t take them seriously is definitely a factor as to why not a lot of men do not want to enter the field. Everyone wants to be respected in their profession and especially with how tough it is to become a nurse will all the time and schooling it takes they deserve a ton of credit and respect which is not given to them.
I think a way this can be solved is by maybe in the media showing more representation of male nurses in things such as shows, movies, comics, and all sorts of forms of entertainment to try and normalize the idea of seeing men in nursing roles. Now with this solution I think it would take time to normalize and at first the reaction might not be as we would hope I’m sure people would think it is strange at first but I also feel as though over time if people are seeing this in there favorite forms of media they will slowly start to not even think twice about it when they see a male nurse.
The next idea I would offer would be to maybe have hospitals or even schools encourage young men to take up nursing. To make a change in the way the world works and is run you have to start with the youth because they are the future. So what I would do is hold events at schools and at colleges and aim it towards young men and try to lead them into the direction of becoming a male nurse. I think if these events are set up with thought and care and the time and effort is there they could be a real difference maker in these kids’ lives. I would put the most effort into the ones at the high school level trying to make nursing their major once they get to the college level so this way they are set up from a younger age with clear goals in mind which is important because nursing is not an easy thing and requires lots of hard work and dedication.
Then my final idea on how to fix this issue of the lack of males in the nursing field would have to be just as individuals we should be nicer and more conscious about what we say about male nurses they are men who are dedicating their lives to helping others I have a lot of respect for male and female nurses and I think it is sad that young men that want to go in the nursing field have to face bullying and lack of respect for a title they have earned.
So the best thing people can do is to encourage more men to enter the nursing field if that’s their dream or passion because we need more men in the field. Both genders provide great different aspects to all situations so the diversity in the work field would be much appreciated and I think would help out the field tremendously. I do not know if it will ever be a one to one ratio of men to women in the nursing field and if that does happen it will be way down the road and take a lot of hard work. But I think if we take the ideas I have presented here into consideration and maybe someone who knows a lot more about the field refined them some real change could be made in this field.
Citations:
Amanda Bucceri Androus, R. N. (2021, June 28). Sexism in nursing is a problem, but not like you think. RegisteredNursing.org. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://www.registerednursing.org/articles/sexism-nursing-problem-not-like-you-think/.
Ford, M. (2021, July 24). Focus: A brief history of men in nursing. Nursing Times. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/research-and-innovation/focus-a-brief-history-of-men-in-nursing-06-03-2019/.
Molyneux, A. the A. J., strategy, S. editor/social media, 16, R. W. J., 16, Angie J., 16, P. J., 17, C. V. C. S. J., 17, M. M. J., 17, S. K. J., Macurda, L., 23, D. W. J., 9, P. D. A., 17, B. A. A., 25, A. M. N. M., 6, A.-B. O., 27, K. M. D., 20, C. M., 6, M. A., 20, R. S. I. T. S., 21, C. V. C. S. S., … 9, M. A. (2016, November 21). Do male nurses face reverse sexism? Off the Charts. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://ajnoffthecharts.com/do-male-nurses-face-reverse-sexism/.
Torre, M., Margarita Torre is an assistant professor in the department of social sciences at Universidad Carlos III, Posted In: Gender, & *, N. (2019, January 28). The flip side of segregation: Men in typically female jobs. LSE Business Review. Retrieved November 19, 2021, from https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/businessreview/2019/01/29/the-flip-side-of-segregation-men-in-typically-female-jobs/.
Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, October 17). Sexism. Wikipedia. Retrieved November 14, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexism.
I wanted to discuss about the importance of Critical Race theory being taught in school. Recently, Republican legislators in states around the country are targeting critical race theory, an academic idea regarding structural racism. At least six states have introduced legislation aimed at restricting the teaching of racism and inequality in American schools. Despite the fact that none of the bills specifically address critical race theory in their text, the legislators who are pushing them through have evoked the educational movement in their support for the legislation. The concept of critical race theory is being misinterpreted and used as a political tool, according to Kimberlé Crenshaw, a founding critical race theorist and Columbia Law School professor. She defined critical race theory as a field that aims to understand how racism has formed US laws and how those laws have continued to impact non-white people’s lives.
Critical race theory, according to academic specialists like Crenshaw, is not taught in K-12 education curricula. Critical race theory is an academic discipline that examines systematic and institutional racism. The government has discriminated against Black, Indigenous, and other people of color through discriminatory policies in housing, employment, criminal justice, education, and other areas. From the beginnings of slavery in America, to Jim Crow laws that divided Black people, to disproportionate criminalization and brutality against Black Americans, Crenshaw claims that racism and white supremacy have persisted in the United States through the legal system. Even though some discriminatory laws or regulations are no longer in place, she claims that they can have long-term consequences for families.
The study also looks at the advantages that white people have in society, which is known as “white privilege.” This refers to the idea that due of their skin tone, white people are nevertheless insulated from the repercussions of systemic race-based discrimination. “Race is present in every part of our life,” Jane Bolgatz, associate dean for academic affairs at Fordham University Graduate School of Education, stated. “We won’t see the ways in which society pushes white people forward if we don’t talk about race. As a result, we fail to notice that these winds are not only propelling them forward, but also propelling people of color backward.”
This connects with our discussion about “other”. There are few people who are against critical race theory while others feel it is necessary. Often the reason is that if the theory is taught or not the one side of the group will also be treated as an other or as an oppressor. It might be difficult to discuss racism with youngsters and students. Conversations regarding racism, the history of prejudice in our country and state, both interpersonal and structural, and current protests will almost certainly be unique to each family, school, and community. There is no single “optimal” or “correct” way to discuss this essential topic with youngsters. At the same time, the evidence shows that we can and should begin teaching kindness, fairness, and human rights to children as early as kindergarten.
Citation:
ABC News Network. (n.d.). ABC News. Retrieved November 6, 2021, from https://abcnews.go.com/US/critical-race-theory-classroom-understanding-debate/story?id=77627465.
Silverman, D. T. (2021, July 13). Children and racism: The importance of age-appropriate listening and support . Indiana Youth Institute. Retrieved November 6, 2021, from https://www.iyi.org/children-and-racism-the-importance-of-age-appropriate-listening-and-support/.
The story begins with Twyla stating that she and Roberta were sent to St. Bonny’s orphanage because Twyla’s mother (Mary) “danced all night” and Roberta’s mother was sick. They do not get along when they are first introduced. Twyla has been raised by Mary to have prejudices towards individuals of Roberta’s race, but when Twyla tells Big Bozo (the shelter’s administrator), Bozo rejects her coldly. The girls eventually bond over their ability to comprehend each other without having to ask questions. Twyla can’t recall anything she learns, and Roberta hasn’t learned to read, thus the fact that they both get Fs “all the time” brings them closer. They are also forced together by the fact that they are not true orphans and are therefore excluded from the rest of the kids at St. Bonny’s. One Sunday, Mary and Roberta’s mother come to attend a church service and lunch at St. Bonny’s. Twyla and Roberta are excited about this prospect; they wear nice outfits and curl each other’s hair. When Roberta introduces her mother to Twyla and Mary, the situation became awkward because Roberta’s mother just looked at them and took Roberta by her hand and left the area without a word. However, Mary simply ignores them and walks away. The way Roberta’s mother acted toward Twyla and her mother reminded me of how King talks about the injustices his people experience through his ‘Letter from Birmingham Jail’. He mentions how racial discrimination will pass on to their children because of what their parents teach them about the prejudices against different races. Whatever behavior the kid learns in a very young age it will mostly like become part of his character so, if the parents teach them to be ignorant to people from other races then this injustice will be a never ending thing.
After four months together both of them finally leave the shelter and eventually they lose touch. After few years they again cross paths in different situations. Each meeting was different, once it was a casual heart-to-heart talk and the other arguing about the incidents that happened back in the shelter. In the end, their conversation is left on an unresolved note about Maggie. Because Roberta and Twyla are of different races, racism plays a significant role in this novel. They don’t think much of it while they’re little, but their mothers teach them what discrimination is. They grow to resent each other for who they are as they get older, and they find it difficult to sympathize with other races when they are ignored. They begin to realize who they are in connection to each other in the final encounter they have with each other (with Maggie as the conduit). Morrison also invites her readers to consider race and their internalized clues for which characters are white race.
