The One's You Don't See

   Feminism is a very touchy subject. To some it may be thought of "man hate", but in reality it "...is the radical notion that women are human beings.” (Cheris Kramarae) From 1848-1920 women finally stood up for themselves, proving to the world that they are just as powerful as men are. They were finally given the right to vote, get an education, own a home, appropriate wage amount for jobs, etc. But before this great time of hope, women were treated like they were property to the man who would tell them what to do and how to feel, while women should have the right to decide that for themselves.

   Although every woman may not be able to prove their power to the world, Sethe most definitely can. Before I began reading Beloved, I never imagined reading horrible things of how badly women were treated, much like what the first couple chapters entail with sexual assault, raping of livestock, and how the slave owners would use the slaves for whatever they pleased. I never thought about the sexual parts of feminism, only that they women were not given the equal opportunity to prove to the world that women are people to. I imagined that most of my blog posts would be about the stereotypical ways that woman are shown before the feminist era came into play and parts of it that we hear about in history class when we think of Women's Rights. Although there were some gruesome realities in the book, I was pleasantly surprised when I found how strong of a person Sethe really is. She presents herself as someone who has been through so much but continues to carry herself high everyday. She is a single mother who lives in her life without a man and continues to provide for herself and her child. Although I have not concluded the book yet, as of now I can see how the feminist movement began: with such strong and passionate women like Sethe who are role models to the rest of the women in the world still in abusive relationships or households that do not offer support.
   In most history classes, I've only ever heard of the side of the torture and misfortunes women had to face before they were able find their own cause and save themselves. You would only hear about one women who was the beginning of the cause, but in reality it was all the strong women in the world like Sethe who were able to stand up for themselves and prove to the world that women deserve a chance too. Maybe Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton formed the National Woman Suffrage Association, they would have had nothing if it weren't for all the other women who needed a change. Beloved has helped me realized that although there may be much hate and backstory to something, but one's pain may help them be someone much stronger. It was an absolutely terrible live for Sethe, but she got through and created a greater life for herself than she could ever have with a man or stuck at Sweet Home with Halle.