Sexism and Feminism in the Late 1800s in accordance...

Everyone can agree that sexism had its talons deep in the flesh of the American mindset during the 1800s and although this is an obvious fact, few people understand just how hostile an environment it was for a woman. Among those few, were the women living in this malicious medium. From corsets to kitchens, housekeeping to health, life was not easy for even the most well-to-do woman. Although not all women decried their situation, a strong-minded minority dropped their oven mits, put their fists in the air, and called out for a change. Equal opportunity, equal right to vote, equal pay, and all around equality is what they demanded. But feminism was not only found at suffrage rallys or Grange meetings, it made its way in to every medium,†¦show more content†¦This is the way things were run in the 19th century, women submissive to dominating men. Women were expected to speak only when spoken to and to follow orders. When even a nine year old knows and follows these rules, albie t subconciously, something is wrong with the society. The story continues along these lines, even going to the extreme of having Sylvia leave her home in the middle of the night to climb the tallest tree in the forest to search for the white heron. Not only losing sleep for this man, but putting herself in a large amount of danger. It is not until the end of the story that Jewwet turns from pointing out sexism, to actively inserting feminist ideals. No, she must keep silence! What is it that suddenly forbids her and makes her dumb? Has she been nine years growing and now, when the great world for the first time put out a hand to her, she thrust it aside for a birds sake? (Jewwet 528). The thing that was holding Sylvias tongue was not just compassion for a bird, but something much deeper. At nine years of age Sylvia, unknowingly, is fighting for womens rights, breaking free from the submissive role that she was supposedly destined to take. Taking up the banner, Sylvia is no longer ju st a sympathetic character, but a symbol for equality and feminism. Sylvia is no longer a person, but an ideal that women everywere can rally around. Jewwtts A White Heron takes the same position, no longer a short story, but a call to women