Effect of Patriarchal System on Women
This is an excerpt from the paper...
Presented at a conference for mental health professionals on June 1st, 1993, Princess Diana's speech "Women and Mental Health," at the most superficial level, highlighted the existence of the psychological difficulties experienced by women. However, at a deeper level, this speech also brought up to the surface the oppressive impact of the norms and practices of patriarchal society on the psychological well-being of women. To explore this issue further, the method of feminist criticism will be employed to analyze this artifact. More specifically, the research question that will be addressed in this study is: "To what extent does this artifact succeed in persuading the audience of the adverse impact of the patriarchal system on women's mental health?" The examination of the rhetorical strategies used in this artifact to achieve its objective of illuminating gender oppression may contribute to rhetorical theory in two ways. First of all, it may identify the unique components of the consciousness-raising rhetoric that has been used by feminists for decades to capture the plight of women and their effectiveness (Sowards and Renegar 535-6). Second, it may contribute to the debate on the relative importance of the rhetors and the auditors in rhetorical theory. Traditional rhetorical theory tends to place the emphasis on rhetors and their ability to persuade, while the audience is relegated to the role of passive objects and targets of persuasion. In contrast, more contempo
. . .
heart of the feminists' agenda. To begin with, she highlighted the fact that women in our society who are delegated to the role of carers are expected to fulfill overwhelming demands and responsibilities of caring for others. Regardless of the unreasonable nature of the demands and the state of their well-being, women are simply expected to "cope" with their situation. The recurrent phrase "they will cope" underscored the fact that women are expected to deal with their responsibilities without complaint (Princess Diana pars. 2-4). The blind assumption that women are simply able to cope was powerfully articulated in this sentence: "The suffering behind their anxious eyes so often goes unseen" (Princess Diana par. 7).
Essentially, women are required to conform to norms of patriarchal society in which they are expected to perform their roles without revealing their difficulties or frustration. Therefore, regardless of their feelings of strain and fatigue, women are expected to conceal them. Muted by these social expectations, women often retreat into a hidden world of depression, addictions and even suicide. The isolation and loneliness of the women's world were aptly captured by Princess Diana's selection of vivid metaph
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
Princess Diana, Princess Diana's, Mental Health, Sowards Renegar, Benoit Smythe, princess diana, mental health, Health Furthermore, Communication Studies, rhetorical theory, health professionals, mental health professionals, Diana Speeches, , Baltimore MD, princess diana's, women mental health, theory criticism, feminist criticism, women's mental, women mental, feminist critics, women's mental health, princess diana par, princess diana's speech,
Approximate Word count = 1887
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)
More Essays on Effect of Patriarchal System on Women
|