Digital Essay: Knowledge is Power:
Despite the ground covered in such a short period-less than 100 years-by women, many struggles are still faced by us today. The wage gap, for instance, as well as the rights of women in third-world countries. But, let's put those matters aside for the moment, and focus on a plague that has sickened each and every nation at some point in their history: power. The idea that power stems from one having knowledge is old, and can be seen especially affecting the treatment of women throughout history. Women, particularly married women, from ancient Mesopotamia, where they were expected to either be "the daughter of her father of the wife of her husband" ("Ancient Mesopotamia"), to as late as the end of the 19th century, when the feminist movement reached its peak point and women began gaining ground. While it is well known that the feminist movement was created long before then, this is the period of time most known for their work in trying "to free women from all the gender-based restraints placed upon them by society" ("Women's Rights Movement"). In each time period, you'll find that women lacked literacy and knowledge, a true injustice. Even today, women are fighting for knowledge and power, and every right that comes with having that knowledge. As seen in the linked article, over half of the illiterate world is still women. Even in those without power, women are still on the bottom.
The literate and knowledgeable women that did exist before it was socially acceptable, such as Mary Ann Evans, were expected to not take credit for their work. Mary published her book under a pseudonym, George Eliot. Then there were the women who made great discoveries, that were released under their husband's name, such as Maria Winkelmann Kirch.
The literate and knowledgeable women that did exist before it was socially acceptable, such as Mary Ann Evans, were expected to not take credit for their work. Mary published her book under a pseudonym, George Eliot. Then there were the women who made great discoveries, that were released under their husband's name, such as Maria Winkelmann Kirch.
To plainly illustrate the point of knowledge being power, Margaret Atwood built a world in which a fertility crisis has led to increased government control of fertile women in her story, A Handmaid's Tale. In this society, women are not allowed to read, save for the Aunts, the teachers. When the Commander, one of the powerful men in charge who is allowed a handmaid to have his child, tempts Offred, our protagonist and his handmaid, with "an oasis of the forbidden" (Atwood, 137), she is astounded. "Books and books and books and books, right out in plain view, no locks, no boxes" (Atwood, 137) fill the Commander's office. This tiny shred of rebellion, this sharing of knowledge holds much more weight than the Commander realizes witha woman who thinks of herself as "a prize pig...washed, brushed and fed" (Atwood, 69) for the sole purpose of birthing children. Even later on, Offred describes playing Scrabble as being "offered drugs" (Atwood, 139). As the story wears on, Offred's dictions seems to intensify, shifting from simple word choices with rudimentary descriptions to eloquent and thought-out phrases. In such a society which prohibits the learning of women, the forbidden fruit that is the written word calls to Offred.
"Literacy is a bridge from Misery to Hope."
-Kofi Annan
There is, however, a distinct difference between the inability to learn and the refusal to learn. In Henrick Ibsen's A Doll House, he paints the picture of young Nora, the wife of a well-to-do banker, Torvald Helmer. Although Torvald thinks Nora to be "irresponsible" (Ibsen, 1093) and "inexperienced" (Ibsen, 1150), Nora has made an unsavory business deal with Torvald's associate, Mr. Krogstad, "to save her husband's life" (Ibsen, 1113). This business deal proves Nora's inexperience in such matters, as it comes back to haunt her. On several occasions in the play, Nora expresses her lack of understanding towards the situation, and that claims "I refuse to believe... a daughter shouldn't have the right to spare her dying old father worry and anxiety" (Ibsen, 1113). In her misadventures to keep Torvald from the truth of what she had done, she comes to realize that she had "passed from Daddy's hands" (Ibsen, 1149) to Torvald's. It is clear that Torvald was more of a father figure, anyway, in his dehumanizing her by calling her such names as "little songbird" (Ibsen, 1152) and "doll" (Ibsen, 1152). This dehumanization stems partly from the fact that he sees her as less than him; she cannot grasp the concepts he can, she does not have the knowledge he has, therefore she is under him, he is in charge of her, like a father.
It isn't uncommon in old books or stories to see the husband as more of a father figure than a partner. Some, like Dr. Rod Berger, claim that women actually want a man who is more like a father, a caretaker. However, this claim is disputed by most women (especially on his site, to him). To be treated like a daughter in a marriage is to be made less than equal. For most of time, this has been due to the fact that women were not on the same level as men, due to their lack of knowledge and experience, but as that has changed, it has morphed into pure and simple sexism.
Take, for example, this ad. It reduces wives to the role of a child, begging for what they want and throwing a tantrum if they don't get it.
Finally, I would like to leave you thinking on how true this old idiom is: Knowledge is power.
Take, for example, this ad. It reduces wives to the role of a child, begging for what they want and throwing a tantrum if they don't get it.
Finally, I would like to leave you thinking on how true this old idiom is: Knowledge is power.