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Re: Abstract: Position of Women in Society

Posted by RS on February 13, 2002 at 15:30:34:

In Reply to: Abstract: Position of Women in Society posted by Denitsa Tilkidjieva on February 12, 2002 at 22:16:22:

: Theme: Position of Women in Society

OKAY, BUT IN ALL OF SOCIETY? AT WHAT TIME?

: Argument: Women were not as subordinate to men as they were in other societies. The fact that Bernard [SPELLING] does not discuss women’s subordination is probably a sign that it did not exist. [INTERESTING HYPOTHESIS, BUT IT'S AN ASSUMPTION UNLESS YOU CAN PROVIDE REASONING TO SUPPORT IT. FOR EXAMPLE, HE MAY HAVE BEEN SO ACCUSTOMED TO WOMEN'S SUBORDINATION, THAT HE DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF MENTIONING IT.] He pays specific attention to roles of women and men in society. Although he uses little words, he conveys many points “between the lines.” He does not mention anything uneven about the position of women in society, so we can assume that it was not low or suppressed. [GOOD: BETWEEN THE LINES POINTS TO ASSUMPTIONS AND PARTIALLY EXPRESSED MEANINGS. BUT BE SPECIFIC. WHAT ROLES? WHAT SOCIETY? WHAT WAS THE SAME OR DIFFERENT IN THE TWO VILLAGES?]

: Supporting Evidence:
: 1) Breast feeding – the fact that women did not breast feed their children could well be a sign of emancipation – a woman chose what to do with her body and when to have babies (without the use of breast-feeding as an excuse for lack of conception). This also meant that they used other methods of feeding their babies – bottles (which were quite expensive at that time, I would assume), wet-nurses.
I LIKE YOUR QUALIFICATION--COULD WELL BE A SIGN. . . . BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY SPECULATIVE, TRY EITHER TO FIND FURTHER EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE IDEA OF "GREATER FREEDOM OR CHOICE" OR CONCENTRATING ON A POINT FOR WHICH THE EVIDENCE IS SOLID, LEAVING THE SPECULATIVE POINT TO A PLACE OF LESS IMPORTANCE IN YOUR ESSAY.

: 2) Tavern – Both women and men went there – a social gathering, their lives were more open, not confined to the barn.

OKAY, BUT WHAT SEASONS WERE BEING OBSERVED?

: 3) Women rarely were given hard work – sensible division of labor. GOOD STARTING POINT: CONSIDER THE COMPLEXITIES: OUTSIDER VS. INSIDER AS OBSERVER; AN IMPOVERISHED VS. A PROSPEROUS VILLAGE.

: Connection: Bonnie Smith – p. 15: women had as much as 11 children (contrast); p. 25: they had fun as well (compare). I'M NOT CLEAR HOW THESE ARE TIGHTLY CONNECTED TO YOUR MAIN POINTS.

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: : Theme: Position of Women in Society : OKAY, BUT IN ALL OF SOCIETY? AT WHAT TIME? : : Argument: Women were not as subordinate to men as they were in other societies. The fact that Bernard [SPELLING] does not discuss women’s subordination is probably a sign that it did not exist. [INTERESTING HYPOTHESIS, BUT IT'S AN ASSUMPTION UNLESS YOU CAN PROVIDE REASONING TO SUPPORT IT. FOR EXAMPLE, HE MAY HAVE BEEN SO ACCUSTOMED TO WOMEN'S SUBORDINATION, THAT HE DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF MENTIONING IT.] He pays specific attention to roles of women and men in society. Although he uses little words, he conveys many points “between the lines.” He does not mention anything uneven about the position of women in society, so we can assume that it was not low or suppressed. [GOOD: BETWEEN THE LINES POINTS TO ASSUMPTIONS AND PARTIALLY EXPRESSED MEANINGS. BUT BE SPECIFIC. WHAT ROLES? WHAT SOCIETY? WHAT WAS THE SAME OR DIFFERENT IN THE TWO VILLAGES?] : : Supporting Evidence: : : 1) Breast feeding – the fact that women did not breast feed their children could well be a sign of emancipation – a woman chose what to do with her body and when to have babies (without the use of breast-feeding as an excuse for lack of conception). This also meant that they used other methods of feeding their babies – bottles (which were quite expensive at that time, I would assume), wet-nurses. : I LIKE YOUR QUALIFICATION--COULD WELL BE A SIGN. . . . BECAUSE IT IS PRETTY SPECULATIVE, TRY EITHER TO FIND FURTHER EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE IDEA OF "GREATER FREEDOM OR CHOICE" OR CONCENTRATING ON A POINT FOR WHICH THE EVIDENCE IS SOLID, LEAVING THE SPECULATIVE POINT TO A PLACE OF LESS IMPORTANCE IN YOUR ESSAY. : : 2) Tavern – Both women and men went there – a social gathering, their lives were more open, not confined to the barn. : OKAY, BUT WHAT SEASONS WERE BEING OBSERVED? : : 3) Women rarely were given hard work – sensible division of labor. GOOD STARTING POINT: CONSIDER THE COMPLEXITIES: OUTSIDER VS. INSIDER AS OBSERVER; AN IMPOVERISHED VS. A PROSPEROUS VILLAGE. : : Connection: Bonnie Smith – p. 15: women had as much as 11 children (contrast); p. 25: they had fun as well (compare). I'M NOT CLEAR HOW THESE ARE TIGHTLY CONNECTED TO YOUR MAIN POINTS.

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