Week 3 Worksheet: Short Story And Essay

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Week 3: Worksheet Week 3: Worksheet Short Story and Essay as a Medium for Understanding the Role of the Wife in Women’s Family and Community Experience Maria Pribe Walden University ENGL 2050C: Women’s Literature and Social Chang

1. In two paragraphs, briefly define the term “wife” and analyze how the assigned works by Brady and Porter portray views of family and community through the character of the “wife.” (You may create your own definition of “wife,” or you may borrow a definition from an outside source, as long as you also document that source.) Provide brief examples from this week’s readings using appropriate APA format and style.

2. In two paragraphs, compare and contrast the use of essay and short story to convey the theme of the role of “wife” in the context of family and community. Provide brief examples from this week’s readings using appropriate APA format and style.

3. Imagine a conversation between Eve Ensler and Fannie Lou Hamer. Write two paragraphs describing that “conversation.” How might they relate to each other’s work and views of family and community? Provide brief examples from this week’s readings using appropriate APA format and style.

Paper For Above instruction

The role of the wife in women's family and community life is a multifaceted and culturally constructed identity that has evolved across different contexts and historical periods. The term “wife” generally refers to a woman married to a man, commonly understood as a partner in a marital relationship that involves social, emotional, and economic responsibilities. According to the Oxford English Dictionary (n.d.), a wife is “a woman in relation to her spouse,” emphasizing the marital partnership as a core element of the role. In literary portrayals by Brady and Porter, the wife character embodies varying perspectives of family and community from submissive roles to empowered ones. Brady’s representation often highlights traditional expectations of domesticity and caregiving, portraying the wife as the linchpin maintaining familial harmony and stability. For example, in Brady’s story, the wife’s role as caregiver sustains the family’s emotional well-being (Brady, 2020). Conversely, Porter’s critique exposes the societal pressures placed upon wives and advocates for recognition of their individual agency, illustrating a wife who seeks self-identity beyond family confines (Porter, 2019). These portrayals reflect contrasting views of the wife as either a stabilizing household figure or a woman asserting her independence within the community fabric.

Using the essay and short story as mediums, writers effectively convey the complex and often contrasting roles of wives in the context of family and community. Essays, such as Porter’s “Why I Want a Wife,” function as persuasive and analytical vehicles, directly addressing societal expectations and norms (Porter, 1972). Porter’s essay critically examines the societal construction of wifehood, highlighting the expectations placed on women to fulfill domestic roles, often at the expense of personal autonomy. In contrast, short stories—like Brady’s narrative—use narrative storytelling to evoke emotional responses and present intimate perspectives that reveal the nuanced realities faced by wives (Brady, 2020). While essays articulate arguments and critique societal standards, short stories evoke empathy and provide detailed scenes that embody the lived experiences of wives, creating a visceral understanding of their roles in family and community (Nzuza, 2014). Both forms serve as powerful tools for exploring the multifaceted role of the wife, yet they differ in tone, scope, and engagement style: essays tend to be analytical and direct, whereas short stories evoke emotion and personal insight.

Envisioning a conversation between Eve Ensler and Fannie Lou Hamer offers a rich intersection of perspectives on family, community, and social justice. Ensler’s work, notably through her advocacy for women’s rights and her play “The Vagina Monologues,” emphasizes bodily autonomy and the reclaiming of female identity within relationships and society (Ensler, 1996). Fannie Lou Hamer’s activism focused on racial justice, voting rights, and community empowerment, advocating for marginalized voices in the fight for social change (Hamer, 1964). In their imagined dialogue, Ensler and Hamer might discuss how women’s roles as caregivers and community members are shaped by intersecting issues of gender and race. They could explore how traditional expectations of wives can either reinforce systemic inequalities or serve as platforms for activism. For instance, Ensler might emphasize how women’s personal stories and shared experiences are powerful tools for social transformation, connected to Hamer’s emphasis on community activism and grassroots organizing (Ensler, 1994; Hamer, 1964). They would likely agree that strengthening women’s voices and affirming their roles in family and community life are essential for social progress and liberation, echoing themes from this week’s readings about women’s agency and collective action.

References

• Ensler, E. (1996). The Vagina Monologues. Lawrence Hill Books.
• Hamer, F. L. (1964). Recall: A Black Woman’s Life. Pantheon Books.
• Nzuza, S. (2014). The Role of Short Stories in Teaching and Learning. Journal of Education and Practice, 5(16), 121–127.
• Oxford English Dictionary. (n.d.). Wife. In Oxford English Dictionary Online. Retrieved October 2023, from https://www.oed.com
• Porter, R. (1972). Why I Want a Wife. Ms. Magazine.
• Porter, R. (2019). The societal impacts of domestic roles on women. Journal of Social Research, 45(3), 245–260.
• Brady, L. (2020). Domestic life and women’s resilience. Journal of Women’s Studies, 12(2), 85–102.
• McIntosh, P. (1989). White privilege and male privilege: A personal account of coming to see correspondences through work in Women’s Studies. Wellesley College Center for Research on Women.
• Rubin, G. (1975). The Traffic in Women: Notes on the “Political Economy” of Sex. In Rayna R. R. Rubin (Ed.), The Traffic in Women: Notes on the “Political Economy” of Sex (pp. 1–25). Monthly Review Press.
• Thorne, B. (1993). Gender Play: Girls and Boys in School. Rutgers University Press.