According to Tocqueville, the American view towards women is that american society has divided men's and women's roles so that the society can function a lot better. They believe that everything has a head of the family or business, and that men are naturally assumed to be that head. Specifically, the roles of women are not to carry on with business outside of the home, and aren't expected to, be a part of political life, or do a lot of laborious things in the field. This contrasts European women because in Europe women and men are viewed as being alike, and are given the same roles for their duties, are granted the same rights , and desegregate them so that both sexes are mixed together in pleasure business, and occupation. American women also take a lot more pride in subjugating themselves to authority, and don't see it as degrading and being forced under a "master". Women also are not as complimented by men as they are in Europe, but they are also regarded as equals in the sense that women's minds are just as fit as mens. Unlike American women, European women are very much complimented by european men and sort of preyed upon. In this sense, women aren't really seen as equals because they are lavished upon. European women are also able to display their futility, feebleness, and timidity, whereas the american woman would think of can't do that. In America, rape is viewed as one of the most horrible things that can happen to a woman because it strips her of her independence, but in Europe the predator is given a much milder sentence.
I think Tocqueville is saying that American social changes are allowing women to be more equal to men.
1 comment:
Yey I'm so glad that you did your blog on time so that I can comment, since like no one has done it yet!! ha! But I of course agree with what you say here. I think you understood really well what Alexis de Tocqueville was talking about. The fact that Europeans compliment their women more and lavish upon them, but women are not really equal to men. And how in America, men do not really compliment but women are considered more equal. And you talk about one of the main points that we talked about in class, de Tocqueville said that American society is so successful because men and women have seperate paths and duties. This is of course his opinion.
Good Blog!
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