First, the terms internalized sexism and misogyny are clarified, followed by the presentation of the social role of women with the help of passages from the novel and the sacrifices they have to make. This is followed by the treatment of Lily by other women, in which misogyny is once again placed as the main focus of the women’s actions. It is no secret that in the past (and partly even today) there has been no equal treatment and equality between men and women, which is the result of patriarchally led social and cultural structures and conventions. Women have always been subjected to fixed stereotypes and regulations that determine what a woman is allowed to do, how and what she is allowed to be.
It is usually assumed that men form obstacles, which is logical in that all these expectations of women stem from a patriarchal value system. However, women also (and especially) form these obstacles in societies and make it difficult for many women to develop themselves, for example. Edith Wharton, among others, takes up this theme in her works while using “stereotypes of
women purposefully to highlight the falsity of such categorising and to suggest the many deceptions and incongruities involved in accepting such ready-made conceptions of a woman's role in society”. The House of Mirth is about Lily Bart, who tries in vain to re-establish herself in upperclass society after the death of her financially ruined parents.
But as an unmarried and nonwealthy woman, this is not possible without a wealthy husband, which is why she must set out
in search of a suitable man, but unfortunately a number of obstacles come in the way, mainly posed by women. Lidoff aptly summarizes Lily’s end, “Lily dies at the novel’s end, destroyed by the tyranny of social manners” (Lidoff 520). Lily’s social relegation has several causes, but among them are (internalized) sexism and misogyny, which especially tempt other women to come between Lily and her goals. The aim of this essay is to show what social roles women had in the upper class society at the end of the 19th century and what a major role (internalized) sexism and misogyny play in Edith Wharton’s novel.
Table of Contents
1. INTERNALIZED SEXISM AND MISOGYNY
2. SOCIAL ROLE IN UPPER-CLASS SOCIETY OF THE FEMALE AND HER SACRIFICES
3. THE TREATMENT OF LILY BY OTHER WOMEN
4. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
This essay explores the societal structures and pressures faced by women in the late 19th century, specifically examining how internalized sexism and misogyny contribute to the downfall of Lily Bart in Edith Wharton's "The House of Mirth". The research highlights the destructive role of gender expectations and horizontal hostility between women.
- The influence of patriarchal structures on upper-class gender roles.
- Financial dependence on men and the commodification of beauty.
- The mechanisms of self-objectification in a restrictive society.
- Internalized misogyny as a catalyst for female-on-female conflict.
- The tragic consequences of social ostracism for unmarried women.
Excerpt from the Book
The (Financial) Dependence on a Man.
It was not possible for a woman from the late 19th century in the upper class to work her way up to be able to afford a living, unlike today, without ruining her reputation or losing her position in the upper class. Thus, there was no financial independence. Women were financially tied first to their own family and later to their husband. Charlotte Perkins Gilman writes in Women and Economics, “[T]he economic status of the human race ... is governed mainly by the activities of the male: the female obtains her share in the racial advance only through him” (Perkins Gilman 9). Lily also must face this problem. Her parents died early without leaving her anything, she was taken in by her aunt Mrs. Peniston, and she has no husband in sight, although she is already 29 years old (a very advanced age for an unmarried woman in the 19th century). Marriage for Lily is as important as it is urgent, something Lily is clearly aware of, “I’ve been about too long - people are getting tired of me; they are beginning to say I ought to marry” (Wharton 9). Since she has no wealth, her only option is to marry rich to regain wealth and prosperity, because if a woman “can’t keep it up alone, … [she has] to go into partnership” (12). The only assets a woman can bring to a marriage are wealth and her beauty and youth. She is thus left with only the latter attributes, but time is running out, “and it seemed an added injustice [the small wrinkles] that petty cares [her money problems] should leave a trace on the beauty which was her only defence against them” (28). Thus, the issue of marriage was “judged to be the central fact of a woman’s life: enabled her to express her ‘natural’ femininity, since it stabilized her necessarily dependent relationship to men; not trivially, it also afforded her security and a clear, unimpeachable public identity - her only reliable means of achieving social stability” (Griffin Wolff 78).
Summary of Chapters
INTERNALIZED SEXISM AND MISOGYNY: This chapter defines the core theoretical concepts, explaining how patriarchal constructs lead women to adopt and circulate sexist practices.
SOCIAL ROLE IN UPPER-CLASS SOCIETY OF THE FEMALE AND HER SACRIFICES: This section details the restrictive lives of upper-class women, focusing on their leisure status, financial dependency, and the pressure to objectify themselves for social survival.
THE TREATMENT OF LILY BY OTHER WOMEN: This chapter analyzes how characters like Bertha Dorset and Grace Stepney employ misogynistic strategies to sabotage Lily, illustrating the destructiveness of female competition.
CONCLUSION: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that while social decline was the primary factor in Lily's death, internalised sexism served as the engine of her destruction.
Keywords
Internalized Sexism, Misogyny, Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, Lily Bart, Patriarchy, Social Role, Financial Dependence, Objectification, Female Competition, Gender Roles, 19th Century, Social Ostracism, Identity, Leisure Class.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the intersection of internalized sexism, misogyny, and the social constraints imposed on women in the late 19th century as portrayed in Edith Wharton's novel, "The House of Mirth".
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include the lack of financial independence for women, the societal requirement of marriage, self-objectification, and horizontal hostility between women.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to illustrate how patriarchal societal roles and the specific behaviors of other women contribute to the social decline and eventual downfall of the protagonist, Lily Bart.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author conducts a textual analysis, drawing on gender theory, sociological concepts (such as the "leisure class"), and scholarly criticism to interpret the narrative.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body treats the definition of internalized sexism, the social and financial roles of women in the 19th century, and the specific actions of female characters who contribute to Lily's tragedy.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include internalized sexism, misogyny, self-objectification, financial dependence, and the societal pressures exerted upon the upper-class woman.
How does Bertha Dorset specifically contribute to Lily's downfall?
Bertha Dorset views Lily as a threat and competitor; she manipulates social perceptions by spreading rumors and engineering situations that destroy Lily's marriage prospects and reputation.
Why does the author argue that Grace Stepney is significant?
Grace Stepney represents a spiteful force who uses familial jealousy to manipulate social capital, ultimately leading to Lily's disinheritance by her aunt.
In what way does the text address the "self-objectification" of Lily Bart?
The text discusses how Lily, trained by society to be an ornament, internalizes the male gaze and views herself as a commodity meant to be "purchased" on the marriage market.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding Lily's agency?
The author concludes that while Lily is a victim of a restrictive society, her eventual death serves as a tragic form of resistance against the "frivolous" values of her environment.
- Quote paper
- Djenisa Osmani (Author), 2021, Internalized Sexism and Misogyny in Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth. The Social Role and the Treatment of Women, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1159952
