Defying Oppression.. Connections!

Ok... So I read Oppression by Frye and realized some things. Oppression means to be molded, shaped, stuck, “reduced” or “immobilized”. Women AND MEN are oppressed every day. In the text, Frye says that a requirement put on oppressed people is to smile and act cheerful so that we could be made invisible. If they do not do that, they may be labeled as “mean, bitter, angry, or dangerous” (Frye).  Another example of public oppression is whether a woman is or is not sexually active. If she is, she may face punishment of being called a whore or loose, with a chance of becoming unexpectedly pregnant. She may hide the facts from the people she cares for most because she does not want to face such torment, criticism, snide and embarrassing remarks.  On the other hand, if a women is NOT sexually active, she may be harassed by men who tell her (pressure her) to “relax and let her hair down”, while a being called names like “frigid, uptight, man-hater, bitch, and cocktease” (Frye). But let’s return to the meaning of oppression, shall we…

Oppression means “the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, anxiety” (Dictionary.com) or facing “cruel and unjust treatment” (Merriam-Webster). Do you know who else faced oppression?  The women of the 1920s, who fought for their right to vote, faced this problem. When these women marched the streets and picketed the white house for their rights, they were jailed and beaten terribly, where the officers were hoping they would quit from fear of being hurt and jailed again. However, these women did not stay oppressed and cage in. They broke out and fought for what they wanted. This is what you call defying Oppression.