Gender in OthelloNicollette Brown

Central Michigan University

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5-Minute Brainstorm

Think about your gender.

What behaviors do you think are expected from you because you are a male/female?

Gender and Othello

Gender and gender relations are portrayed throughout the play in two major ways:

1. Misogyny of men2. Gender roles, particularly of women

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Misogyny – A Definition

“Misogyny is a cultural attitude of hatred for females because they are female.” -Sociologist Allan G. Johnson

*Quote from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogyny

Miso (to hate) + gyne (women)

Misogyny : hatred of women

Misogyny in Othello

Misogynistic Smasherso Captain: IagooOthelloo Cassioo Roderigoo Barbantio

Female Furyo Captain: Desdemona

o Emiliao BiancaVS

http://goodmormonamerica.com/

“Misogynistic Smashers”

• Iago relentlessly degrades and controls Emilia. He also makes a habit of insulting females in general. Iago murders his wife.

‒ See Act 2, Scene 1 for more details

• Othello appears to be kind-hearted towards women, but he later degrades Desdemona fervently both in private and in public. Othello murders his wife.

‒ See Act 4, Scene 1 for more details

“Misogynistic Smashers”

• Cassio is seen as a gentleman of the era. Even still, he is often condescending towards his love interest Bianca.

• Roderigo is completely infatuated with Desdemona and showers her in gifts; therefore, he feels he deserves her.

• Barbantio sheltered his young daughter and was completely oblivious to her needs when attempting to quell her desires.

“Female Fury”

• Desdemona frequently exhibits her own free will and independence. She holds power over her husband Othello, and tries to use it to pardon Cassio.

‒ See Act 3, Scene 3 for more details

• Emilia submits to her husband’s desires, but eventually she rebels. It is Emilia who reveals the truth of Iago’s treachery.

• Bianca may be a prostitute, but she isn’t willing to wait around for Cassio to reciprocate his love.

Iago: She that was ever fair, and never proudHad tongue at will, and yet was never loud,Never lack’d gold, and yet went never gay,Fled from her wish, and yet said “Now I may;”She that, being anger’d, her revenge being night,Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly;She that in wisdom never was so frailTo change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tailShe that could think, and ne’er disclose her mind,See suitors following, and not look behindShe was a wight, if ever such wight wereTo suckle fools, and choronicle small beer.

*From William Shakespeare’s Othello: Act II, Scene I, Lines 148-160)

Who is the victor?

But what are the implications?

Misogynistic Smashers!

Misogyny: One Step Further

“Misogyny is a central part of sexist prejudice and ideology, and, as such, is an important basis for the oppression of females in male-dominated societies.”

-Sociologist Allan G. Johnson

What do you think this means?

*Quote from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogyny

Consequences of a Male-Dominated Society:Then & Now

1) Women are excluded from the government

2) Women are expected to be housewives

3) Women are property, not independent individuals

Women in the Government

In Othello: 1600’so Not one woman held any position of power• There were no female representatives in the government

In America: 2000’so Females are the minority in positions of power• Females comprise 50.8% of the population yet 16.8% of Congress• Out of 44 presidents, 0 have been women

*Data from http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/R41647.pdf, author Jennifer Manning and http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0007.pdf

Women as Housewives

In Othello: 1600’so Desdemona and Emilia were expected to perform

“housewife” duties and not hold a job• Duties include: cleaning, obedience, sexual intercourse

In America: 2000’so These past expectations have lingering effects on women

entering the work force• Women, on average, earn 80% of what men make

*Statistic from http://moneywatch.bnet.com/economic-news/video/salary-gap-men-vs- women/397821/ narrator Eric Schurenberg

Women: Independent / Property

In Othello: 1600’so Wives are seen as their husband’s property, not as individuals.• Emilia blindly obeys Iago and endures his insults• Desdemona ultimately bends to Othello’s will…all the way to her

death bed

In America: 2000’so These past expectations still have social implications• The practice of “giving the bride away” at wedding ceremonies

portrays the women as a possession being handed down from father to husband

Conclusions

Gender disparities still exist today. This has been a consistent pattern, dating even before Othello’s setting.

In the play, gender can be looked at in two main ways:

1. Misogyny – All male characters exhibit varying degrees of hatred towards women. Their words and actions portray this attitude.

2. Gender Roles – Because of misogyny, women live in a male-dominated society and are given specific roles, roles that often portray them as inferior.

Extended Learning Opportunity

Choose ONE

1. Find a passage of the play that embodies the themes discussed in class today. Explain what the passage literally means, and then tell how and why you believe it demonstrates gender disparities.

2. Explain a recent event that demonstrates how gender disparities continue today. It can be political, economic, social, etc. Do you think there is a connection between this event and the history of gender inequality? Why or why not?