1. Gender in Othello Nicollette Brown Central Michigan University Microsoft Clip Art Microsoft Clip Art
2. 5-Minute Brainstorm Think about your gender. What behaviors do you think are expected from you because you are a male/female?
3. Gender and Othello Gender and gender relations are portrayed throughout the play in two major ways: Misogyny of men Gender roles, particularly of women Microsoft Clip Art
4. Misogyny – A Definition Miso (to hate) +gyne (women) Misogyny: hatred of women “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
15. Iago: She that was ever fair, and never proud Had 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 frail To change the cod’s head for the salmon’s tail She that could think, and ne’er disclose her mind, See suitors following, and not look behind She was a wight, if ever such wight were To suckle fools, and choronicle small beer. *From William Shakespeare’s Othello: Act II, Scene I, Lines 148-160)
16. Who is the victor? Misogynistic Smashers! But what are the implications?
17. 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
18. Consequences of a Male-Dominated Society:Then & Now Women are excluded from the government Women are expected to be housewives Women are property, not independent individuals
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22. 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: Misogyny – All male characters exhibit varying degrees of hatred towards women. Their words and actions portray this attitude. Gender Roles – Because of misogyny, women live in a male-dominated society and are given specific roles, roles that often portray them as inferior.
23. Extended Learning Opportunity Choose ONE 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. 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?
