Female Power

From the feminist perspective, “Self-defense is self-love” (James, 1982. p. 383). From a feminist view this may very well be true especially in a male dominated society. Today males hold positions of power in not only political arenas, but also socially. To a certain level, females are expected to cook, clean, and take care of children. “For women it often means replacing lifelong patterns of powerlessness and dependence with strength and confidence” (James, 1982. p. 383). Dependence on males to support them and be there. This dependence stems from society and a history of dependence of females on the male. In a sense it is biological as well. Women biologically have to depend on males to raise their children. It isn’t like in other species where the female can rear her children alone with no problem. A human child can arguably take 25 years to raise in modern day society and without help from the male this could be extremely difficult for a mother. The term single mother and the connotations tied to it are very true. The type of power woman have traditionally had also ties into a woman’s feelings of powerlessness. “Traditionally found in manipulation, cajoling, pleading, even in using her body to bargain for what she wants” (James, 1982. p. 384). This shows that a woman’s power is much more passive and is not active. This can be changed through many avenues, but first it needs to be recognized.