In “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, we start to see varying versions of Feminism and the struggle that women have gone though. Because of the time period that the book takes place (a generation or two after slavery ended), we see a different sort of feminism then what we are used to. Most people see feminism as falling into either two categories: either thinking women should have complete control and the roles should be switched, or we should be equal and both are able to be president, marriage is fine, or we should have equal pay.
However, Janie’s grandmother sees the best place for a woman to be free from harm in the world, is to be married. That is her idea of fairness and equality, a woman happily married not having to be on her own and raise her children on her own. Her reasoning is bloomed from her own history. Nanny came from the turn of the civil war; she was repeatedly raped, and gave birth to a mixed race child. She stayed in those confines and hoped her daughter would marry a nice man and be free from the evils of the world she knew. Of course her daughter did not, and Janie was born. She then raised Janie, and hoped the same for her. That she could marry and hopefully become something. Making it seem as marriage is the one way for a woman to be “free” and seen as equal.
Janie has a whole different view of feminism. In all actuality, it seems she doesn’t even know what she wants. She marries a man as a favor to her grandmother, and he treated her like a queen (at first). She didn’t want to do the work he did, she wanted to stay in the kitchen. Which is something our modern society would not expect from a woman whom wants equality, respect, and a sense of power, but that is how she viewed it. So then she marries someone else whom promises her these things, and yet she is still not happy. Towards the end we start to see the abuse that comes with the life she thought would be her answer. It seems that she just can’t get what she wants, she gets no satisfaction.
Even though we see the varying views and do not feel they are what feminism means, I sense that women of today can empathise and relate to the struggles that Nanny and Janie went through. I have gone through a similar life (so far). My mother and her mother were in horrible first marriages with men they thought were their answers to get out of the life they had. My grandmother came from poverty, but was treated like a princess. She felt unsatisfied, and left with a man. My mother is an extremely strong woman that anyone who meets her would say this is a “feminist”, but she even fell for the trap of a man with baby blue eyes and a smile to die for. It seems you just cannot get any satisfaction. Then here I am, the definition of an activist, and I fell for it too. I was married for 2 months when I was 21, and he was extremely abusive. When we were giving the sheet with the list of signs of abuse, I noticed I experienced every SINGLE ONE back then. Again, you just can’t get satisfaction. Even after the divorce the nice guys were not good enough for me; I went for the bad boys.
In the end, you can say you believe in equality and feminism (no matter the definition), but until you take time for yourself and focus on yourself, you will not find a man that will treat you the way you deserve. My grandmother, my mother, and I eventually all found a man who treated us right, but like I stated before, we had to focus on ourselves first and figure out who we are and what we truly want! I feel if Janie were to leave her current situation she will find what she wants and deserves, and will find a wonderful and loving man.
Rolling Stones- I Can't Get No Satisfaction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpZ3dVpE_pY
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