Sula Patriarchy

The source of antifeminism or male empowerment is governed by a patriarchal oligarchy where women are subjected to the male. In western society, the sexes are not equally represented. Women play fewer roles in that society than men and most occupations are males oriented. Women are disproportionally unrepresented and the powerful hold of patriarchy, exclusively maintained by men, deem morally right. Feminist, like Lois Tyson, strongly protested the patriarchal beliefs of women’s place in western culture as inferior to men by showing the negative effect of gender inequality that obscure women’s social status in that society. We also have to notice that women of color are being most victimized because of their differences due to their experience
By exploring the life of Sula and other Black women, she helps establish how the backgrounds of Black women are different than their counterparts White. One of the most critical views about this novel is how Morrison focuses on a matriarchal community and the strong relationship between the two main female characters, Sula and Nel despite their difference of choice as adults. Morrison introduces Sula as a wild character who experiences life to the fullest while becoming a strong and determine Black woman. Sula has to revamp herself by becoming a new woman. She disassociates her love of sex from her feelings by challenging the traditional view of Black women, which in the past has triggered some to say that they are promiscuous by nature. Morrison speaks loudly about the situation of Black women that are oppressed and marginalized by a patriarchal and racist society and how they resist such a status quo to achieve self awareness and empowerment. Sula finds her strength not in her community, but rather in her rebellion against the society that governs her role as a Black woman. She chooses not to conform to the traditional roles as mother and wife. In her novel, Morrison portrays the image of a changing role of Black women in the twentieth century while facing the struggle of being accepted as independent with a powerful status quo of
By using Nel as example, she emphasizes on friendships as a much important element in life by presenting the love of the sisterhood between Sula and Nel that still prevail even after the death of Sula. This bond between the two women empowers women’s relationship as more important than the institution of marriage because after Sula’s death, Nel realizes she has missed the love of a sister not her husband who abandoned her. In other words, Morrison rejects the stereotype of tramp and good wife because it empowers the role of men as dominant and as if necessary in a woman life to be submissive. Morrison describes a feminine woman as one who embraces and loves the fact that she is a woman despite her differences compare to other