Read Aloud the Text Content

This audio was created by Woord's Text to Speech service by content creators from all around the world.

Text Content or SSML code:

How were women viewed in the 11th century compared to now? Depending on the country and time period, women were treated differently. Men and women have been stereotyped across cultures as a result of gender roles' influence on society. Gender roles are the behaviours, appearances, and attitudes that society expects and considers appropriate for an individual based on their gender. Men are recognised as being violent and assertive, while women are assumed to be submissive and innocent. William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is set during the 11th century in Scotland, the period where women were treated as objects who were under the control of their husbands and parents. Ambitious and powerful women were criticised as evil and disturbing. Shakespeare suggests changing gender expectations in Macbeth as a result, making the difference between feminine and masculine traits an important theme. In the play, both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth show characteristics of displaying gender stereotypes. Gender was defined as an individual's expression of masculine or feminine attributes and behaviours. Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as taking over male roles and displaying male traits. Lady Macbeth expresses her desire to become more masculine and lose her feminine traits when she says, “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top full of direst cruelty.” Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as being mentally ill and an outcast for being a man, implying that she is a masculine man living in a female body. We can also see Lady Macbeth manipulating Macbeth into murdering when she tells him, “When you durst do it, then you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man.” This illustrates the negative effects of women having power, implying that having ambition can make power dangerous and that giving women power is unnatural and dangerous. Shakespeare, on the other hand, presents Macbeth as taking on female roles and displaying female traits. He also contributes to gender stereotypes as a result of feeling more feminine and scared. This can be seen when Macbeth says, “I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on’t again I dare not.” He expresses immediate regret and reveals that his innocence has been taken away from Lady Macbeth. This demonstrates the connection between gender and power. Gender roles were very traditional and restrictive in the 11th century, and men and women were expected to behave in particular ways. On the other hand, gender roles today are becoming more diverse. People have become more accepting of different lifestyles and choices. Gender equality has come a long way in the past century, and it is important to respect everyone's right to make their own decisions regardless of gender. For example, Lady Macbeth was portrayed as ambitious and powerful in Macbeth, which was seen as a negative quality. She was also portrayed as ruthless and manipulative, which supported the idea that powerful women are dangerous. However, in today's society, both these submissive men and these ambitious women are regarded as appropriate, brave, and respected. They are often celebrated and encouraged because it is recognised that everyone should have equal opportunities to pursue their goals, regardless of their gender. Additionally, the leadership and contributions of women have been beneficial in a wide range of areas. For many years, women have fought for their rights and equality, and as a result, they now have more opportunities and are recognised in many areas of society. This has helped break down traditional gender roles and stereotypes, encouraging more women to make their voices heard. Greater gender equality and recognition have benefited men as well. This has encouraged men to pursue their goals and interests without worrying about being judged or experiencing discrimination, as well as helping to get rid of traditional gender roles and stereotypes for both men and women. As a result of increased gender equality and recognition, men have also been able to establish deeper, stronger relationships with women. This has helped to create a more inclusive and diverse society where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Do you believe that women need to show masculinity in order to succeed in academia? There are gender inequalities in academia across a number of areas, including publications, senior academic positions held by women, and more. Some people think that women in academia are less capable than men. Research, however, suggests this is incorrect and that women are able to demonstrate outstanding potential in academic fields. Sadly, gender roles are common in modern society. For example, only six of the 155 Supreme Court justices have been women. Sandra Day O'Connor was one of the first female justices to serve on the US Supreme Court, which makes her significant in history and an inspiration to many. She once said, “The more education a woman has, the wider the gap between men's and women's earnings for the same work.” This indicates discrimination and gender bias, which link to Lady Macbeth and how people expect her to act because she is a woman. Typically, men are given more opportunities or are given more credit than women. Although there are many reasons why women and men might not have equal opportunities, progress towards equality must be made nonetheless. We can help by supporting equality organisations and speaking out against discrimination. In conclusion, these two perspectives of gender roles in the 11th century compared to now play a very important role within the text as opposing perspectives of gender roles, as this results in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s behaviour. Gender roles continue to play a significant role in societies all over the world and are evolving as society changes. People hold gender roles in high regard for a variety of reasons; some think they result from biology or cultural traditions. Although it is encouraging to see how far we have come in terms of gender equality over the past centuries and that people are becoming more aware of the value of equality and diversity, there is still work to be done to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender, has an equal chance to succeed. It's necessary to acknowledge diversity and respect individual preferences. We should embrace our differences, give each other the freedom to be who we are, and keep working to build a more accepting and supportive society.