Gender Equality: Is It an Act of Feminism?
             Funk and Wagnall's Dictionary defines feminism as "The doctrine, which declares the equality of the sexes and advocates equal social, political, and economic rights for women". In my opinion most women in today's society would consider themselves feminist based on the definition that Funk and Wagnall provide. Feminism has paved the way for women in our current society; it has created gender equality and has changed society's perception of the role of women. A pioneer of feminism would be Kate Chopin. She lived from 1851 to 1904 when many women were oppressed by society. She wrote of women who want to break free from these confines for example, "The story of an Hour".
             Grief consumes Mrs. Mallard when her beloved sister utters the news of her husband's death. It feels as though her life is crashing at her feet. The world as she knows it crumbles around her for a brief moment. Not knowing what to do or what to say Mrs. Mallard retreats to the isolation of her room to gather her broken thoughts. "There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy chair. Into it she sank, pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her"(paragraph 4). Then there was a change in her "The delicious breath of rain was in the air....The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her faintly"(paragraph 5), it was like a warmth consumes her and gives her a feeling that has never felt before she is left wondering why she has never felt this way before. There are a million thoughts racing through her head. There are so many possibilities for a young woman; she could be her own person for once in her life. Should she dare to dream her own dreams? Is it possible for her to go on with out the support of her husband that she has had for so long? The thought of independence seems to be a thrilling thou...