Society’s Gender Expectations Presented In ‘The Lady’s Dressing Room’

The concept binary of woman and man was the basis for the gender dynamic that emerged in British literature after the Restoration. Literature of this era focuses on society’s expectations regarding gender performance. Gender roles that once existed may need to be reexamined and critically viewed. There is a lot to be contemptuously expressed about the possibility of gender roles changing. Although male writers in the Restoration and early eighteenth-century Britain did not portray gender dynamics in an unconventional way, it is important that we recognize when this depiction is exclusive of women. Jonathan Swift displays a bizarre example of this exclusion within “The Lady’s Dressing Room”. This piece is a challenge to our understanding of gender roles and the British 18th-century understanding of them. However, it criticizes women.

Swift’s poem “The Lady’s Dressing Room”, satires a misleading object. Swift portrays a young woman who walks through the room to find her dressing gown. Strephon, a young man, is shown as very dimwitted. Strephon is mocked for not understanding women’s human nature. He also has a host of disgusting bodily functions. This criticism of gender role could be executed well. It could help to expose the fact that men wrongly expect women to be as consuming and appealing to their male gazes, even though they are human. Swift mocks Strephon with a subtle form of violence toward women beings. Strephon’s inadequacy about women as human beings is the basis of the satire. But, it is not that women can be considered human beings. Swift depicts women’s bodily functions graphically, which is why this satire is so effective. The graphic representation of women is meant to disgust Strephon and not criticize them. Strephon might be criticized for believing that women must always look perfectly groomed, but it is also offensive to see women as disgusting. Swift’s poem makes it clear that women can be disgusting. Swift’s poem begins with Swift writing: “Five hours (and anyone can do it more in? Swift 1-2: “By haughty Celia who spent her time in dressing.” Swift is mocking women who spend so much time getting ready. Five hours is too long and deserves to be considered. This is precisely why a simple jab is not enough. The question “and can you do it more in?” does not criticize the oppression women are subject to and the pressure they have to conform to their expectations of beauty. Instead, it criticizes Celia as a “haughty” individual and makes it condescending. Swift’s condescending sentiment comes back at the end. Swift 237-244: Swift’s condescending sentiment is repeated at the end of the poem. Swift uses humor to create an expectation that the reader will affirm women. Swift 238, “To all the charms and feminine kind” creates this expectation. He then confirms his expectation that women are disgusting. Strephon is therefore referring to the “charms” that are female types. He finds them revolting while he searches the dressing rooms. Although it may appear to be harmless and insignificant humor, this is actually humor at the cost of society’s expectations of women’s gender performance. Swift pretends that he is truly appreciating women, but in fact he simplifies them to “stinking liquid”. Swift ends his poem with the line, “Such Order from Confusing sprung/ Such gaudy Tulips raised from Dunk” (Swift 251-252). Swift ends the poem with this inexcusable “forgiving”. These lines are problematic for women, but not the society’s expectation that women should be problematic. Swift simply states that Swift loves women despite the fact they are disgusting. This further cements his belief in women being intrinsically disgusting. Men wouldn’t be called “raised form dung” for the simple reason of being there. Swift’s analogy is more suitable for men, as men don’t try to counter this natural state. These nuances may seem redundant, yet they are critical because men, on the other hand, are disgusting without regard and without expectation of being forgiven.

Many of the attacks on women in “The Women’s Zone” are directed at them.

Swift’s humor and satire conceal the “Lady’s Dressing Room”. Swift’s poetic sentiment is not enough to challenge the binary thinking that underlies gendered conversations. Swift makes women “other” by furthering this binary thinking. Swift’s poem portrays women as beings “sprung form confusion” or “raised in dung”. This is a humorous context that encourages women to expect the opposite. Swift’s satire and this humor are not based on Swift’s actual view of women as equals with the same gross bodily functions. Instead, Swift would be writing a poem about a woman in her room. Swift does not consider women to be human, but he describes them as flawed humans. He is able to forgive men who are able to see past their disgusting nature. Swift does not counter the expectation that women are beautiful, even though they are human.

Author

  • rosssaunders

    Ross Saunders is an educational blogger and professor, who has written extensively on topics such as education reform, online learning, and assessment. He has also spoken on the topic at various conferences and universities.

rosssaunders Written by:

Ross Saunders is an educational blogger and professor, who has written extensively on topics such as education reform, online learning, and assessment. He has also spoken on the topic at various conferences and universities.

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