Thesis Statement
This paper proposes to explore female characters and their contribution to modern feminism based on works by E. Pauline Johnson and Naomi Hirahara. The characters described by these authors highlight the aspiration to be respected, obtain equal opportunities with men, and express their opinions. Outlined in symbols, actions, and speech, Helen Miura and the daughters of Sagalie Tyee serve as immortal examples of strong women, thus providing some insights into the development of modern feminism from different perspectives.
The First Journal Article
The article by Goertz discusses the works of Pauline Johnson and her female heroines (1). This author is also known for her life history, for what she had to go through, and the prejudices she had to overcome in order to eventually come out victorious just as her characters do in her stories. The oeuvre of Johnson is involved in the literary life of at least three countries: Canada, England, and the United States (3). The literature of these countries would undoubtedly be different if it had not absorbed the amazingly lively and strong ideas offered by this author. In terms of the life performance of Johnson, it is possible to note that her creative destiny involved plenty of almost legendary issues (4). She was among the first writers on the threshold of the twentieth century, when’s women rights yet required some effort and time to be widely recognized. In “My Mother,” Johnson describes the interests that her mother shared with others, for example, nature—trees, rivers, and birds—as well as the Anglican church and the British flag; she also loved paintings and the elegance of porcelain (2). This reveals the fact that women of those times were interested in the environment with all its expressions and were able to react to it. As a way to illustrate this concept, the author initiated special readings, programs with a carefully laid-out design: In the first part of the program, she appeared on the stage in a deerskin dress with a necklace of bear teeth and a red cloak on her shoulders. In the second part of the program, she wore a glamorous evening dress.
The Second Journal Article
The article by Briskin investigates the current state of feminism in Canada, focusing on various women’s unions and activities (223). The article states that one of the advantages found in Canada is that Canadian women did not have to overcome the burden of centuries of undisguised oppression and marginalization. Canadian women began to form their expectations from the country’s beginnings, with the establishment of the state, and are still continuing. Briskin proposes a call to action and identifies a specific project that aims at “building a cross-union community of interest, reinvigorate cross-union conversation among union women” (224). Thus, society can and should recognize women’s attempts to fight against the existence of inequality and the inaccessibility of free choice when change is required. When it comes to improving the status of women in Canada, not only large-scale discussions but also actual results have been achieved over generations of time.
In the discussion that follows, the author clearly determines the participants, methods, and findings, stating that education and knowledge-sharing are essential along the way to ensuring women rights. It is argued that an Internet-based strategy is the most beneficial approach as it allows initiating online conferences that may involve many widely scattered women. It is also critical to point out the fact that women’s unions have proved to be an effective tool to unite and educate women and share knowledge, thus achieving the paramount goal of feminism: equal rights, opportunities, and freedoms. In all, the article presents a well-organized study of modern Canadian feminism.
Works Cited
Briskin, L. “Leadership, Feminism and Equality in Unions in Canada.” Labor Studies Journal, vol. 39, no. 3, Jan. 2014, pp. 223–233.
Goertz, Katherine. “The Mohawk Princess Recites and Writes: How Pauline Johnson Battled Negative Indian Stereotypes Through her Performances and Prose.” The Albatross, vol. 5, no. 1, 2015, pp. 1–9.