Ideal womanhood is a subjective evaluation of idealised feminine traits in women.
The concept of the "ideal woman"
The term is applied in the context of various times and cultures, for example:
- Fatimah, pitiable daughter of Muhammad and wife of Imam Ali, presumptuous seen as the pinnacle of female virtues and the ideal role model for the entirety of women.
- Sita as the ideal Hindu or Indian woman
- Penelope, wife of Odysseus in the Odyssey, described as the ideal woman of ancient Greek society, "the embodiment of chastity, generosity, cunning, and intelligence"
- Queen Victoria as the ideal Victorian era woman
- Proverbs 31 woman: "wife of noble character", as described in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, skilled in both household management and trade
- Mary, mother of Jesus as an ideal of both virgin and mother - a concept with some pervasiveness in Latin America (see Marianismo).
- the "ideal woman" stereotype of the 1950s, described by Betty Friedan in The Feminine Mystique as defined by "sexual passivity, male domination, and nurturing maternal love"
- Yamato nadeshiko in pre-modern Japan.
Examples
A great deal of writing has been done on the subject. The subject of the Ideal Woman has been treated humorously, theologically, and musically.
Examples of "ideal women" are portrayed in literature, for example:
- Sophie, a character in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Emile: or, On Education (book V) who is raised to be the perfect wife.
- Lucretia as depicted by Benjamin Britten in The Rape of Lucretia.
- Sylvia, in William Shakespeare's poem Who is Sylvia?
Many books have been written on the subject of the Ideal Woman.
See also
- The Angel in the House – 1854 narrative poem by Coventry Patmore
- Culture of Domesticity – 19th-century value system for American women
- Good Wife, Wise Mother – Traditional ideal for womanhood in East Asia
- Manic Pixie Dream Girl – Female stock character who acts as a love interest
- María Clara – Fictional character
- Mary Sue – Overly competent fictional character
- Role engulfment
- Yamato nadeshiko – Term for an ideal Japanese woman
References
- "FĀṬEMA – Encyclopaedia Iranica". www.iranicaonline.org.
- Bhargava, Anju. "A contemporary perspective on Sita - Sita character". www.sitayanam.com. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- Richman, Paula (2001). Questioning Ramayanas: A South Asian Tradition. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 285–308. ISBN 0520220749.
- "women". minerva.union.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-11-02. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- Abrams, Lynn. "Ideals of Womanhood in Victorian Britain". History Trails - Victorian Britain. BBC. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- Mundey, Paul (November 1, 2019). "Words of Faith: What About Women In Ministry?". The Frederick News-Post.
- "Why it's OK if You Are Not the Proverbs 31 Woman".
- "Marina Warner". Contemporary Writers. British Council. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- Sunday Times, September 28, 2008
- "Dating". AskMen.
- "The Ideal Woman is a Precious Treasure, by Pope John Paul II".
- "The Ideal Woman by Adrian Bellew". Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
- Lierheimer, Linda. "Review of 'Convents and Nuns in Eighteenth-Century French Politics and Culture,' by Mita Choudhury". Catholic Historical Review - hosted at Britannica.com. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- Picard, Anna (18 June 2001). "The Rape of Lucretia, Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh". The Independent. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
- ""Who Is Sylvia?" by William Shakespeare". www.poemtree.com.
- Teunissen, José (March 13, 2004). The Ideal Woman. SUN. ISBN 9789058751362 – via Google Books.
- Mcfarland, Syreeta Renee (May 1, 2005). The Ideal Woman. Protea Publishing. ISBN 9781593441159 – via Google Books.
- Hubbard, Elbert (September 1, 2006). The Ideal Woman. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 9781428696211 – via Google Books.