Exploratory research Paper
Alaa Khalifa
ENGL 10200
Rhetorical Analysis
Jwendlen Nivens
Shrill
Shrill, can be defined as a very loud noise. So how did the word shrill define a woman in society? It showed that a women should only be seen and not heard for everyone time they open their mouth, a horrid noise is emitted, and it should stay hidden. Throughout the existence of humankind, women were looked at as an inferior species. Most of what a man can do, a women cannot, like work for example, or lose her virginity before marriage, or just be anything but a sweet view. The control over women had been both physical and verbal, they can’t wear this or that, they can’t do this or that, and they can’t say this or that.Jennifer Tamayo, known for her poems that look like they don’t make any sense, but they always have a hidden meaning behind it. Most of Tamayo’s poems talk about being an immigrant and being a woman. A poem that is quite easy to comprehend is “Please, hurt”. Tamayo uses repetition constantly in this poem. We see that when Tamayo starts most of the sentences with “we can’t masturbate” with a different continuation for each sentence. The reason for this repetition is to strictly deliver the idea that women are not able to masturbate, it doesn’t matter the rest of the sentence, but what matters is that women can’t masturbate at all. Tamayo also uses repetition at the end of the poem by stating “The women have sewn their lips shut”. Tamayo says this sentence six times before she ends the poem with “and their children’s lips”. The ending of this poem repeats the idea of the women shutting themselves up, being quiet, not being able to fight back to the abuse, but they also shut their children up to not say anything as driving a truck is more masculine. Another lyric that highlights this song is “God knows the only mistake a man can make, is try to make a women change and trade her violets for roses”. No women want a man that continues to want her to change herself to fit an image that he finds suitable. Because of his actions, he got an im powering women writing a song about it and a failed relationship, because no relationship will work with a controlling person.When will women be able to do anything, they desire as men do? When will they be able to masturbate and much as they want or to what they want, as men can? When would women be able own their desired vehicle and not only like things that are lady like? We might have advanced with women rights and equality throughout the years, but still there is a long way to go. Even the simplest things, they are not allowed to have. So, the question is, When?During our society, many songs about impowering women and feminism have come out. From very famous celebrities to just indie artists. One celebrity that had talked about gender norms is Lana Del Rey. In her song “Violets for Roses” she tells us about the toxicity of her ex-lover and how he had tried to control her, to change her personality. In the chorus she sings “You made me trade my violets for roses. You tried to trade in my new truck for horses. Don’t forget all of these things that you love are the same things I hate. A simple life, I chose this” What LanaDel Rey is saying is that her previous partner made her change her favorite type of flowers to a typical flower that women would love. Another lyric that highlights this song is “God knows the onlymistake a man can make, is try to make a women change and trade her violets for roses”. No women want a man that continues to want her to change herself to fit an image that he finds suitable. Because of his actions, he got an impowering women writing a song about it and a failed relationship, because no relationship will work with a controlling person.When will women be able to do anything, they desire as men do? When will they be able to masturbate and much as they want or to what they want, as men can? When would women be able own their desired vehicle and not only like things that are lady like? We might have advanced with women rights and equality throughout the years, but still there is a long way to go. Even the simplest things, they are not allowed to have. So, the question is, When?
