Rights of women have come a long way for more than century; nonetheless, it is no secret that women are still vulnerable to gender discrimination in society. Known fact that women are at par in terms of intelligence to men but women are still shockingly paid less than men, and are usually victims of physical and mental pain from abusive men. Margaret Atwood, a noted feminist author who often writes about the oppression of women in society. A strange poem called “This is a Photograph of Me,” written by Atwood uses several references of nature based in a photograph to represent the dominance of men over women in our oppressive society. She perceives society as a whole to see through the stereotypes placed on women and observe the true importance and significance women have in history and our present lives.
Usually, women are physically smaller than men, and they are often viewed as the weaker gender. Also, the home is commonly observed as a woman’s place in society instead of solving problems in the workforce. Protruding tree branches symbolizes the many problems or challenges behind the unequal treatment of women. There is one main problem with society’s negative perspectives on women and many other difficulties emerging from the main problem. The woman in the poem is secluded below the water of the lake; her ghost and voice are veiled by the lake’s water: The effects of water and on the light is a ripple. The water represents society’s male dominance that is distorting the true voice of women represented as the light bouncing off the water. Atwood urges us to look past the distortions of prejudice and look past the true image and profound significance of women in our society.
The powerful connection of water to the female consciousness is manifested through the gifted ability of women to nurture and produce life within the fluid of their uterus or womb. Feminine influence is ready to be born into a planet of gender equality.
We need also to take into consideration the significance of females in society with regards to accessing civil liberties and their right to live which aim to protect them from oppression and violence.
