Cross-dressing and Gender Performance

I think dressing as men definitely allowed these female characters certain liberties not generally afforded to women in early America. It gave them more freedom and power to do things.

I think there are still certain times when women in contemporary society must "put on" masculinity in order to achieve certain goals. For example, on job interviews or anywhere in the office a woman is looked down upon if she dresses in mini skirts and "showy" tops. Now I am not saying this should be worn around the office, but women are expected to dress more masculine in things like pants and blazers.

Also, in things like sports, women are not taken as seriously if they show up on a soccer field or baseball field in make up and looking cute. Women need to make themselves look more masculine (no make up, hair pulled back) to portray a competitive and strong competitor. Otherwise people will just laugh and not take them seriously.

When trying to think of how men may be encouraged by society to "perform femininity" the only thing I could think of is in romance movies how men need to show more emotion and cry. The men need to show their "female" side in these movies and show their vulnerability.

Parents, teach your children well...

Unfortunately despite her parents best efforts, Charlotte Temple still fell prey to seduction. Her parents were kind and concerned with their daughter's well being, but she still was a victim of betrayal and abuse. It's scary to think that even when parents are loving and try to take care of their children, bad things can still happen.

As far as blaming someone, I think the obvious blame would be on Belcour and Miss La Rue. They both played a role in Charlotte's downfall. Miss La Rue, an adult authority and someone Charlotte thought she could trust, betrayed her and allowed her to get hurt. Belcour also was evil and helped Charlotte fall. It seems these outsiders played a huge role in her downfall.

When thinking of how parents can keep their children safe, I don't think there is a clear answer. Obviously teaching them right vs. wrong and protecting and loving them will help, but parents cannot control what outside forces do. My parents definitely raised me in a loving home and taught me to behave like a lady. They warned me of "bad" guys and kept a very close eye on me. They always met my boyfriends and had to approve.

However, I have friends that have had parents like mine and end up getting into trouble. Girls get pregnant who come from good and loving homes. The only answer would be to lock their child up and never let them out, but that's just ridiculous. A parent can protect their child by teaching them good morals and behavior, but in the end it is up to the child.

I think things haven't changed too much because girls from good households with good parents still fall prey to seduction. There is only so much a parents can do, and then the decision lies on the child.

Willpower plays a big role in resisting temptation, but it is hard to do the right thing when someone you trust tells you it's okay. Like Miss La Rue, when someone older and that you trust convinces you and helps you fall, what are you supposed to think? That's pretty scary.

Another Cause of Female Depravity?

Since we weren't sure if the author of "Novel Reading: A Cause of Female Depravity" was male or female, I am going to try and answer for both.

If the author of "Novel Reading: A Cause of Female Depravity" was a male and was writing today I think he would focus on how women read novels and watch romantic movies and get the idea that their man should behave like the romantic men they see in them. I think the author would talk about how this gives women a false understanding of love and makes the man suffer and unable to achieve this high expectation. He would blame these romantic movies and novels and say that they corrupt the women. He would also focus on the definition of love is altered by reading or watching these things.

On the other hand, if it was a female author (and this might be a bit of a stretch) I think she would focus on magazines and how women get a corrupt idea of what beauty is. I think the author would focus on how magazines show these tall, skinny, gorgeous models and women are going to extremes to achieve this perfection with drastic things like plastic surgery or diets. She would say these magazines are corrupting women and before they mass produced these ideas the women were content with themselves. She would talk about how reading these magazines is dangerous for women and will ruin them. However, if a guy was talking about this idea he might think it's good because the women will try and look perfect.

I think the main subject matter would be the same, but more contemporary examples. I think the authors would still focus on how these novels or movies are corrupting women and giving them a false idea of love.

The subject would still be love, but I think a author writing today would relate it to movies and a female may even expand love by talking about loving yourself and how pictures in magazines can corrupt women and make them not love themselves for who they are.

Retrospective Readings

Well first off, I have really enjoyed reading these early American magazine texts dealing with seduction and fallen women. I thought they were entertaining and interesting to learn about.

I found it sad how these texts show the women easily seduced and completely fall apart after they give in to the evil male seducers. I like to think women are stronger than that and can tell if a guy is telling the truth or not. However, I know I have definitely been fooled by guys, like getting cheated on, so I see how easy it is to fall prey to things like this. I think these guys who were good looking and kind really put on good acts and still today they are able to do the same. I know that I usually trust people pretty easily, so I probably would fall for things like this.

I also found the continued double standard upsetting because that is definitely an issue that still arises today. The texts like "On Seduction" by Dacinthus talks about how women cannot control their passions and how men can do whatever they want but women are doomed if they mess up. I know that if I was reading this during that era I would be really mad. Then I look to society now and realize things like that are still true.

Also, a lot of these texts talk about how important reputation is and women should never falter from this perfect reputation. I know today that is still true and girls definitely want to maintain a good reputation. In the text by Eliza. it talks about how it doesn't matter if you really lose your virtue because if people think you do then you are screwed anyway. I think this is true because people gossip and talk bad about girls who are rumored to be a "slut" even if they really are or aren't. The fact that people think you are is still just as bad.

I don't think any of these texts really speak to me in a direct way, but with our exercise in class the other day I can see contemporary examples of "The Gossip" No LIV. I obviously see the comparison to girls like Jamie Lynn Spears or any other child that grows up in a Hollywood lifestyle and sees vulgar and adult things way before they should. Likewise it also works with pageant girls and any child who grows up around a lot of adults without many rules. These type of things can lead to girls making bad decisions because they were forced to grow up to fast.

When I read the strange grouping of texts last time at first I definitely found contemporary examples of "The Gossip" like I listed above. I found "Innocence Betrayed" really strange because the girl actually tears off her own flesh! Which is disgusting. This is definitely an example of exaggeration.  Also, the other "Gossip" still talks about double standards and "The Passenger"raises the point of how when you get married you are in a contract and have certain duties but no laws punish people who don't follow them. These texts were very interesting and all very different.

What's Love Got To Do With It?

I think people are getting more interested in romance and starting to question the way society views it. Mainly the younger generation who are being forced into arranged marriages. So, I think the emergence of a social narrative detailing romantic love is due to the fact that people are branching out and expanding their views. 

Also, romantic love is a new exciting thing to write about and I think people are entertained by it. I think the emergence of romantic love helps to appeal to the emotions of people reading the texts. They are more relatable and make you feel bad for the victims. The texts focus more on appealing to people's emotions and touching their hearts.

I think a dependence on romantic love could definitely be seen as a rejection of the patriarchal structure. For example, in a patriarchal society the man is the leader of the house and in control. If marriage was based on love, then the sons and daughters would have control over their parents and that could be seen as dangerous to the patriarchal society. Parents don't want their kids to be able to decide who they want to marry, they would rather have control and decide for them.

I don't think arranged marriages is the answer because the male seducers could just put on an act and seem innocent for the parents, but after marriage could turn or after seducing the woman could still leave. These men were so good at "putting on a show" that the women believed them and fell for their tricks. I think the parents are capable of doing the same thing. Therefore, arranged marriages would be just as bad.

Depictions of a Rake

I think there are many examples of rake in contemporary American texts and we have already talked about a lot of them. I was trying to think of something different than the good examples of ones like John Tucker Must Die and Cruel Intentions, and then a TV show came to mind.

I really enjoy watching the show Nip Tuck. For those who haven't seen it, it can be a little intense and provocative. However, I think it is a good example of rake. For example, Christian Troy, one of the main male plastic surgeons, is a good looking guy, very wealthy, and hooks up with numerous women. He lacks no restraint and basically has no morals. Many of the girls he hooks up with, like Kimber, end up feeling hurt and lonely because all Christian wanted was easy sex. Christian goes out to bars looking for girls to take advantage of. He is even referred to as "the playboy".

Christian is similar to the seducers depicted in the late eighteenth-century magazine pieces because he lacks morality, has promiscuous habits, and lacks restraint. He is a typical "playboy" that is depicted in many contemporary movies like John Tucker and Ryan Phillipe.

I think based on many of the movies I have seen and Nip Tuck that the persona hasn't evolved so much. Christian acts like a gentlemen to woo the ladies, shows off his wealth, and doesn't care what the women he takes advantage of feel like.

Lessons for the Ladies

Throughout these texts I do notice a theme of female instruction. The author's are trying to tell women how to behave and how smart they should be.

In Alphonzo's "An ADDRESS to the LADIES" he instructs the women to not be too extreme either way in education and behavior. He expresses his idea for the "ideal" woman, but it isn't that simple. Having to strive to be perfect is not easy, and that is exactly what Alphonzo is proposing that women should do.

For example, he instructs women not to be too prude or too slutty. He says that when dating a woman should be careful because "prudery and coquetry are extremes equally to be shunned." This creates a problem though because what is considered too much and too little? There is so much pressure on women to figure it out and it is basically impossible.

He also emphasizes education, but instructs women to be careful about getting too smart. He says that becoming educated is a good thing for a job, but if you want a relationship then you must be careful. He explains that men are proud and want to feel smarter than women. He says it is a turn off for a woman to be too smart. He also discusses what a woman should read. He says women should only be reading good literature. Once again he is showing the extreme bad and good going on. These poor woman are being encouraged to be smart but not too smart, and flirty but not too slutty. 

Also, many of the texts talk about the females being the seducers and bringing things upon themselves. In "For the GENTLEMEN and LADIES", Mr. Orlander talks about the "alluring smiles of those seducers of thy female excellence." He talks about how women draw men in and bring it upon themselves.

In addition, in "COPY of a LETTER from Miss--- to Mr.---" "Eliza" talks about how a woman's reputation is their most valuable attribution. Now I don't think a woman really wrote this, but I think it is a good example of instructing women's behavior and showing the "ideal" woman. The text talks about how women should beware of ruining their reputation and watch every move they make. Unfortunately it isn't fair for women because the text says that is doesn't matter if you really lose your virtue because if people think you do then you are in just as much trouble.

I think throughout these texts it is unfortunate for women because there is such a double standard and the "ideal" woman is impossible to achieve. Women are encouraged to be educated, but not too educated. As far as behavior you are damned if you do and damned if you don't.