I am an IB Language and Literature student.

In this individual oral, I will be exploring the

global issue culture, identity, and community, but focus more specifically on gender
inequality. To do this I’ll be looking at two different texts which examine this concept. The
first text, the short story ‘Selvi’ by R.K Narayan is set in the fictional town of Malgudi, located
in South India. This story highlights the dominance of patriarchy within the society. Mohan
plays the role of an impresario of selvi, but he deprives her of freedom. The second text is a
cartoon by Ann Telnaes, an American editorial cartoonist. The cartoon titled “And what's a
nice, little girl like you going to be when she grows up?” which is a comic strip produced in
1999. Women have always been viewed as the inferior gender in all aspects of life. As a
result, women were being suppressed within the society. In this oral, I’ll be exploring the
question on how the traditional idea of patriarchy has changed in favor of gender equality.
(1min04)

Starting specifically with my extract, the cartoon by ann Telnaes delves into the pressures
faced by women’s situation of being suppressed in the society and illustrates how women's
roles are changing. This cartoon shows an arrogant man with a puffed-up chest in a business
suit speaking to a little girl holding a teddy bear. The man is represented as male dominance
and confidence, which often associated with traditional gender roles. The little girl, on the
other hand reflects the weakness and societal expectations imposed on women. The way
that Telnaes depicts a young child gives a lighthearted tone to a topic that is still very
sensitive to ambitious women today. This significant contrast emphasizes the inequalities
reflected in gender norms and highlights the difficulties women encounter from an early age.
The difference in height highlights the power imbalance in society and represents how men
are frequently viewed as physically dominant and authoritative. However, the little girl's
smaller size underscores the limitations placed on women by society. The reader is reminded
by Telnaes of the broader issue of gender inequality and unequal distribution of power. The
short respond “Your boss” strongly expressing the desire of women to be a boss which
challenges traditional gender roles, signaling a changing in the patriarchy society where men
typically hold positions of authority. This response highlights Telnaes’ aspirations of women
to break free from stereotypical roles. It represents a shift towards gender equality and a
more inclusive society. However, the man’s deflated posture around his waist implies a
discomfort and resistance to the little girl’s desire to be his boss. Telnaes highlights the
complexities of addressing gender inequality in societal attitudes as the man may feel
threatened about the idea of a women authority figure. (2min05)

Moving on to Telnaes’ body of work, we can see how Telneas reinforce women’s value and
comment wryly on women’s situation in the workplace, at home and in relationship. The first
cartoon I’m going to show is the piece “Fairy tales on cable: Snow White and sex in the city”.
It is shown that the story of snow white turned upside down which snow white no longer
cooking and cleaning for the seven dwarfs. Telneas uses an intertextuality with the hip show
“sex in city” which young female stars assert that they have as much right to being cared for
and pleased as men do. Telnaes often uses the theme of fairy tales because “they are
inherently sexist”. It depicts Snow White no longer engaging in traditional domestic roles,
Telneas challenges the stereotype of women confined to household duties, which signifies a
broader change of social equality and highlights steps toward breaking down the idea of
patriarchy society. Also, in the piece “Fix your own power breakfast”, Telnaes illustrates the
persistence of gender stereotypes in the workplace. Women is burdened unfairly with
specific tasks or responsibilities, like making the morning coffee. Telnaes challenges these
stereotypes and points out the issue of power dynamic, where men have been more
authority and access more opportunities than women. Traditionally in a patriarchy society,
stereotype of women’s primary goal in life is to get married. In Telnaes’ drawing “First you
get an education, then you can marry your Prince Charming”, by emphasizing premarital
education, Telnaes challenges society's expectations of women's roles. It illustrates that a
woman can have a fulfilling life beyond marriage and that their desires and achievements are
valuable in themselves. Overall, throughout her body of work, Telneas portrays a positive
message of breaking down stereotypes of women traditional roles and the idea of patriarchy
society but also encourages a mind shift towards gender equality. (2min)

In contrast, in the short story ‘selvi’ illustrates the role of male dominance and
female suppression in society. I’ll begin by examining this through an extract which
describes the isolation of Selvi. Throughout the extract, Narayan creates a sympathy
tone and constructs the lack of voice within the protagonist selvi. The metaphorical
phrase “fortress” implies a situation of restriction, in the extract Mohan controls selvi
in all aspects of her life. The use of "gaoler" reflects Mohan who has power over her
life and keeps her under his control displaying the traditional view of the world as
patriarchy. Next, the words “invisible wall” and “solitary confinement” suggests a
form of oppression through isolation. Also, in line 18 Narayan describes selvi as
“never spoken to anyone without his presence”, reinforces traditional gender roles,
which selvi is confined to the private sphere and restrict her participation in broader
social circles. Narayan highlights the limitation of women's access to public spaces
and interactions. By treating Selvi like a subordinate instead of an equal partner,
Mohan perpetuated gender inequality in their relationship. Furthermore, the
expression “fate to spend her life” illustrates a lack of agency or control over her own
destiny. Narayan reflects social expectation that confine women to specific roles,
limiting their ability to shape their live independently of traditional norms. As an
extension of this idea, Narayan describes how Mohan controls and restricts selvi’s
visibility. This is seen when visitors encounter layers of intermediaries, such as
Mohan's secretary or the secretary's secretary. The extract notes that "select
personalities" predominantly men, receive ceremonious treatment. Therefore,
Narayan reflects the disparities in the treatment of individuals based on their gender.

Connecting this extract to the story, it is evident that this is not the only section
where Narayan demonstrates the male dominated society and over controlling
women of their life. Narayan employs make-up as symbols in his story. This is seen in
paragraph 2 as an example when Mohan discovered the correct skin cream which
imparted to selvi’s brow and cheeks a shade confounding classification. This item acts
as a cover of her true self and Narayan also highlights the suppression of women
which the make-up cover is imposed by the patriarchy society over women. Mohan
never respect selvi’s opinion and she doesn’t have a say over any major decisions in
her life which Mohan thought without his planning and guidance, she’d make a mess,
which none realizes. For this reason, Narayan describes Mohan as a controlling
husband as he treats selvi as an object which she was undemanding, uninquiring,
uncomplaining of everything. This reinforces his dominant within the society and the
suppression of women faced. However, Narayan ends the story with selvi left every
belonging at Mohan Lawley terrace and took decisions to stay at her mother’s house
for the rest of her life. The greatest horror of Mohan her money-minded husband,
she began to sing for free, charging nothing of the audience who gather around her
house to hear the melody of her voice illustrates that selvi escape from Mohan’s
control but also the patriarchy society, living for her own life. Therefore, in his story
Selvi, Narayan highlights the dominance of patriarchy and women being suppressed
in the society, on the other hand illustrating that women have power to fight for their
rights, also encourage breaking the idea of patriarchy society.

In conclusion, both Telnaes and Narayan present similar view on gender inequality.
Both of them believe that although male is still in dominance in the society, women
can step out to fight for their rights. This global issue of gender inequality is
significant as it snatched away the individual freedom of women. This is a current
and universal problem, some countries facing fewer negative effects and vice versa in
others. If every female can step out and fight for their rights perhaps will create a
more equality society.