Arraignment of Men

By King Meera -
Context: Struggles of women w.r.t. exploitation

 From birth, we are never considered our own independent entity, but instead as something to be taken care of, protected, sheltered, and then passed on. In the domestic sphere, women are treated as household articles, and the dependent-provider relationship is ingrained in the female psyche. In rural India, women have internalized the idea that they are less powerful or even inferior so they don't even fight it.
In the workplace, sexist stereotypes are very visible - there is a skewed idea of the female species as weak, fragile, aesthetic, servile - etc.

 Arraignment of Men - the text

Simpler translation- David Fyre
Arraignment- court trail

Sor Juana- illegitimate child of rich captain; abandoned; taken care of by the Church; saw plight of women who must yield.
  • has rhyme scheme but not rhythmic
  • perverse - immoral
  • schooled to condemn- taught to look down on women.
  • witless laws- laws made by man.
  • stupid because biased, always in favor of men
  • however also imposes "masculine" identity on men
  • forsooth- for sure
  • blame is yours- you got her pregnant.
  • unexampled- once in a blue moon of your show her love why wouldn't she be wary, will your sweet words ease her pain?
  • don't like when they say no.
  • but then you say it was in the spur of the moment and don't allow her to scorn you. man is the one who did the damage.
  • will be blamed for ill behavior, but even if she loves you, you leave.
  • if she says no she's a prude (challenge).
  • if she says yes she's 'loose' (charm disappears).
  • heavier- baby and character.
  • image of woman polarized - either an evil temptress or a pure, virgin angel

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