Reevaluating teaching lessons and Gender Roles

After reading the first two acts of A Doll’s House, I believe Dr. Guttman should continue teaching this play. Although it was written many years ago, many women today still find themselves in traditional gender roles similar to those depicted in the play. While many women now work and no longer solely rely on a man’s income, household responsibilities often remain disproportionately on their shoulders. At the end of the day, a man might come home from work, relax on the couch, and watch TV, while the mother or wife cooks for the family, cleans up, washes the dishes, and puts the children to bed effectively ending her day only when the kids’ bedtime arrives. Dr. Guttman’s decision to continue teaching this play is reasonable because it raises awareness about the persistence of gender roles in modern society. In "Women Are Still Stuck in a Doll’s House", Pamela Paul states, “In other words, women sometimes adopt gender stereotypes, consciously or unconsciously, to their advantage” (Paul 2). This suggests that some women may fall into traditional roles without even realizing it. Unfortunately, these dynamics still exist, often without clear boundaries in relationships. This theme is evident in Act 3 when Nora asserts her independence by saying, “Go away, Torvald! Leave me alone. I don’t want all this.” Disregarding her wishes, Torvald responds, “What do you mean? Nora, you're teasing me. You will, won't you? Aren't I your husband?” (Ibsen 139). This exchange highlights the lack of respect for personal boundaries in their marriage an issue that remains relevant today. Dr. Guttman’s decision to include A Doll’s House in her curriculum is important because it allows students to recognize these ongoing societal issues. While progress has been made in terms of women’s rights, discussions in class have revealed that gender biases still exist. For example, some students shared experiences of female family members being undermined by men in certain situations, such as at car dealerships. This demonstrates that A Doll’s House continues to be a powerful and necessary text for understanding gender roles, making it a valuable addition to Dr. Guttman’s class.