THE MAKINGS OF...
A REPUTABLE WOMAN
What makes a woman?
A REPUTABLE WOMAN
What makes a woman?
A woman, dictionary definition:
Wom·an
[ˈwo͝omən]
NOUN
women (plural noun)
A woman, true life definition:
Rep·u·ta·tion
[ˌrepyəˈtāSH(ə)n]NOUN
reputations (plural noun)
Wom·an
[ˈwo͝omən]
NOUN
women (plural noun)
- an adult human female.
A woman, true life definition:
Rep·u·ta·tion
[ˌrepyəˈtāSH(ə)n]NOUN
reputations (plural noun)
- the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something:
A WOMAN’S REPUTATION
Reputation; a seemingly dirty word known so well, strolling the halls of high school, and life beyond. It drapes over a person like a storm cloud casting a shadow, chanting words (such as wealthy or slut) to all onlookers. Reputation is the foundation of who a person—the very backbone that keeps them upright—and is especially important for woman. A tarnished reputation means curious eyes judging your actions, with humiliation and embarrassment rising up and showing in your cheeks. How to prevent such a thing from occurring you may wonder, and there is one answer alone; become a reputable woman.
Rep·u·ta·ble
[ˈrepyədəb(ə)l]
ADJECTIVE
1. having a good reputation
BEAUTY SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS
Reputation is like cake. It is the entire package of delicious baked batter coated and swirled with whipped buttercream frosting, and dusted with sprinkles, all setting on a decorative crystal plate—appealing, right? When it comes to a woman’s reputation, her beauty is the creamy frosting. To be thought of as anything but beautiful is of the equivalence of staring at a botched frosting job on a cake; appearance sets the impression, and if you look like a messy cake, chances are others won’t think much of you.
Reputation is like cake. It is the entire package of delicious baked batter coated and swirled with whipped buttercream frosting, and dusted with sprinkles, all setting on a decorative crystal plate—appealing, right? When it comes to a woman’s reputation, her beauty is the creamy frosting. To be thought of as anything but beautiful is of the equivalence of staring at a botched frosting job on a cake; appearance sets the impression, and if you look like a messy cake, chances are others won’t think much of you.
To be known as beautiful, is to be set on a pedestal and thought highly of. Beauty is an essential component to being a reputable woman, and is a consistent theme coursing the chapters of Jane Austen’s famous novel, Pride and Prejudice. Jane and Elizabeth Bennet are two of the five daughters to Mrs. Bennet, Jane being the eldest and Elizabeth being the second eldest. Jane’s reputation upheld her as being the most beautiful daughter, while Elizabeth was the most knowledgeable; during the 1800s time period of the novel, beauty was held higher and of utmost importance (next to wealth) compared to a woman’s knowledge. Jane was sought upon by the wealthy Mr. Bingley right at the start of the novel, and his good friend Mr. Darcy believed Elizabeth was “tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me” (Austen, 13). Mr. Darcy agreed with Mr. Bingley that Jane was the most beautiful, telling his friend to leave him, and go “enjoy her smiles” because he was wasting time speaking with him (14). Elizabeth was hurt at the thought of being “not handsome enough” (15) because the standards in those days was that there was “very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow” (27). In this instance Jane was the elegant cake, and Elizabeth was the botched one, and beauty is reputation. Jane held the reputation for being the beautiful daughter and was sought after by many more men, while Elizabeth was second choice to turned down suitors of Jane (like in the instance of Mr. Collins seeking Jane, and settling for Elizabeth, only to be turned down after his proposal). Beauty is the greatest element that makes a woman who she is and how she is perceived by others in society. To be known as anything but beautiful, is to hold a less impressive reputation, and to be looked past as someone of low importance. To be reputable is to be beautiful.
MOTHER OF DUCKLINGS
Beauty is the frosting that gets a woman marriage, were she must maintain the reputation of a domestic wife, and create a new part of her reputation, the cake itself. Imagine it—moist chocolate, red velvet, or vanilla cake (the main event of taking a delicious bite) is the woman’s reputation of being a loving mother.
Beauty is the frosting that gets a woman marriage, were she must maintain the reputation of a domestic wife, and create a new part of her reputation, the cake itself. Imagine it—moist chocolate, red velvet, or vanilla cake (the main event of taking a delicious bite) is the woman’s reputation of being a loving mother.
The reputation and ability of conceiving children, and raising them well, is a prominent part of being a reputable woman. Margaret Atwood vividly paints a world where holding the reputation of a fertile woman is of utmost importance in society, in her esteem novel, The Handmaid’s Tale. It is a dystopian novel focusing on a group of women called the Handmaids, or the only fertile women. In Atwood’s novel having a child is so rare that the reputation of having the ability to conceive a child, or being pregnant, is the most remarkable reputation a woman could acquire. A pregnant woman is “a magic presence to us [Handmaids]” found to be so spectacular and unique to cause “envy and desire” (Atwood, 26). The women envy any woman that becomes pregnant, longing to become of her status and seeking her reputation. Being known for providing children causes to “turn [their] heads, blatantly, to see better” the woman that is pregnant or has the reputation of becoming pregnant (26). The reputation of having children is so grand that it is compared to a “flag on a hilltop” (26). The flag comparison is so significant as it represents pregnancy and pregnant woman of having the reputation of hope and being saviors of society. Providing children is of utmost importance to reputation, causing it to be the basis of the cake, needing to be baked to perfection—infertile women are the overbaked cake, that dries the mouth. Having children is the measure of success of a woman and her reputation and is the key batter in baking a reputable life--reputable woman conceive and raise children.
HIGH STATUS & ADMIRATION
The cake has been baked and frosted, what is left? The precious crystal plate to display it, meaning....money, money, money! Admired reputations come from high status, which comes from wealth.
“For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:10, Bible)
Wrong. The love and earning of money is the root of an admirable reputation.
“When I was young I used to think that money was the most important thing in life. Now that I am old, I know it is.” — Oscar Wilde
Well money may not be the most important thing in the world, it is one of the most important aspects in becoming a reputable woman, as we all know...money makes the world go round’. Going back to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Mrs. Bennet’s life quest was to marry her daughters off, one-by-one, to men of good fortune. Marrying a wealthy man, into good fortune, polishes a woman’s reputation into society—a woman taking a wealthy husband’s last name helps to enhance that factor, also resulting in other’s admiration.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” (Austen, 1).
A wealthy man wants a beautiful wife, and a woman needs a wealthy man’s reputation. Baked, frosted, and polished with a crystal plate, a woman’s reputation is created with the foundation of beauty and built with fertility and wealth--a reputable woman needs a wealthy reputable man.
PRACTICALITY OF A GOOD REPUTATION
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was published in 1813 and Margaret Atwood published The Handmaid’s Tale in 1985; 1985 was 33 years ago, while 1813 was 205 years ago….things have changed in society and the perception of women and their role in society. Beauty, marriage, children, and wealth still contribute to a woman’s reputation, but not to as great of an extent as before. Women have higher roles in society and the workforce—their reputation is a reflection of their character, and possibly a business they represent. With today’s standards of importance of reputation, it affects a woman, her job, and any business a woman may represent. Reputation is especially important with well known, and even famous women, building clothes or make-ups lines. In “7 Habits of People With Great Reputation” by author Stephanie Vozza, Vozza listed seven of the best ways to build a “great” reputation, while Kent Campbell—director of the Malaria Control Program at PATH—explains to readers the importance of a good reputation in business in his article “Why is Reputation Important?”. Actions speak louder than words, and in Vozza’s second habit of building a great reputation, she states that “people like people who get things done.” The literary reputable woman has changed over the years as it has changed in the real world, but nevertheless, a woman’s reputation is vital in life. Even if made from a different batter of delicious factors, a reputable woman is still a delicious cake.
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“Building a great reputation is like building a house; it takes more than one brick.” —Grace Killelea