AWA: Academic Writing at Auckland

The concept of power can be considered in a number of ways. The most common are that either one may have the power to achieve something, or that some entity exercises power over another (Childers and Hentzi, 1995). ‘Relationships of power’ refers to the second definition, as ‘relationship’ implies that there is an interaction of power between two or more individuals, groups, or entities. The second definition of power also implies that the relationship is not equal, and are therefore called ‘asymmetric’ relations (Hanne, 1994). Relationships of power that are represented in texts studied for this course include; those between men and women; institutional power; power between ethnic groups; and power relating to the natural world. Usually these relationships are explored in two ways: the power of one over the other, or the ways in which attempts to exercise power are resisted. However, the power to resist oppression is not usually the same as oppressive power. It does not usually seek to become an oppressor. This power of resistance is referred to as ‘collective capacity’, and is the power that people have when they gather together to achieve something (Hanne, 1994).

The power relationships between men and women are necessarily represented in two ways: men have power over women, and women have power over men. Interestingly, both these views are more commonly based on the beliefs of men, though they may be observed by women. The strong history of patriarchal societies is based on the belief of men that they are superior to women, and the acceptance by women of this belief. However, there is also the acknowledgement by men of women’s power over them, particularly sexual power, resulting in fear and the binary stereotypes of women as virginal and angelic or whores who have fallen. These relationships of power are represented in a number of texts that have been studied in this course.

The belief that men are superior to women and therefore more powerful is one that is generally presented by male writers. The best example of this type of thinking in the texts studied for this course is the poem ‘Some Women’, which presents a particularly misogynist viewpoint. This belief is explored and challenged primarily, though not exclusively, by women writers. In ‘Ruth’s Song’, Gloria Steinem explores her mother’s lack of power as a woman in a patriarchal society, in which women are treated as second class citizens whose roles are mother and wife, nothing more. Not only does her father have power over his wife as the sole and inadequate provider, but the male doctors that treat her mother also exercise power over her health , and even her treatment is second class compared to how a man would be treated. In ‘Zahra Remembers’, the physical power of men over women is also explored. Not only are the men of the house treated preferentially to the women, but Zahra’s mother’s betrayal of her husband is punished severely with both mother and daughter being beaten.  Similarly, in ‘A Woman Alone’ the power that the woman’s husband has over her is so extensive that she feels she must go to extreme lengths to escape it, or perhaps it drives her mad. The lack of power of these women ultimately leads to their destruction, either through their own madness or the abuse of male power, or both as in the case of ‘A Woman Alone’. In a sense, this exploration through writing is a type of feminist critique, as it is a way of exposing the negative stereotypes of women (Childers and Hentzi, 1995). The type of power that men hold over women is oppressive and therefore asymmetric.

Men’s perception of women’s power also evident in a number of texts studied. ‘Earth the Mother of All’ presents a strongly positive picture of female power as giver of life.  This is in stark contrast to the misogynistic views presented in ‘Some Women’, although in this poem women are also viewed as having power, as a woman “knows all – nothing escapes her, evil and good”. However, in this poem this is viewed by the author as being negative rather than positive. ‘The Conjurer Made Off with the Dish’ also shows an aspect of women’s power over men by the way that the boy allows his feelings for the little girl to cloud his judgement. Similarly, the ‘Smallest Woman in the World’ has power over the explorer as her love for him leaves him disconcerted and uncomfortable, as he does not know how to respond to her femaleness. ‘Corners of Smoke’ is an example of how traditional power roles between men and women may be reversed. It is almost as if the mother has taken on the traditional male role of control and head of the family, while at the same time retaining her female power of perception and the story is a warning of the consequences of imbalance of male and female power within a family. A similar view of a wife’s power over her husband, but this time with a more positive outcome, is presented in ‘What Happens When You Really Listen’. In this case the wife’s nagging and control over her husband leads to her husband becoming a better man, and sends the message that he should have listened to her all along. ‘Some Women’ at the same time almost provides an example of the way men have traditionally resisted the power that women hold over them, that is by stigmatization and second class citizenship.

Political and institutional power is also represented in texts we have studied in a number of ways. ‘Ruth’s Song’, ‘Seven Floors’ both illustrate the institutional power of the medical profession over the health of individuals. The type of power that men hold in patriarchal societies is also institutionalised, as women have an acceptance of their lesser value to society, as in ‘Ruth’s Song’, when the mother accepts that her role is to stay at home and allow her husband to provide. Oppression falls under this category of power, and is demonstrated in the poem ‘Totul’, which explores the extent to which the Romanian government had the power to determine how the people of Romania lived, what they ate, what they had access to, and what they did not.

Ethnic groups are often oppressed and stigmatized in societies in the same ways that women are. This colonizing mentality that one race is superior to another is particularly evident in ‘Obu’s Classroom’ and ‘The Smallest Woman in the World’. In ‘Obu’s Classroom’, the power the teacher has over the pupils reflects the power the white colonizer has over the Nigerian children. Not only does the teacher consider himself to be morally superior, as he is Christian, he believes that this superiority is essential for anyone to succeed in life. ‘The Smallest Woman in the World’ examines this view from a slightly different angle, for although the explorer considers himself to be superior, in that he has the knowledge and ability to classify another human being, he finds this view challenged by his experiences with the small woman as he begins to relate to her almost as an equal. ‘The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven’ exemplifies how members of a stigmatized race may gain power of their own as a result of stigmatization. The narrator uses the stereotypes that have been placed upon him to exercise power over the shop assistant.  

The relationships of power between humans and nature represented in the texts studied are also of interest. Again, these can be viewed in two ways: the power that humans have to defy nature, and the power that nature has over man. Human respect for the power of natural forces is evident in a number of texts we have studied. ‘Sailing Weather’, for example, is a warning about the power of the ocean. ‘Mattina’ reflects the human awareness of the immensity of the universe. ‘In-Patient’ is a reflection on the natural process of death. However, there are also many different examples of the ways in which people relate to the awareness of this power. In his poem ‘Writes of what he feels travelling by night’, Tu Fu expresses a feeling of insignificance in comparison with the world. His life is only as important as that of a gull. ‘Snow’ evokes a feeling that nature is powerful, but that the challenges that is brings can be overcome by the human spirit. This is reflected by the survival of the woman and the stranger in the story that is being told, and the strength that the community finds in gathering together to hear stories. This is a way of resisting the power of nature through gathering together, and therefore represents collective capacity.

Also explored is the power that humanity has to destroy nature. The Japanese poem ‘Stars’ presents a picture not only of the destruction of culture, but also the destruction of the natural environment, as the natural environment, the stars, take on aspects of human pollution. ‘Song of Tiom’ is also about this process of destruction of the natural environment, but is presented in a less negative way.  There is more of a sense that this destruction is necessary, and even beneficial. This way of thinking is in contrast to that in the Haiku poems, where one has the sense that the power of nature is simply observed, without the need to overcome or struggle against it.

The relationships of power within the text studied for this course are extensive and various. They are usually represented in terms of the power of one over the other, or in terms of resistance to that power.

References

Childers, J., and Hentzi, G. (Eds.).  (1995). The Columbia Dictionary of Modern Literary and Cultural Criticism.  New York: Columbia University Press.

Hanne, M. (1994). The Power of the Story: Fiction and Political Change. Oxford: Berghahn Books.