English IB oral exam
- Introduction: 200 words
relevance/global issue > works > outline
- Compare: 600 words
Content and form
- Contrast: 600 words
Content and form
- Conclusion: 100 words
- 40 lines of book
- 40 lines of article
- 500 words
Today I am going to compare and contrast Woman at point zero, a novel written by Egyptian
feminist and activist Nawal El Saadawi with the article “The Surprising Ways Men Are
Oppressed”, written by author and activist Maria chapman. I am doing this by focusing on
the global issue of oppression. Oppression is a global issue that has been perpetuated for
centuries and affects people of all genders, ethnicities and social classes. It is a multifaceted
phenomenon that manifests itself in various forms, and its effects are felt in all aspects of
life. In exploring this issue, the novel Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi and the
article ‘The Surprising Ways Men Are Oppressed’ by Maria chapman can provide an insight
into the different ways oppression manifests and the implications it has.
The novel Woman at Point Zero is a first-person narrative of a young woman named
Firdaus, who is sentenced to death for murdering a man. The narrative serves to illustrate
the patriarchal system in which Firdaus is oppressed, and how it has shaped her life. The
article ‘The Surprising Ways Men Are Oppressed’ examines how the pressure to conform to
a certain set of gender roles can lead to men being oppressed. Both works explore the
nature of oppression and its effects on individuals, though in different ways.
I am going to compare the works by showing that both examine the topic of gender
oppression and contrast the works by showing that It is clear from the comparison that they
are distinct in terms of content and emphasis.
When comparing the two works, it can be seen that both explore the issue of gender as a
form of oppression. In both works, the characters are subject to a certain set of expectations
based on their gender. For example, when looking at line seven that states: ‘’... ‘’ We can
conclude that Firdaus is expected to be subservient to men and to accept her position as a
woman in a patriarchal society, while the men discussed in the article are expected to
adhere to traditional gender roles of strength and dominance. In Woman at Point Zero,
Saadawi examines the oppression of women in the Middle East and lays out a critique of the
patriarchal system that has kept women from attaining social and political power. In the
article, the author looks at how men in western societies suffer from different forms of
gender-based oppression, such as being denied the right to express emotions and gender
, stereotyping. Both pieces illustrate how gender is used to oppress people, whether it is
women in the Middle East or men in the West. By using symbolism, both works are able to
draw attention to the damaging effects of gender roles and point out how they can lead to
the oppression of both men and women. In Woman at Point Zero, Firdaus' story serves as a
symbol of the oppression that many women face in patriarchal societies, while in the article,
the author uses examples of men suffering from emotional repression to show how gender
roles can be harmful to men. They both also provide a critique of traditional gender norms
and suggest that these oppressive structures must be challenged in order to achieve gender
equality.
Although the two works address the same issue of oppression, their content and form are
quite different. The novel Woman at Point Zero is a work of fiction written in the form of a
narrative, focusing on the character of Firdaus. Firdaus is a round character, with her story
and motivations changing throughout the novel. She is portrayed as a complex being, with
her own agency and motivations, and her journey of self-discovery and empowerment is
both inspiring and heart breaking. Firdaus is written as a real person, with all of the flaws and
strengths that come with being human. Through her story, the reader is able to gain a better
understanding of the experience of oppression and how it affects the individual. Her story is
a powerful example of how people can find the strength to overcome even the most
oppressive of circumstances.
The article “The Surprising Ways Men are Oppressed” is a work of non-fiction written in the
form of an essay. In comparison with the novel by Nawal El Saadawi, the article is written in
a more analytical and factual style. It does not focus on any particular character, but rather
looks at the systemic oppression of men in society. Instead of focusing on a single character,
the article looks at the issue of oppression from multiple angles, providing statistical
evidence and examples to illustrate the various ways in which men are oppressed.
The article examines how men are affected by gender-based discrimination in a variety of
areas, such as education, healthcare, and employment, and offers insight into how these
oppressive structures can be challenged. The article does not feature any flat or round
characters, but rather looks at the broader issues of oppression in society from a structural
standpoint. It adds nuance to the discussion by highlighting the various ways in which men
are oppressed and the ways in which these oppressive structures can be challenged. It is
written in an accessible and straightforward manner, making it easier for readers to
understand the complexities of the issue. The author uses a variety of sentence structures
and stylistic choices to make the article more engaging, while also conveying the
seriousness of the issue. By presenting the facts in an unbiased and factual manner, the
author is able to create a more nuanced understanding of the oppression of men, one that
goes beyond the experiences of any particular individual.
Additionally, the novel and article differ in terms of their respective audiences. Woman at
Point Zero is a work of literature and is thus likely to be read primarily by literary audiences.
“The Surprising Ways Men Are Oppressed”, on the other hand, is written in an accessible
and thus will be read by whoever is feeling like it
In conclusion, both the novel Woman at Point Zero and the article “The Surprising Ways
Men Are Oppressed” examine the issue of gender-based oppression from different
