NEB Grade XII Compulsory English Note | Language Development | Unit 20 An Open Letter to Mary Daly

Unit 20

An Open Letter to Mary Daly

Working with words

A. Find the words from the text for these meanings. The first letters have been given for you.

a. reluctance- unwillingness or disinclination to do something

b. represive- preventing the expression or awareness of thoughts or desires

c. mystification- the infliction of serious damage on something

d. ghettoized- restricted to an isolated or segregated place, group, or situation

e. herstory- history viewed from a female or specifically feminist perspective

f. genital- relating to the human or animal reproductive organs

g. hysterectomies- surgical operations to remove all or part of the uterus

h. paranoid- obsessively anxious, suspicious, or mistrustful

i. eventration- thrusting forward of abdominal organs through the abdominal wall

B. Complete the chart.

Verb	Noun	Adjective
committ	commitment	committed
nurture	nurturance	nurtured
legitimize	legitimization	legitimized
sterilize	sterilization	sterilized
oppress	oppression	oppressed
allude	allusion	alluded
defend	defense	defended
victimize	victimization	victimized

C. Consult a dictionary and define these terms.

racism- unfair treatment of people of a particular race in a society

lesbian- a gay woman

radical- very basic and important

feminist- a person who supports equal rights for women

patriarchy- a system of society in which the father or eldest male is head of the family

D. Underline the consonant clusters in the following sentences.

a. Fluffy went flip-flop all over the floor.

b. The whites sing a song about the striking stars.

c. Here are some flowers and a flask of tea of your favourite flavour.

d. Smita fell ill with flu.

e. My friend is frightened of frogs.

f. Thumbelina stumbled out of the green bush.

g. She heard a rumble and a cry.

h. ‘Climb up’, said Tom.

i. Freedom needs to be strived for.

j. Children were munching crunchy French fries.

Comprehension

Answer the following questions.

a. Why does Audre Lorde think that Mary got a sort of victory in the University of Boston?

Audre Lorde thought that Mary got a sort of victory in the University of Boston by successfully overcoming the repressive forces present within the university.

b. Why is Lorde thankful to Mary?

Lorde is thankful to Mary because Mary had Gyn/Ecology sent to her.

c. What impression has the writer had about the way white women looked upon black women?

The history of white The white women who are unable to hear Black women’s words, or to maintain dialogue with them, is long and discouraging.

d. Why did Mary not cast black women as goddesses in her book according to Lorde?

According to Lorde Mary did not cast black women as goddesses in her book because she thought Mary made a conscious decision to narrow her scope and to deal only with the ecology of western European women.

e. Why did Lorde think that she misused her words?

Lorde thought that she misused her words to testify against herself as a woman of color.

f. For Lorde, how were women, especially from the black community, undervalued?

For Lorde, women were, especially from the black community, undervalued with

g. How does Mary take white women as? Does Lorde agree with Mary’s view?

Mary take white women as as a creative force toward change. Lorde doesn't agree with Mary's view. She feels that Mary celebrates differences between white women as a creative force toward change, rather than a reason for misunderstanding and separation, and fails to recognize that, as women, those differences expose all women to various forms and degrees of patriarchal oppression.

h. What is Afrekete? How does it connect to this lesson?

Afrekete is an African-derived name of a Black mother and/or goddess who Lorde later re-names herself as. Lord connects the name to this lesson as she wonders why Myary deals with only white goddess images, not with Afrefete and other African goddess images.

Critical thinking

a. "The oppression of women knows no ethnic or racial boundaries." Do you agree or not? Justify with your reasons.

In all ethnic groups or economic classes, women are always oppressed. Women consider they are free from any sort of oppression as they belong to the rich class or so called upper caste, but they fail to recognize the differences that expose all women to various forms and degrees of patriarchal oppression. Any kind of oppression that prevent them from being flourished in the society. For instance, the women who belong to poor class struggle against, or die of breast cancer; eventrations, hysterectomies and sterilizations, whereas the women who are rich or belong to the high class may be raped, murdered, or assaulted. It can be said that the oppression of women knows no ethnic nor racial boundaries.

b. Why is it important to question our beliefs and values? How are they set up in a person’s mind?

Many of the beliefs aren’t our own but are adopted from our groups or the result of other environmental influences. We take them on without thinking and often out of the fear of denial. Our beliefs define what is possible for us. They act as a lens through which we see, and relate to the world. They determine what is right or wrong, based on what we experienced in the past.

Questioning our beliefs is very important for the expansion of our field of possibilities. Until we question our beliefs they will determine our life mostly from the shadows. But the time when we shine light on them through questioning, we open a door to a change or new world.

Writing

A. Have you ever faced or witnessed cases of racial or sexual discrimination? Write a short account.

On 15 June 2021, Rupa Sunar, a Dalit media person went to the house of Saraswti Pradhan in Kathmandu’s Babar Mahal with two friends. They discussed and agreed on the terms and conditions of a rental agreement. House-owner Pradhan informed Sunar of the rules that she should not make a noise, should to be out late, and cooperate with her. At the end of the meeting, Pradhan asked Sunar about her caste. Upon learning of her ‘lower’ caste status, she said that she would convey her decision after she discussed with her family. The house owner called Sunar’s friend an hour later, and told that she could not rent the room to a ‘lower’ caste person.

B. Write an article for a national daily on "The Status of Women in Nepali Society."

The Status of Women in Nepali Society

By Sonam Lama

September

In Nepal, there are high levels of gender discrimination. Although our constitution provides for protection of women rights, the Government has not taken important action to implement its provisions.

The status of women in Nepal cannot be said to be good. Patriarchal practices, which determine the women's lives, are supported by the legal system. Women face valid discrimination, particularly in rural areas. Literacy rates are importantly lower than men's, and women work longer hours. Violence is still common, and there are not enough women in professions.

The women of all classes, castes and religious groups are oppressed. They do not have right to the property. They are not often involved in making policies and decisions of family as well as society.

Nowadays some empowerment programmes are being run to encourage the women. They are however incapable to participate into the public affairs due to the dominant ideology of culture being practiced. They are compelled to enjoy limited position in the public sphere. Men are believed to be the sole breadwinners of families; and women’s work is confined to the household.

The workload of Nepalese women is very huge. They work long hours every day. They are mainly engaged in agricultural works, carpet industries, and wage labour activities. Furthermore, They are compelled to work as prostitutes, and to be sold as commercial sex-workers.

To remedy the situation, women should be empowered by promoting their sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their right to influence social change for themselves and others.

The Status of Women in Nepali Society

By Suman Thapa

In recent years, Nepal has made important strides in promoting gender equality and empowering women. The country has adopted policies and programs that aim to increase their participation in decision-making processes, and improve their access to education, health care, and economic opportunities.

Despite these efforts, women in Nepal continue to face several challenges. Discrimination, violence, and evil cultural practices are still present in many parts of the country. The situation for women in the workplace is also challenging. They are underrepresented in formal employment and often work in low-paying jobs without job security or benefits. In addition, gender-based violence in the workplace, including sexual harassment, is common.

One area where progress has been made is in the political sphere. Women now hold important positions in parliament, government, and government offices. This has helped to increase women's voices in decision-making and to promote policies that benefit women.

In terms of education, the government has made significant investments to increase access for girls. The enrollment rate of girls in primary schools has increased, and efforts are underway to improve access to secondary and higher education. 

In conclusion, while Nepal has made significant progress in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment, there is still much work to be done. Eliminating discrimination and violence against women, increasing their access to education and economic opportunities, and promoting their full participation in decision-making processes are crucial steps towards a more equitable society for all.

Grammar

Adjective order

1. Determiner - a, an, the, some, his, her, etc.

2. Opinion- beautiful, comfortable, delicious stylish, etc.

3. Size- big, small, tall, short, little, tiny, medium-sized, gigantic, enormous, etc.

4. Shape- round, rectangular, circular, triangular, oval, spherical, conical, etc.

5. Age- young, new, old, antique, etc.

6. Colour- red, golden, etc.

7. Origin- Japanese, Nepalese, Indian, etc.

8. Material- wooden, woolen, leather, metal, plastic, silk, cotton, ceramic, etc.

9. Purpose- running shoes, sleeping bag

B. Choose the correct alternative.

a. an old foreign car/a foreign old car

an old foreign car

b. a beautiful white dress/ a white beautiful dress

a beautiful white dress

c. a nice tall young man/a tall nice young man

a nice tall young man

d. a big black wooden desk/ a black wooden big desk

a big black wooden desk

e. a delicious Italian pizza/ an Italian delicious pizza

a delicious Italian pizza

f. a huge brown bear/a brown huge bear

a huge brown bear

g. a purple cotton sleeping bag/ a cotton purple sleeping bag

a purple cotton sleeping bag

h. a beautiful old Indian village/an old beautiful Indian village

a beautiful old Indian village

i. a cute little kitten/ a little cute kitten

a cute little kitten

j. an expensive antique /an antique expensive table

an expensive antique table

C. Put the adjectives in the following sentences in the correct order.

a. I bought (red/ a /comfortable/new) scooter.

a comfortable new red

b. She reached home and sat on (relaxing/old/her/wooden) chair.

her old wooden relaxing

c. We ate (Chinese/delicious/some) food.

some delicious Chines food

d. I need (golden/delicious/some/round) apples.

some delicious round golden

e. We like to live in a (calm/unmediated/remote) place for some time.

a calm unmediated (specific) remote (origin)

f. She is wearing (silver/beautiful / a(n)/ old) ring.

a beautiful old silver ring

g. I am looking for (golden/stylish/a/Japanese) watch.

a stylish golden Japanese

h. She dropped (old/china/attractive/a(n)) cup and smashed it.

an attractive old China

i. He wants to marry (young/pretty/educated/a(n)/rustic) girl.

a pretty educated (specific) young rustic (origin)

j. We stayed in a (luxurious/five star/new) hotel in Dubai.

luxurious new five star