Essay Questions

What differentiates Dorothy from the rest of the women?

Unlike the other four women, the author depicts Dorothy as a go-getting woman who thinks of the future and tries to develop solutions that will prevent women from facing challenges. Despite being a mother, she sacrifices her time and energy to serve others in society. Townsend also follows her mother's roots when she protests the innocent killings of women and children in the Iraq war.

What is the place of a woman in society, according to Kate Walbert?

Dorothy and fellow women live during the patriarchal period when the voice of women does not matter. Men are regarded as superior beings, and they consider women as their property. Dorothy and fellow women are fighting for their place in society. The benefits attributed to contemporary women were fought for Dorothy and other courageous women who were humiliated while fighting for gender equality. According to Dorothy, given equal changes, women can play a significant role in society, including fostering economic growth. Over the years, women throughout the world have struggled to identify their place in the community.

What is the significance of the title ‘A Short History of Women’?

This story's title is significant because it details the challenges the women have gone through in fighting for their rights. According to the author, modern women in most parts of the globe have equal chances of success as men because of the feminist movement that started over five decades ago. Women's history dates back to Dorothy's time when women were regarded as men's properties, and their voices could not be heard. Over the five generations, things have taken a drastic change due to rampant feminist campaigns pushing for gender equality. Consequently, this history reminds contemporary women that they should not take their current privileges for granted because many women suffered for that freedom in recent years.