Oppression in GoT

            For this blog post I decided to discuss oppression in the book series, Game of Thrones. In this world women are generally greatly oppressed by men and women of higher status. Arya is a tomboy; she is excellent at the bow and arrow and wants to learn the sword. Her mother and nurse/nanny make her do women's work instead like stitching and etiquette. Sansa is okay with the women's work expected of her but she is also oppressed by being forced to almost marry King Geoffrey and later being forced to marry the Kings' Hand and dwarf, Tyrion.

            Equity is about having choice, about having the same ability as all others to make decisions for yourself and regarding yourself. In this world boys have a say in some degree to what they are raised or trained to be; Arya does not have a choice, her life is planned for her. For Sansa, men usually have a say in whom they will marry (though in the case of Tyrion he also did not want to marry the young girl for complicated reasons). These examples of oppression still make me both angry and sad. It is hard for me to believe that an entire society can be so non-understanding that people are people regardless of any other factor.

            I think that in order for these situations to change the society's (fictional) view of girls and women would have to evolve significantly from where it is now. Men are knights, women are child bearer's and are for meeting their husbands' needs. The series is still being written and published and the society is actually heading in a positive direction. If the right changes occur in the sharing of power, resources, and assistance these situations could be lessened by society finally viewing women differently.