Shifting paradigm: from language discourse to action-voices of resistance

Abstract

Action speaks louder than words. Many believe that women aggressiveness reaffirms her irrationality and weakness without realizing that the aggressive behaviour signifies the act of resisting and disobedience by directly criticizing the dominant roles. This paper will discuss the forms of repressive and expressive anger as part of social significance. The myth of softhearted and courteous women is no longer relevant as the shifting of the discourse reflect one effort in disputing the ideology of gender constructed by patriarchy. The paper will elaborate on a discussion of resistance by analyzing Edith Wharton's House of Mirth and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 'The Yellow Wallpaper" female characters. These women characters make a direct statement about herself, and she speaks back to th~ reader by inviting the audience to judge and to consider her circumstance and the consequences of her actions. The findings of the paper are important to explore other issues about language and gender.