A woman on a Roof by Doris Lessing

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A woman on a roof by Doris Lessing
“A woman on a Roof” is a story written by Doris Lessing in 1991 focusing on the women’s struggle for power. Lessing brings out the urge of women and the challenges they undergo to acquire equality on gender treatment and freedom from male chauvinist society. Lessing uses the symbol woman sunbather to present the theme of gender equality and women’s awakening on power. Lessing strengthens her ideas and emotions towards male-dominated society through the use of nonverbal communication used by sunbather to chase away men. Through the story, Lessing reveals the emotions towards social role based on gender.
Across the story, Doris Lessing discusses the theme of sexuality and power equality irrespective of gender. Through the use of sunbather, Doris shows how women have gained power in society by revealing confidence in their sexuality (Lessing 246). By wearing a red color bikini, the sunbather represents her confidence. Through ignoring the screams, whistles, and stomps of men, the sunbather shows her capability to gain more influence in society. “She sat smoking, and did not look up, when Stanley let out a wolf whistle (240)” and “the woman stayed on her blanket, turning herself over and over” (Lessing 241). She ignored them, no matter what they did”. In Doris ‘society, a woman needs to be submissive to a man and any kind of rejection is unacceptable. The rejection made Tom lonely, Stanley almost run mad out of anger and while Hary is a bit composed and accept the rejection, “they made jokes about getting an egg from some woman in the flats under them, to poach it for their dinner” (240).

The behavior of the three reveals the norms and beliefs of male-dominated society in the 1960s and their reactions towards women awakening as they gained power both politically and economically.
Through the use of sunbather woman and the three men, Lessing reveals the attitude of men towards women in society and how the views progress with stages. Women have an equal opportunity and power in the society, and they are no longer submissive to intimidating actions of men.

Work Cited
Lessing, Doris. “A Woman on a Roof.” A Man and Two Women (1978): 74-82.