What are some examples of feminism or feministic ideas in Jane Eyre? I really need help with this!?

Question

I am going to be doing an essay for a class about examples of feminism and feministic ideas in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I really need some examples of this topic since I can't really understand what it means by a "femnist novel."

Answer 1

Remember in the 1800's parents still chose the husband for their daughters. Money was with men. Your father owned the money, could tell you what to do AND it was legal for a father to beat his children to death if they were naughty (it was not until 1901 that it became illegal to kill one's child when punishing them)
When a girl married any money etc. she had legally became the property of her husband. A girl wa considered chattel, like cows and sheep etc.
At the wedding the girl promised to obey her husband.
In Jane Eyre and in the book 'Pride and Predujice' by Jane Austen the heroines chose their own husbands, a very strange concept for those days. Feminist novels put forward the really strange idea that women might be equal to men and not just a possesion.
On the wedding night a woman was just supposed to endure sex. ALL respectable women were supposed to dread sex and passion. A woman was supposed to have sex simply to please her master, that is her husband. But Jane is very a passionate young woman.
Women were supposed to be weak and have no characterisitcs such a loyalty etc.
The modern generation has NO idea what life was like for women in the past. That's why my generation fought for feminism so women can be treated like people not animals.

Answer 2

Jane Eyre is the story of a very independent young woman. Forced into an orphanage as a young girl (both parents die) by her only living relatives. Jane makes the best she can of every conflict. Jane is educated at the orphanage. She becomes a teacher and a governess for the young charge of a wealthy gentleman. Jane makes many difficult choices, all the while she strives for forgiveness, loyalty and love. She is an ideal model of the feminism of her time.