Feminism has been a prominent and controversial concept and has attracted differing views for the past two centuries. The novel, Daddy-long-legs by Webster captures the story of Jerusha and her benefactor. Upon reading the story, I discovered instances of feminism in Jerusha. Jerusha explores and finds her boundaries because of her gender. In one of the letters to daddy, Jerusha says, “I can’t imagine any joy in life greater than sitting down in front of a mirror and buying any hat you choose without having first to consider the price!” Therefore, I consider Jerusha a feminist because she displays what she goes through in the benefactor’s hands.
Jerusha is a feminist because she uses the letters to communicate the inequalities she feels in her relationship with Daddy-long-legs and her limits. In my view, a feminist is someone who works to achieve global gender equality and freedom. Judy does make modest attempts along the way to gain independence from her benefactor. For example, she applies for a scholarship, though the benefactor tries to keep her from accepting it. I thought her attempts to assert herself were admirable, but it makes the reader understand the boundaries set against women. Jerusha displays the benefactor as richer than her and older and has a lot of power over her. There is no doubt that she is a feminist heroine.
Reading through Jerusha’s letters made me come to terms with the gender-based stereotypes in society. Through the letters, Jerusha says that she does not have the freedom to make her own decision. She presented a notion that Daddy-long-legs, her benefactor, exercised control over her and took her independence. In the letters, she displays her discomfort with the manipulation and control of the benefactor. Therefore, Jerusha is a feminist because she addresses the problems she experiences because of her gender.