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A Raisin In The Sun Gender Roles Essay

693 Words3 Pages

Lorraine Hansberry’s 1959 Broadway show “A Raisin in the Sun” foretells the drastic change in gender roles that would occur in the near future, and greatly played into the rise of feminism that transformed American life in the 1960’s. Hansberry explores some of the more litigious and taboo subjects of the 1950’s, such as abortion and the value of marriage. The play tells the story of a poor African-American family, the Youngers, who come into a great sum of inheritance money. Each of the Youngers has a different attitude towards the recent fluctuation in gender roles and on how beneficial they will be. Beneatha, the younger sister of Walter Lee, has the most modernistic opinion on gender issues. She is a twenty-one year old college student …show more content…

Unlike Beneatha though, Ruth tries to be a good wife and listen to Walter. However, when she finds out that she is pregnant, she considers getting an abortion. The Youngers are already considered a lower class family and struggle financially, adding a baby would simply add to their struggle. Abortion was a very taboo topic in the era that this story was set in, and the fact the Ruth considered it at all was something that was frowned upon by societal standards. Ruth is extremely apprehensive to go through with the abortion, however. Due to both moral values and societal pressures she has trouble making the decision on her own. Mama, though a traditionalist, shows a good example of Ruth's inner thoughts when she says “When the world gets ugly enough – a woman will do anything for her family. The part that's already living." Lorraine Hansberry's “A Raisin in The Sun” was not only a pivotal point in American literature, but also allowed a glimpse into the life of the lower class living in the 1950’s. The play discussed topics that were way beyond the pale when the play was first promulgated, and helped cause people to think and question why they considered it so off-limits and unthinkable. Hansberry's writing were one of the first steps towards today's modern, accepting

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