Discrimination and stereotypes has plagued the society of today. In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston writes about a young, african-american woman named Janie Crawford. Janie not only faces prejudices because of her race, but because of her sexual orientation and social status as well.
One of the prejudices Janie faces is her race. In result of the prejudices, the “limited view of the capabilities of black women, Janie’s grandmother forces her to perpetrate this vicious cycle by ignoring Janie’s wishes for love” (Garland 2). Not only because of her gender, but because of her race Janie is subjected to isolated, abusive marriages. This leads Janie to marry her first husband, Logan. In this marriage she is well respected and secure, but not soon ran away with her second husband. Jody, her second husband, “subjugates Janie to inra-racist remarks and value judgment based on the lightness of her skin.” (Garland 2). This makes Jody very controlling and jealous resulting in him making Janie wear her hair up and talk very little. They soon part ways, and Janie later meets
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Because Janie was a single, wealthy female in need of a suitor, “Janie is left pecked over like the carcass of the mule by suitors throughout the town whom only want her for her appearance and money” (Garland 2). After her numerous failed marriages, “Janie realized that a woman is to be loved, respected, and self-sufficient” (Dilbeck 1). When she realized this, Janie finally decided not to settle for less than she deserved and soon found the love of her life. Janie and Tea Cake’s relationship is based solely on equality, love, and respect. She “can now feel settled as an independent woman who has finally discovered herself” (Dilbeck 3). All things she has yearned for but never got. This recognition allowed Hurston to convey self-actualization in her main character’s identity as a woman (Dilbeck