Daisy's Treatment Of Women In The Great Gatsby

The 1920s were seen as a chance for upward mobility; new money was emerging and promptly displaying itself all over manhattan. Buzz and excitement flooded the city as people realized they, too, had a chance to achieve the oh-so-coveted “American Dream.” For many, the dream was to obtain wealth and fame, which Fitzgerald critiqued, as difficult for women to achieve individually. The Great Gatsby showcased the struggle that women faced under a patriarchal system and how inversely related femininity and success were at this time. A character depicted with such feminine traits is none other than Daisy, a young and desirable woman coveted by many (Fitzgerald 9); Daisy represents "old money" and depicts the traditional roles expected of women. Like

Marriage presented itself as an opportunity for women to grow their social standing in high society; as a woman trained to uphold her family's reputation, Daisy must have felt that she lacked many options in life. Tom was the perfect candidate for a husband, yet, he quickly tossed her aside; unable to win his love (or really, his attention), the only option left for Daisy was to put up a front to maintain some dignity. Women in high social classes were expected to maintain not only their honor but their families as well. Being a divorced, single mother would destroy Daisy, and fearful of being chastised by high society, she chose a false life rather than a shameful one. The societal pressures for women were encoded into Daisys' blood; for her daughter, Daisy hoped that "she['d] be a fool..the best thing a girl can be in this world, [is] a beautiful little fool." (17) Fearful that her daughter would lead a miserable life due to her intellectual ability Daisy wished, rather, that she would grow to become beautiful and simple, the ideal version of femininity during this time. So to avoid hardships and struggles and to be contempt in her future, unlike her