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Theme of sexism in to kill a mockingbird
How to kill a mockingbird feminism
Theme of sexism in to kill a mockingbird
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Harper Lee foretells the story of a young, precocious tomboy named Scout Finch who is being pressured by society into conforming to the typical “southern lady” in To Kill A Mockingbird. Lee establishes and promotes Scout’s masculinity through the use of nicknames, fighting, and boyish clothing, while comparing her with women that fit the stereotypical female idea. Scout is faced with discrimination throughout the novel by other characters, Aunt Alexandra, her circle of friends, and Jem being the main sources of prejudice. They thought that acting like a “lady” was what was most proper due to their small town mentality. These strict gender roles were popular in small southern towns because they were isolated from the more progressive attitudes in other areas of the United States.
The prejudice that is demonstrated throughout the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee reveals how a community views certain groups of people. As one reads through the book To Kill a Mockingbird they see that sexism is revealed from the very beginning of the text. The author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, points out, “Men’s stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon, after their three o’clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum powder,” (Lee 5).
Redefining the Pre-Written Reality: Scout’s Journey through To Kill a Mockingbird To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel by Harper Lee, is an incredible book about a trial concerning the rape of a white woman. This seemingly simple basic plotline is full of themes that touched the heart of many when the book was published in 1960. Many controversial ideas were touched upon by Harper Lee, especially regarding the themes of race, gender, and class. The theme of gender is particularly important in the case of the trial, as the protection of Southern womanhood was a duty above all else in the South during the 1930s. Southern womanhood was a definition developed by Southern society which included the expectation of woman’s chastity.
So·cial jus·tice, noun, 1. justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society. 2."individuality gives way to the struggle for social justice.” (Google Search). Social Justice is a term used to justify the equality in the world; equality of race, equality of gender, equality of religion, of age, of background; equality of all people not dependent on any outside factor, but of the people themselves.
Imagine one day you wake up and many of your constitutional rights, such as the right to vote, are gone. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Sexism plays a huge role in many scenarios throughout the story. For example, a quote in the novel states, “ ‘Scout, i’m tellin’ you for the last time to shut your trap or go home- I declare to the lord you’re gettin more like a girl every day.’ With that, I had no option but to join them.”(Lee
Oftentimes certain genders are prone to be seen in a certain way due to this. In To Kill a Mockingbird, we often see women being treated differently than in our modern time. Though it’s not necessarily as horrid as racism, we often see hurtful remarks being said to Scout because she doesn’t “act like a lady”. Scout talked about how Aunt Alexandra made remarks about how she dressed and conducted herself. Also throughout the book, we hear many characters requesting for Scout to be taken home because the subject matter is unfit for a lady to hear.
Sexism in Dress Codes Human beings are born with many rights and freedom, including the fundamental right to choose clothes. As a result, looking at their clothes is one of the most common ways to distinguish between two different identities. Moreover, clothing is one of the standards when we evaluate or form the impression of others. Nevertheless, gradually, the human right to choose clothes freely is somehow restricted on some specific occasions. In formal parties, it is rational to set dress codes for everybody.
Life is overfilled with messages, like weeds in a sea in unmaintained grass. Whether it’s warning a person, or pointing out a flaw; these little lessons are there to further grow the positive parts of that person’s personality. A simple demonstration of this is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. An old, children’s book serving no meaningingful purpose is what it may seem, nevertheless, it actually is a novel that offers a unique outtake on all aspects of human life. In the book, two children Jem and Scout, who learn about equality, racism, and social class through court cases, tea parties and more.
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, is set in the 1960’s, a time when men and women had specific and restrictive roles in society. Men were the ones to work and earn money for their families and women were expected to a caring and obedient homemakers. In many ways, those gender stereotypes are still very present today. The contrasting opinions of Atticus Finch and Aunt Alexandra provide the reader with the different views on how men and women should be raised, which in turn, affects the readers thoughts and opinions on the gender expectations and roles that are present in today’s society.
Femininity comes in many unique forms. The depiction of a woman’s femininity is subject to her unique personality and how she expresses herself. The women illustrated in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, are good examples of the different ways femininity can be expressed. Each character’s personality has a definite impact on their expression of their femininity and the way they interact with the rest of the characters in the novel.
To Kill A Mockingbird portrays many types of prejudice such as sexism, lifestyle and racism. Sexism is represented through respect and roles of genders. Women were considered weak, they were expected to be elegant and ladylike. It was expected that women stay home and care for the house and children. Jem would often tease Scout for being a girl.
Breaking Social Norms In To Kill A Mockingbird In To Kill A Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, Lee depicts the main character Scout Finch as the primary feminist who defies social norms despite several influences in Maycomb County. Scout displays her feminist qualities throughout several occurrences in the novel. She continues to stay true to herself and fights for how she desires to act, while occasionally experimenting with her femininity.
Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, illustrates how women are restricted by societal expectations. Women and girls are expected to act a certain way, to be feminine and docile. After an argument between Jem and Scout, Jem goes as far to shout, “‘It’s time you started bein’ a girl and acting right!’” (Lee, 153). Jem believes that Scout should be cooperative and malleable to be a typical girl.
In Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird”, the issue of Southern Womanhood is brought up many times throughout the novel. Lee uses many different characters to help show how she viewed Southern Womanhood. Specifically she uses, Scout, Mayella Ewell, and Scout’s Aunt Alexandra. In "To Kill A Mockingbird", Harper Lee uses specific characters to show how negative of an impact Southern Womanhood used to have. Harper Lee uses Scout in many cases to show how she thought Southern Womanhood used to have a negative impact.
It is clear that To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee demonstrates Feminist Theory by displaying the characteristics of females in submissive roles, females being “undervalued”, and differing standards of behavior for females. One way that To Kill a Mockingbird can be viewed through the lens of feminist theory is through examining females in submissive roles. 1 One example that shows females in submissive roles is when Scout wanted to go play with Jem outside but Jem was being unfair and rude. Scout recalls, “When I joined them, as usual I was told to go away “(Lee 22). Females in submissive roles is shown in this quote
