As humans, we are guilty of forming preconceived opinions about one another without realizing it. Developing a notion about someone or something prior to knowing the imperative details can cause controversy and friction as well as lead to prejudice. In Harper Lee’s novel, prejudice is expressed in the form of gender discrimination by most, if not ,all of the characters through their actions. Sexism is shown between family members, close friends, and all others in the community of Maycomb. Women become targets of false accusations based on their gender. To Kill a Mockingbird comprises various characters who exhibit a clear example of sexism as discrimination on the basis of gender, therefore creating false stereotypes.
Sexism is very prominent issue throughout the entirety of the novel as it is set in the 1930’s where
…show more content…
Jem constantly acts as if Scout is subpar to him solely based on her gender. Scout recalls: "... Jem [telling] me I was being a girl. That girls always imagined things, that's why other people hated them so, and if I started behaving like one, I could just go off and find some to play with" (Lee, 119). This incident displays how Jem is convinced that Scout is not an adequate playmate as a result of her gender as he was taught to believe that boys are superior to girls. Furthermore, during the Tom Robinson trial Miss Maudie was denied the opportunity to be a juror as a consequence of being female. "For one thing, Ms.Maudie can't serve on the jury because she's a woman" (Lee, 296) Atticus mentions. Miss Maudie had no reason to be rejected as a juror other than that she was a specific gender which happened to be treated discriminatorily. If this were to happen in the present time it would be shunned. In addition, Mrs. Dubose questions Scout when she sees that she is wearing overalls, as