In the 1940’ the people used to think in a “traditional way”, making them intolerant with the people who act different. This is the case of Scout, the protagonist of the book. She is a little girl who does not like to dress up and act like a little boy. The adults in the town say things about her, letting her know that if she does not follow the stereotypes she is not going to be a real woman. finally, after all the comments she starts to believe it
Growing up in the early 1930s as a tomboy can be hard, especially in a prejudice society where there is gender discrimination and people constantly telling children and young adults to dress a certain way or to act a certain way. Through Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Scout confronts gender stereotypes with her dedication to remain a tomboy. She does not act like the typical, young Southern lady whose ways are always proper, causing women, such as, Mrs. Dubose and Aunt Alexandra, to take the situation into their own hands. For example, on Dill’s last night in Maycomb County, Jem and Dill decide to take a walk south, towards the Radley house.
In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout’s behavior, clothing, and activities are in direct contrast to the traditional expectations of girls in Maycomb. Scout Finch’s behavior contradicts the accepted practices of women of her time.
As individuals in today’s society, we are privileged to not have to endure the prevalent societal differences and sexism that the characters in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, must. The readers, lead by the protagonist, Scout Finch, can truly begin to identify with her observance and simultaneous acceptance and defiance of gender roles. Evidently, Scout grows up with prominent gender roles impacting and influencing her opinion on how each gender “should” and “should not” behave, but when it comes to her behaviour, she does as she pleases. When Scout converses with her male cousin, Francis, about cooking, she laughs upon hearing his uncommon interest of the pastime.
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 To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee, it is vivid that gender roles were part of society in the 1930s. Scout Finch, a little girl, shows that being a girl doesn’t define her personality or actions. Although this book was published in 1960 and was set in the 1930s, the contention of gender roles is still prominent in today’s civilization. All the way through chapter five, it is well known that gender roles are a part of mankind during the Great Depression. Scout narrated, “I was not so sure, but Jem told 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” (45).
(Chapter 23). Scout also feels pressured to act like a “proper” girl, which she finds frustrating. But even though she faces tough times, Scout’s curiosity and strength help her learn important lessons about fairness and
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
Being a lady is one of the most important roles for a female in the southern state of Alabama in the 1930’s. It is difficult for children to understand the importance of a role and how it affects the society. One novel that clearly represents children’s oblivious nature is Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. As a female protagonist, Jean Louise “scout” Finch grows up defying the rules of society. As the story continues Scout is told to be more polite and more well behaved by Aunt Alexandra.
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.
The author makes an argument that people should not be expected of anything no matter race or gender, and people should have the freedom to do what they want without judgement. During the 1930’s where the story takes place, certain things were expected in Maycomb for women, but Scout is breaking those barriers. Scout has never been like the other girls, in Maycomb she wants to do the things that get you dirty. She hangs out with her brother and does dangerous stuff, gets in fights on the playground, and is never found to wear a dress.
To Kill A Mockingbird(TKM) is a truth fulfilling book which includes racial and gender injustices that connects to the real world. Even though Martin Luther King Jr. achieved to get civil rights, the United States is still greatly divided just like To Kill A mockingbird. To illustrate, in TKM Tom Robinson is accused of raping Mayella Yule when the whole time he was innocent and was killed. Similar events have occured in past years.
The women in To Kill a Mockingbird have important roles but very few of them. Many women in To Kill a Mockingbird have responsibilities to take care of the children and care for the Orr residents of the house they live in. Calpurnia for example. Calpurnia is the black female cook for the finch household. However, she does not just cook.
Ever since human existence was known, women weren’t treated the same as a man. They were told to stay inside, care for the kids, and look pretty, as a paying man’s job was considered “too hard” for them to accomplish. But, during the years leading up to 1920, women had enough of this, they rallied and marched with a simple message, to be treated equal to a man. Harper Lee’s book To Kill a Mockingbird, set in a 1930’s Alabama, covers women issues at various lengths. From Scout’s tomboyish attitude, gender inequality, and gender roles, Harper Lee’s novel
