Gender Roles In A Jury Of Her Peers

Susan Glaspell’s “A Jury of Her Peers”, is set in a rural county, Dickson County, in the early 1900s. The Wrights, John Wright and Minnie Wright, lived in an isolated house with a lonesome atmosphere. Throughout the short story, the main characters investigate the Wright’s house to prove if Minnie Wright was guilty of John Wright’s murder. Gender played a key role in their investigation. In “A Jury of Her Peers”, the austere roles of men and women prompted different perspectives. During this time period, traditional gender roles were still very prevalent. Gender roles are society’s expectation of an individual based entirely on their gender (Blackstone). A woman’s role was to stay at home and nurture her children (Miller): “…she said she wanted an apron…But I suppose just to make her feel more natural.” (Glaspell 7). While the men’s roles were to support his family and make

A white man, such as John Wright, living in a traditional society in the early 1900s meant he was very privileged. Women were seen as weaker, in all standards, compared to men (Balanza). A traditional society standardizes women to be under her husband’s rules (Balanza). In the Wright’s relationship, Minnie Wright was responsible for the house while John Wright was responsible for the farm: “But I suppose just to make her feel more natural. If you’re used to wearing an apron…” (Glaspell 7). He was free to leave and go to town: “Not to know him. I’ve seen him in town. They say he was a good man…” (Glaspell 10). The night before John Wright’s murder, Minnie Wright only completed her work half-way done: “What had interrupted Minnie Foster? Why had that work been left half done?” (Glaspell 6). Her only friend was the bird, which the author hints to John Wright committing to killing the bird: “Look at it! Its neck -- look at its neck!” (Glaspell 11). The death of the bird caused Minnie Wright to lose her remaining