Gender Roles In John Steinbeck's The Grapes Of Wrath

The 1930s were a time of despair for many and hardship for all, and the struggles were often left in the hands of women to act as a supportive figure for the defeated man. While times were difficult for the typical American man, they were often even more difficult for the typical American woman. The increasingly more critical views of society on independent women, the need to suppress struggle and hardships, and the rise and sudden fall of feminism were all factors plaguing women during the 1930s. Evidence of gender roles can found within John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath in the way he portrays the Joad family; these gender roles can be compared, and in some instances contrasted, with those more accepted during the 1930s. While there were

Single women, lacking a man to support them, “had to fend for themselves” (Ware 2). However, societal views on working single women tended to be less harsh than societal views on working married women. “The Depression provided opportunities for these women to become self-reliant,” single women were viewed as more independent individuals rather than just ‘a woman lacking a husband’ (“Working Women” 3). A strong, independent character evident in The Grapes of Wrath is Mae. Mae is a hardworking woman who is seen as “the backbone” of a diner that is flooded with truckers daily (Steinbeck 154). Mae not only supports herself, but she works endless hours trying to get extra tips. Due to the fact that she is a single woman with a job, Mae is not made out to be anything other than a hard working individual just trying to get by. Steinbeck’s portrayal of Mae can be connected to the independence that was seen in many other single women that held jobs during the 1930s. Although they faced less criticism, working single women endured an internal struggle similar to that of married women. “The iconic image of the Depression is ‘The Forgotten Man’: the newly poor… unemployed worker, often standing in a breadline. Women who found themselves in similar dire straits rarely turned up in public spaces

The typical roles of married women in the household can be found in Ma in the way that she takes care of the family throughout the novel. Society’s views on working married women can be contrasted with societal views on working single women. Steinbeck’s portrayal of Mae can then be compared with the common working woman and the struggle of many. Rose of Sharon and Connie’s relationship is comparable with many faltering relationships that ended as a result of the stress produced by the conditions at the time. Finally, aspects of feminism as well as lack of feminism can be identified in The Grapes of Wrath in the roles that Ma plays and the lack of independence existing in Rose of Sharon. In the final analysis, roles of married women and single women, gender roles affecting relationships, and themes of feminism existing during the 1930s can be compared and contrasted with those portrayed in The Grapes of