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Systematic Gender Roles In Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin In The Sun

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Systematic Gender Roles within A Raisin in the Sun People care too much about what others think. They dress, act and conduct themselves in a manner based on how they might be perceived by others. There are expectations created by society based on gender resulting in gender roles that are passed down through generations based on specific ideas and beliefs about what is appropriate for each sex. In the 1950s, a specific blueprint was made for what it meant to be a “man”. There was to be “no sissy stuff”, as men should avoid being feminine and show no weakness. They had to be “the big wheel”, proving their social status through their successes in order to command respect and power. They were a “sturdy oak”, projecting confidence and hiding emotion. …show more content…

He has big dreams for his family, which sets high expectations for his son. Big Walter’s goals in life greatly influence Walter's desires and goals. Goals that Walter felt he needed to achieve, due to the standards created upon his father’s past. Mama always thought of Big Walter with high regards as she said, “But he sure loved his children. Always wanted them to have something-- be something. .. That’s where Brother gets all these notions (45)”. Big Walter always had dreams for his family, for their success and their happiness. It shows he wasn’t working for himself, but for his family. By working so hard for his family with a goal of wealth, it made Walter feel that the way for him to become a real and successful man was by providing for his family’s wealth. However, Big Walter was a dignified man, and was able to stay that way because he never let his dreams take control of him and lose sight of himself or his family. The main driving factor for his dreams was his family, if his idea of success overpowered the importance of his family, he would be risking both his family’s and his own dignity and sense of self in order to achieve his success. However, he never let the idea of success take control of him as Mama constantly praised him for all that he did. In her eyes, he was the image of a “man” and felt he brought …show more content…

As a result of a combination of generational values and societal conceptions, characters such as Walter created a skewed version of what it means to be a man. Today, being a man has a different connotation than it did in the 1950s. Gender equality is greatly emphasized as people try not to put the different sexes in categories. Compared to the 1950s, there are many more women supporting families while men stay at home (Bohn). This completely contradicts the Younger family’s view on what it means to be masculine. Lorraine Hansberry would support the decreasing emphasis on gender roles in today’s society as she constantly criticizes the negative way in which gender norms affect one’s values. Without such an emphasis on what a certain gender is supposed to be, it allows for one to focus much more on what is important to them without being influenced by one’s distorted view on what is considered “acceptable”. In conclusion, the characters Walter, Big Walter, and Travis are used to support Lorraine Hansberry’s thesis regarding gender roles and that the over emphasis on them can cause a distorted vision of what one is supposed to do in

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When observing the male characters, thematic influences that shape their idea of freedom are status and wealth, from analysis of the text it is evident that it provides the men of these stories with a sense of masculinity and power. Taking a look at Walter’s relation to wealth in A Raisin in the Sun, it demonstrates that he believes that the more leisure and free spending his family has, the more of a man it makes him. When Walter, his mother, and his wife, argue over their spending and finances, Walter states, “Well, you tell that to my boy tonight when you put him to sleep on the living-room couch … Yeah—and tell it to my wife, Mama, tomorrow when she has to go out of here to look after somebody else’s kids” (1.2.191).

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Walter embodies the image of his father and his morals when he scolds Lindner, "My father almost beat a man to death once because this man called him a bad name or something, you know what I mean?”(147). Walter’s euphoric pride in his family was evident as his affiliation with his father’s principles was prominent. When Willy escaped with his money, Walter originally resorted to tomfoolery and begging to cope with his newfound pain. But when Mama reaffirms her faith in his judgment, he loses his vanity and ego, becoming a man his family respects. Walter continues to stand by his new beliefs when he lectures Lindner about self-worth, "And we have decided to move into our house because my father --my father--he earned it for us brick by brick”(148).

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When Walter's father died, his family was going to receive a check from a life insurance policy. Walter planned to use the insurance money to open a liquor store and financially prosper. His mother though, would not let him do this though because it was unholy and an immoral way to make money. Walter, who was already bitter because he was a chauffeur, felt deprived. He saw an opportunity to make money and grew increasingly resentful because his family would not allow him to pursue those avenues, instead his family wanted to buy a home they could call their own.

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He wants to be a businessman and own a liquor store. He wants to be able to provide for his family and give them what they have never had. Walter also wants to take his mother’s position as the head of the house and make the financial decisions for the family. Walter can be seen as selfish as instead of putting the money for him and his sister in the bank he uses it all and loses it trying to fulfill his own dreams with no regard to his sister’s dreams or the rest of the family’s.

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Throughout the plot, he struggles with acceptance of his social status and economical situations, but ends up achieving true fulfillment in simply being proud of who he and his family are as people with aspirations. Walter’s evolution

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In “To Be a Man,” Julie Burrell claims that there are two types of masculinity present in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun: Mama’s version of masculinity that’s rooted from “a life-affirming Black tradition” and Walter’s version of masculinity that’s dependent on earning money for the family. (3). Initially, in Hansberry’s play, Walter was solely focused on acquiring power through wealth; however, with the decision he made to move into the white neighborhood in the end, he had grew out of his mindset of having a “capitalist masculinity.” Burrell stated that “Walter's newfound manhood...allows him to support the dreams of the women in the household against the obstacles of racist and sexist oppression"

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Although Walter does not deserve the power, the manhood of Walter Lee enables him to “control” the family. Conversely, Beneatha’s talkativeness and her aggressive personality are against how a 1950s African American should act. Ruth asks “Can’t you be a little sweeter sometimes? (Act 1, Scene 1)” to indicate the modest characteristics women should have. Furthermore, Ruth’s decision of abortion at the beginning of the play was unconventional since it was against gender expectation because it is against her duty as a wife and a mother.

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This quote shows how Walter feels that to be a man you need to be able to make tough decisions. Throughout the play we see how society's expectation of being a man affects Walter mentally, he feels as if he is weak and a failure because he couldn't provide for his family financially. Another example that shows how gender roles can impact someone negatively is when in the play George says, “You’re a nice-looking girl … all over.

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Walter's job as a chauffeur makes him feel trapped as a man and financially; where he lacks dignity along with the ability to properly provide for his family. These feelings drive Walter crazy causing him to scream at all his family members, and develop unhealthy drinking habits. Yet, when Walter receives a share of the check money his mood increases greatly. He feels very motivated and wants to be a strong family man. Walter's selfishness is getting him caught up about being financially free and successful, which is making him forget the importance of being present for his family during their rough times.

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Throughout history, the impact on women in society has increased more and more and gender roles have both been magnified and easier to break. The differences between mother and daughter are decided on the methods of teaching, supporting, and enforcement of beliefs within the household they were raised. As daughters become mothers, they might change the way they parent based on the positive and negative effects of their upbringing. However, the “norms” of society can deeply impact a woman's development despite the way they were raised. In the play, A Raisin In The Sun, Lorraine Hansberry shows the relationship between mother and daughter as she depicts the differences in generational gender roles through her characters Mama, Ruth, and Beneatha

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Being the only grown man in a family of five has always contributed to Walter’s perception of manhood. He believes that he, as a man, should be chasing his dreams and becoming an entrepreneur. Therefore, the women must stay back in the house and take care of everything else. He highlights this belief by saying “That is just what is wrong with the colored woman in this world… Don’t understand about building their men up” (Hansberry 32).

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In doing so, she becomes dependent on others and cannot fulfill her personal goals. In contrast, opposing the norms allows both members of a relationship to further themselves while still supporting each other. Because each member develops their independent characters, they establish a healthier relationship and a healthier family. Thus, Hansberry encourages her audience to reject the patriarchy, arguing that focusing on one's personal needs is as important as supporting the

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In the play, A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, there are many examples of sexism throughout its entirety. The character, Walter, demonstrates the acts of a sexist human being. Walter is sexist to not only women in general, but to the women in his family. Not taking into consideration of other people’s sayings and their feelings, Walter generally only thinks about himself, says what he believes, and truly only cares about money. Walter constantly is fighting with all of the women in the family as well.

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Although gender roles have changed over time, where males and females have become more equivalent , a certain level of behaviors and tasks which are acceptable for men and women still exist today. Alternatively of women and men steadily playing the gender roles they always play, they should change it around and try to do something divergent when being defined in a category of gender roles. However, women are becoming equal to men in our generation. For instance , would be men can take supervision of the children when the women go to work. Women are more maverick that they don’t need to depend on a man.

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Hansberry portrays the role of fathers within their families through her only male character in the play, Walter Lee Younger. She stresses the fact that the role of fathers is to be a role model for his child. Fathers influence their children significantly especially their sons. Boys will model themselves after their dads since they look at fathers’ behaviors and recognize those behaviors as successful (Gross). As a father, Walter believes that he is not a qualitative role model to his son, Travis Younger.

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