To Kill A Mockingbird Scout Tomboy Quotes

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. Although the boys want Scout to go home, petrified and shaken, she agrees to go on with them, but

She runs and plays with boys and hates it when she is not included in Jem and Dill’s adventures. She is fast to resolve her issues with her fists. It does not help that her mother died when she was very young. Although she does not miss her nor remember her, she has lacked a motherly figure to guide her in the right direction and has relied on Atticus to show her the way. Within the context of the novel’s setting, this quotes shows that Scout uses words and phrases that could be considered to be inappropriate for young ladies. Scout’s tomboyism illustrates one of many instances, where Lee characterizes characters who fall in the middle of masculinity and femininity stereotypes, rather than only belonging and taking part of feminineness methods and ways. Another example of gender discrimination was in chapter 11 when Jem bought a “miniature steam engine for himself and a twirling baton” for Scout (Lee, page 134). As they were walking past Mrs. Dubose’s house, she accused them of making trouble and disapproved of Scout’s wardrobe by bellowing and saying“...‘And you—’ she pointed an arthritic finger at [her]—’what are you doing in those overalls? You should be in a dress and camisole, young lady!’ ” (Lee,