Traditional Gender Roles In Neverhome By Constanec Thompson

In the novel “Neverhome,” Hunt hyperbolised society’s aversion towards the abundance of masculinity and the deficit of femininity in a woman in order to criticize traditional gender roles as a restrictive social norm that inhibits the experiences of women. In order to fight in the Civil War on behalf of her husband, Constanec Thompson assumes the identity of a man named "Ash" in the book. Throughout the book, Ash's experiences as a soldier challenge traditional notions of masculinity and femininity and demonstrate how gender roles can restrict womens opportunities and experiences.

The existence of gender roles during the period and the manner in which they may be both restricting and dictatorial is a central theme of the novel. In the 17th

She cuts her hair, binds her breasts, and alters her voice. This change undermines the traditional assumption that women should be timid and fragile, while males should be strong and aggressive. Ash not only epitomizes but also transcends masculinity. She demonstrates her combat prowess and earns the respect of her fellow soldiers.

The gender-bending of Ash challenges the notion that women are unsuitable for war. During the period, women were not allowed to enlist in the military, and their participation in war was deemed deceptive and the women insane. By enlisting in the military, Ash demonstrates that women are just as capable in warfare as males. Her presence in the army demonstrates the ridiculousness of limiting individuals based on their sex.

While Ash adopts male characteristics and actions, she keeps her femininity in a variety of ways. She continues to care for others, demonstrate emotion, and love with fervor. Although she appears to be a man, she is still Constance on the

She endures both physical and psychological loss of femininity as a result of her time as a male soldier. In order to become Ash, she had to sacrifice some of Constance. Ash's loss of femininity and her own identity has both beneficial and terrible repercussions. On the one hand, her masculine identity grants her a level of independence and autonomy that she would not have as a woman. She is able to make her own decisions, as opposed to being subject to the whims of males. In addition, she is able to feel a bond of brotherhood with her fellow soldiers, which is not possible for women in conventional gender roles. But Ash's loss of femininity exposes her to the harsh reality of combat and the constraints of conventional gender roles. She is subjected to physical and emotional assault and is forced to see the atrocities of war. In addition to being unable to communicate her feelings or weaknesses, she is forced to bear the psychological impact of her experiences alone.

Ash's once-idealistic conception of war was destroyed, as was her belief that everything would be the same when she returned. Throughout her service in the war, Ash gained and lost aspects of herself. Ash struggles throughout the narrative to reconcile her male identity with her femininity. She worries if she has lost something vital by disguising herself as a man, and if she made the