Why Is Scout Finch Unfair

Scout Finch’s Rebellion American actress and filmmaker Clea Duvall said, “The expectations of women are sometimes so unfair.” It is true. Some of the principles and expectations that are imposed upon women are unfair. This principle is illustrated exceptionally well in the nineteen-sixty narrative, To Kill a Mockingbird. The main character, Jean Louise “Scout” Finch, constantly responds to unfair expectations in the way she should— by doing what she wants to, and by taking care of what she thinks is important. In Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout’s behavior, clothing, and activities are in direct contrast to the traditional expectations of girls in Maycomb. Scout Finch’s behavior contradicts the accepted practices of women of her time.

Women and girls were not expected to take on the role or help in an outside situation. According to Zahra Abedinezhad, Ph.D., in the nineteen-thirties, “women were seen as domestic and the primary caretaker” (Abedinezhad). Women and girls alike are expected to work in the home and take care of the family, whether it be a husband, brother, father, or any younger sibling. Scout does not stay at home as she is told. She and Jem sneak out to check on their father Atticus, when he tells them to stay at their house. When someone who came to hurt Atticus seizes Jem, Scout acts quickly. Harper Lee wrote Scout’s response, “‘Don’t you touch him!’ I kicked the man swiftly” (Lee 204). Traditionally speaking, it is the man or boy that saves the woman or girl. Scout is defying gender norms to help her brother. To accomplish that, Scout kicks a grown man. That is not something that a proper little girl would do, according to the people of Maycomb. Scout wants to know what is going on, she does not want to be protected like women “should have” been. Her behavior demonstrates her thirst for knowledge and equality with her