To Kill A Mockingbird Essay: Gender Roles and Feminism -- Feminism Fem

Gender Roles and Feminism in To put to death a MockingbirdWhen the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, was written by harper leeward, the Southern United States was still clinging tightly to tralatitious values. Southern societies pressured men to behave as gentlemen, and women were expected to be polite and wear dresses. These pissed gender roles were adhered to in small grey townships because they were isolated from the more advancing attitudes in other areas of the United States. Harper Lee documents the life of hotshot unseasoned missy growing up in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Jean Louise Finch, also known as Scout, is a young girl searching for her identity. Scout, a young tomboy, is pressured by adults who insist she should conform to the traditional role of a southerly lady. Harper Lee establishes and promotes Jeans masculinity through the use of nicknames, fighting, and masculine clothing, while contrasting her with women that mark the stereotypical female model . In traditional smart set, parents name children according to their gender. vernacular names for boys include John, Robert and James, whereas Elizabeth, Sarah, and Cathy represent standard names for girls. The spring gives her chief(prenominal) char deeder two common female titles, Jean Louise. Many southern females have two first names which reinforces their role in society as a Southern Belle, or a traditional southern lady. Lee contrasts this extremely feminine name with her masculine label, Scout. Scout, Im Jem tellin you for the last time, unsympathetic your trap or go home - I declare to the passkey youre gettin more like a girl every day (52). It seems interesting Lee assigns Jean Louise such a manful name. Although the nickname accurately describes her personality, it does not seem a... ...she describes the pompous women. The author uses the womens conversations to emphasize the reasons Scout remains a tomboy and refuses the traits of Maycomb females. Harper Lee pr ovides the reader with several examples of typical Maycomb females. She establishes Scouts masculinity with fighting and explains her demeanor by contrasting it with the typical female adults of the novel. The author also allows Jean Louise to wear masculine clothing and gives her a manly nickname. Therefore, the author favors Scouts unique personality and implies women do not have to act in a stereotypical manner. The book might inspire young girls to become independent and create their own unique personalities. To Kill a Mockingbird emerges as an important novel that contradicts female society and suggests that girls should not feel pressure to act in scripted womanly roles.