In To Kill a Mockingbird, how do the different
female characters challenge traditional gender
roles and stereotypes?
In Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, several female characters challenge
traditional gender roles and stereotypes prevalent in the Deep South during
the 1930s. The novel portrays strong, intelligent women who defy societal
expectations of their gender and assert their independence. This essay will
examine the various ways in which the female characters in the novel
challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes.
The character of Scout, the main protagonist and narrator of the novel,
challenges the role of the traditional Southern Belle, who is expected to be
polite, obedient, and submissive. Scout's unconventional behavior and refusal
to conform to gender norms are evident from the beginning of the novel. She
spends most of her time playing with boys, wearing overalls, and getting into
fights. Scout's strong personality is seen when she stands up to Aunt
Alexandra, who tries to impose traditional gender roles on her. Scout
expresses her desire to continue behaving as she has been and not adhere to
the stereotype of the Southern Belle.
Calpurnia, the family's black housekeeper, is another female character who
challenges traditional gender roles. She is an independent and assertive
woman who runs the Finch household and is respected by Atticus and the
children. She embodies the idea that women are equally capable of
performing non-traditional roles and that race and gender should not
determine who holds positions of power.
Miss Maudie, the Finches' neighbor, is yet another female character who
defies traditional gender roles. She is an outspoken and independent woman
who is not afraid to voice her opinions. Unlike most women in the town, Miss
Maudie does not gossip, sew, or hold tea parties. Instead, she pursues her
interests, such as gardening and reading. Her unconventional behavior
challenges the stereotype that Southern women are shallow and
unintellectual.
Mayella Ewell, the daughter of Bob Ewell, challenges gender roles in a
different way. Although she is a victim of sexual assault, Mayella's testimony
in court shows that she is not powerless or submissive. She stands up to
Atticus, the most respected lawyer in the town, and maintains her innocence
despite being told to lie by her father. Mayella's behavior challenges the notion
that women are weaker and more vulnerable than men.
In conclusion, the female characters in To Kill a Mockingbird challenge
traditional gender roles and stereotypes prevalent in the Deep South during
the 1930s. They represent strong, independent women who refuse to conform
to societal expectations of their gender. By portraying these women, Harper
Lee shows that gender should not be a determining factor in one's ability to
hold positions of power or perform non-traditional roles.
References:
Lee, H. (1960). To Kill a Mockingbird. J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Shackelford, D. (2008). "They Don't Have to Suffer": Southern Women and the Alabama
Christian Movement for Human Rights. Alabama Review, 61(2), 99-121.