Examples Of Sexism In To Kill A Mockingbird

How would you feel if, for your entire life, you had been looked down on by people based on something you couldn't change, but still did the same to others? In the book To Kill A Mockingbird, Jean Louise Finch, or Scout, is a crucial character who, while reading the book, we watch grow and change. Scout is a girl born in the 1930s so naturally, sexism is prominent in this book. The main source of sexism in this book is her family. Scout is burdened with sexism, racist surroundings, and her short temper. Even with all of these obstacles, Scout persists. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, the author explores the idea of sexism in the 1930s. For example, at the beginning of the book, Jem begins to treat Scout like she is below him with direct references to her sex. One instance of this is when he says, "Scout, I'm tellin' you for the last time, shut your trap or go home—I declare to the Lord you're gettin' more like a girl every day!". He makes this conclusion implying that it has a direct correlation to her gender. Another family member who constantly tells her how to act is Aunt Alexandra. For instance, when she tells Scout to put on a dress so she'll look more "ladylike". Imagine being in Scout's point of view, to have family constantly telling you how to act while contradicting themselves in …show more content…
Scout has grown up in an intensely racist town, ultimately turning her into a bigoted person. An example of this is when the mad dog is loose on the streets, and they need to warn everyone, but the Radleys' don't have a phone. Calpurnia, being selfless and courageous, goes out on the street, puts herself in danger, and single handedly saves the Radleys. Instead of thanking Calpurnia, Scout says something along the lines of, "why didn't she use the back door?". This shows her care for societies normalities is greater than her regard for Calpurnia's