Gender bias in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is seen without much difficulty, elaborated upon, but never given a solid conclusion. Visible throughout the book, it sends a subtle but confusing message. This seems to occur because the main character of the book, Scout, really has no solid opinion on it because her perspective on gender discrimination changes. The other characters also have differing, if not usually vague opinions on it. Gender bias was also seemingly normal back then when the book’s events happened, so Scout could have just missed it altogether or not seen it as often. Nevertheless, her fiery personality definitely heightens the risk of encountering it, along with her lack of a mother to instill fear or any grace in the little girl. This makes an interesting mixture to observe as the book progresses and as the characters in it mature.
“’You mean women in Alabama can’t-?’ …‘I guess it’s to protect our frail ladies from sordid cases like Tom’s…’” Atticus replies to a question about why women cannot partake in jury duty on page 296. Even he, a role model in To Kill a Mockingbird, shows some evidence of gender bias when he speaks about this. Some of the younger characters also display some more childish biased actions. Jem stands as an obvious person who exhibits gender bias. He …show more content…
Even Scout, a stubborn tomboy usually combatting for her right to play with the boys and wrestle with people, eventually learns to cope with her aunt. On page 308 it seems she has finally has consented to her aunt’s demands when she claims that she wants to be “a lady”. Later in the chapter, on page 312, Scout notes, “Ladies seemed to live in faint horror of men…But I liked them.” Scout is still probably the least gender-biased character in the entire book, even though she seems to dislike most other females. She begins to understand what being a woman means to them, although not necessarily to
“’You mean women in Alabama can’t-?’ …‘I guess it’s to protect our frail ladies from sordid cases like Tom’s…’” Atticus replies to a question about why women cannot partake in jury duty on page 296. Even he, a role model in To Kill a Mockingbird, shows some evidence of gender bias when he speaks about this. Some of the younger characters also display some more childish biased actions. Jem stands as an obvious person who exhibits gender bias. He …show more content…
Even Scout, a stubborn tomboy usually combatting for her right to play with the boys and wrestle with people, eventually learns to cope with her aunt. On page 308 it seems she has finally has consented to her aunt’s demands when she claims that she wants to be “a lady”. Later in the chapter, on page 312, Scout notes, “Ladies seemed to live in faint horror of men…But I liked them.” Scout is still probably the least gender-biased character in the entire book, even though she seems to dislike most other females. She begins to understand what being a woman means to them, although not necessarily to