The Girls In Their Summer Dresses By Irwin Shaw

The Girls in their summer dresses tells the story about a married couple, Michael and Frances, taking a stroll on Fifth Avenue on a Sunday morning. Frances notices her husband that has a pleasure at “breaking his neck” while watching other girls. The author, Irwin Shaw, uses conflicts to demonstrate how a relationship can easily deteriorate in a matter of time. Shaw shows how Michael and Frances differences and opposition can affect their relationship and how stereotypes shown in the story are a reality in our society.

Michael’s behavior greatly affects his marriage. He has a habit of compulsively checking out girls in the streets and views woman as sexual objects. He feels that he has a need to compulsively watch other woman because “he is older now. He is a man getting near middle age, putting on a little fat.” Michael wants to have his freedom and be able to look as many women that he can and as Frances would say, “have a kid’s feeling” because he would “walk around with his heart in his throat.” He views woman, including his wife, as sexual objects, only wanting them for their looks. This also shows how in a matter …show more content…
Indeed, in today’s society, women are perceived as sexual objects, whether it is on television, in advertisements, magazines and on social media, it has become an expected ideology. This causes men to think that what they are doing is completely fine, therefore, causing conflict in their marriage without them knowing why that behavior is an issue. Men would think that just having a glance at girls does not do any damage, as long that they are not in contact with them. However, in most of their glare, they seem to not realize that “they look at them as if they want them.” and when they do realize it, “they feel