Theme Of Sexism In A Rose For Emily

The written works of many southern writers are often praised based on their abilities to address political and social issues facing America at that particular time. Noticed by most readers of southern literature is the obvious topics of racism and bigotry. Although just as prevalent, yet perhaps more overlooked are the sexist undertones incorporated in southern literature. Filled with stereotypical gender roles, southern writers expose misogyny in a quiet yet obvious light. In an article written by Judith Howard and Carolyn Allen, they claim that “ This culture [culture that is addressed in southern literature] is not one in which masculinity and femininity are a divinely ordained complement but is instead a sexist culture in which men and …show more content…
Probably the biggest example of sexism in “A Rose for Emily” is when Colonel Satoris fabricates a story about Emily’s dearly departed father once lending a substantial amount of money to the town. Assuming that because of her gender, Miss Emily could not find a means to provide for herself, Colonel Satoris remitted all taxes she and her deceased father owed. To add further insult to Miss Emily’s intuitive skills as a female, the story’s narrator, regarding the dishonest tale of Miss Emily’s father, says that, “Only a man of Colonel Satoris’ generation and thought could have invented, and only a woman could have believed it” (Faulkner 1). The narrator also recounts certain comments and actions of the women in the town, none of which are favorable. They do not express any semblance of sympathy for Miss Emily and are quite prying in her affairs. They believe that Miss Emily and Homer Baron’s relationship to be a bad model for the young people in the community and they even pushed the pastor into having a meeting with Miss Emily for the sole purpose of extracting information. Forceful, judging, and meddlesome, all characteristics generally used in stereotyping …show more content…
Although pride, racism, and manipulation are not character traits pertaining only to females, the way O’Connor presents these negative qualities can reasonably allow one to assume that the grandmother, though not in her own mind, ranks very low on the social ladder. During the story, the grandmother attempts to dissuade her son from taking his family to Florida by implying that he does not care about them because he is bringing them into danger since there is a loose criminal roaming the area they would have to travel through. Although her plan fails, it is clear to the reader that she is trying to manipulate the situation by attempting to play on her son’s emotions. She also tells a story from her past that in which she refers to an African American child as a “Nigger Boy.” It is obvious from the context of her story that she is neither fond nor acceptant of Negros. Her pride is evident by the way she dresses. Clad in an assortment of fashionable clothing, she looks down her nose at her daughter and law who dresses much more conservatively. The grandmother also dresses in this manner so “In the case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady.” (O’Connor She believes herself to be a “lady” in the social sense