Gender In John Updike's A & P

In our modern society, female empowerment is not an abstract concept. They can hold high power jobs, express themselves, and are free to speak their minds. Just how far women have come was demonstrated two months ago though the Women's March. This event featured more than five million women from all around the world marching for the advocation of legislation and policies regarding human rights, specifically those favoring woman. But while woman standing for up for themselves is more or less a societal norm now, back in the 60’s it was not. In many situations, it was considered moral wrong for woman to do such a thing. In John Updike’s short story “A&P” he uses symbolism to help illustrate the overall theme of gender.

“A&P” is story rich with

When these girls walk in it is clear through Sammy’s narration that it disturbs the normal mundane nature of the A&P. While most shoppers would wear boring and drab clothing into the store, these girls do not follow that norm and instead wear brightly clothed two-piece bathing suits. This is because the bathing suits are clearly symbolic of taking a stand against societal norms. When they enter they store the woman do not even need to speak a word to make their point. Their demonstration resonates with the different characters in strikingly different ways. Lengel is not inspired by the girls actions, but is instead quite frustrated by the disruption to his establishment. As the story’s authoritarian character, Lengel is quite frustrated by the casual disrespect of the rules and demands that they conform and cover their shoulders,

But after Sammy sees the way that Lengel treats the girls, he performs, what Updike described in an interview as, “an act of feminist protest” (PBS 153). By quitting his job Sammy is showing that he understands that woman should have the right to dress the way they want and should still be treated with respect. Sammy’s “gesture is a show of his affirmation towards the woman, and, more importantly, all women” (Porter 1157). Had Sammy done nothing and just let his boss walk all over the girls, then the girls stance would have been shortly forgotten. But because of his actions Lengel says the event will be felt, “for the rest of your life” (Updike 444). The three girls also perform a similar feminist protest by wearing their scandalous two piece bathing suits into a public store. Them standing up for their rights is what causes Sammy to change his mind about women.Their demonstration was the turning point in Sammy’s life that caused him to rebel against the establishment and stand up for something greater then himself. Had the three girls not shown up to the A&P that day, perhaps Sammy would have kept his outdated stance on what a woman could be or