Passing By Nella Larsen Summary

The novel passing by Nella Larsen centers on racial issues African American were faced with during the 1920s, due to the color of their skin. It reveals the mal-treatment they were subjected to and discloses that the only way they could have escaped these harsh treatments was by passing for a white person. This only applied to individuals who were of mixed race, since their fair complexion mirrored that of a white person. Since the novel has been written a lot of changes have been made in the African- American community; Racial inequality is still an issue in modern society however, there has been improvement made over the years. Although the theme passing was more gear towards race in the book, it is an umbrella term; therefore, can be used

for other issues. One of these issues where passing can use is gender inequality.

However, like the individual in the book who cannot pass because they are not of mixed race or may be of it but are too dark to pass; This shares the same notion with gender issues as it impossible for the female to pass for a man. Passing has various meaning, however, regarding gender, it focuses on equality between men and women.

For the longest gender inequality has been a major issue in our society. Based on the texts read in class, it can be drawn that women in our society are always seen as inferior to men and therefore are treated as second-class citizens. Society has given women limited roles, these include bearing and raising children, household duties, nursing, and looking fashionable etc. These roles degrade women as they can’t show their full potentials; it put them in a box and as a result, they aren’t taken seriously by men, who feel they do not measure up to their standards. The yellow wallpaper by

Charlotte Perkins Stetson illustrates this. In the book we see a doctor and his wife who just had a baby; Like the roles, society gives women, her role as she states, is to dress up entertain and order things (649). She also mentions her sister-in-law who is also her housekeeper, a job she loves and doesn’t want anything better. These roles prevent women from elevating themselves; it conveys the message that, these are the reasons women were placed on earth and that they aren’t smart enough to do the job of a man, which is not the case. In addition to this, she thinks she is sick, but he doesn’t think so and therefore keep on telling her that she has a temporary nervous depression and only needs rest. This sense of dominance by him comes from being a physician and her husband, he uses his role to control her, look down on her and underestimate her. She has no say in her life and the only control she has is the fantasy she creates in her head. It’s hard for her to pass/seen as equal to her husband as she doesn’t have any vital role and he treats her as a child. If there is a point where she decides to elevate herself, he still wouldn’t take her seriously.
Marjane Satrapi uses her book Persepolis to demonstrates what happens when women become enlightened and realize their worth, they decide to fight for equality.

However, it’s hard for them to pass, it’s hard for them to be seen as equal to men, as men would do just about anything so that women aren’t on their level. The book opens with a revolution that has occurred, this revolution brings a lot of changes to the Iranian society which are more geared towards women. These changes required that women covered up themselves, it also reduced their role. Marjane is the main character in the book, she, on the other hand, find these changes to be absurd. She doesn’t want to conform to these gender roles, in fact, she wants to be a prophet; a role only men can fill. She yearns to be educated and liberated. She refuses to be subject to the changes the revolution has brought and decide to continue with her own tradition. However, we see where it has brought her when she decides to revolt, not only is she expel from school, but her parent fear her safety, so they send her to another

country.
Unlike the mixed-race individuals in the book who passed when it is convenient and would be of benefits to them. It is not that easy for a woman to pass as a man when she feels it will be of convenient to her; passing for another gender is impossible due to men establishing dominance over women and expecting women to be subordinate. Furthermore, society gives women limited roles and it's hard for them to elevate themselves since they are supposed to stick to these roles. When women finally realize that bearing, raising, and nurturing children is not their only role in society and they tried to break these boundaries and stand up for what is right; they are then put down, ridicule, call rebels, and even attacked.