Power Of Women In The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald

In the book “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Men had social power over women. Especially true for the time period in the 1920’s in which it’s portrayed, due to the fact that it was still during the time of women’s suffrage and regarding sexual inequality. Power can be shown over Daisy through Tom and Gatsby, along with the power Myrtle's’ husband holds over her, although it isn’t frequently shown because of their social ranking. Women in the 1920’s were trying to go against their social standard in which they were regarded as possessions to a mere household. The 1920ś was an American time era where social and gender inequalities were being tried, primarily shown through the flapper culture. Women were more promiscuous and were partaking

in predominantly male activities. Although women were challenging social norms, men still had power over women. Women have words while Men have fists.
Idealises women have words while men have fists. The sense that Women and Men aren’t accounted as equals at the time, even after the 19th Amendment was passed in 1919. “Some time toward midnight Tom Buchanan and Mrs. Wilson stood face to face discussing, in impassioned voices, whether Mrs. Wilson had any right to mention Daisy's name."Daisy! Daisy! Daisy!" shouted Mrs. Wilson. "I'll say it whenever I want to! Daisy! Dai –– "Making a short deft movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.” Women have words. Men have fists. (CHAPTER 2, Page 25). Although gaining the right to vote women and minority groups still weren’t granted the same social opportunities as white men. The historical and gender biased side of the 1920s shows how differently the time era was but also brings in the concept of why Fitzgerald's characters acted in such manners.
Encapsulates the 1920s and how even though women were becoming more independent through the 19th Amendment and the Flapper culture society, women still relied on men. Not until the mid 1930s was it even acceptable for a woman to be both a mother and an employee. Their income, shelter, food and protection all came from their husband. “She wanted her life shaped now, immediately – and the decision must be made by some force – of love, of money, of unquestionable practicality – that was close at hand.” (CHAPTER 8, Page 96). Daisy is torn because of the impact Tom has on her life. The practicality of her situation placed her in a position that no sensible woman should be, her decisions were being based off of Social norms and others opinions, not her own.
Gender biased inequalities of the 1920s regarded women and their rights. Expressed through Daisy you see what the real expectations of women were. Regarded as objects of beauty and pleasure, they weren’t truly seen as people, especially not as equals to white men. “She told me it was a girl, and so I turned my head away and wept. 'All right,' I said, 'I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.” (CHAPTER 1, Page 12). As a woman the best thing they could do for themselves was to be a beautiful airhead, considering that they didn’t have any rights why should they be anything but ditzy. Daisy hints to the fact that she may be more than what meets the eye, but as a woman of the 1920’s, she may never show it unless she would rather be considered an outcast.
Gender and social aspect of women’s lives in the 1920’s.

Considering the fact that Daisy’s husband Tom has cheated on her multiple times and she has done nothing, is the social oppression of the time. "And what's more, I love Daisy too. Once in awhile I go off on a spree and make a fool of myself, but I always come back, and in my heart I love her all the time." (CHAPTER 7, Page ). Because Tom is a wealth white male, even if Daisy was to divorce him, she wouldn’t inherit any profit. Women got nothing because they were also considered property of their husband’s. It was better for a woman to be taken advantaged of and live comfortably instead of be respected and have nothing. Men were women’s life support and it was often rare to find a young unmarried woman such as Jordan Baker that were self reliant.

Women of the 1920’s, had no rights. To be a woman of the time era meant you were regarded as a mere possession and whatever your husband did with you was of his choice. "Beat me!" he heard her cry. "Throw me down and beat me, you dirty little coward!" (CHAPTER 8, Page). Encapsulating the idea that it was common in the 1920’s for a man to beat his wife, never displayed in public due to social status but it was a well known fact behind closed

doors.
As Gatsby explained, the idea that Daisy was considered a desirable woman to many other men made her more of a value to him. Men and women married for status in the 1920’s. If a woman married a rich man her social status would be increased such as a man that married a young pretty woman. “It excited him too that many men had already loved Daisy—it increased her value in his eyes.” (CHAPTER 8, Page). Whether or not his love for her was based off of greed or physical attraction it didn’t matter because a woman wasn’t suppose to disregard the affections of a man, let alone a very rich man. But the fact that Daisy was married made the entire situation unjustified, even though Tom was doing the same thing to Daisy. Tom’s actions were more justified for the time era because of his wealthy disposition as the wealthy white male.
The 1920’s known as an American time era that was roaring in the sense of Economic and Social uprising.

As show through F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” Nick is determined to partake in the American dream. Flappers, money, parties, mansions and access to alcohol during the prohibition were part of these care free times. The desire to live handsomely rich lives and to acquire more money was America’s dream at the time. Spending time and money into having the chance to be a part of the upper society was the American Dream. While few were rich and many were looking to get rich the status of wealth seemed to be the best way to accomplish any variety of objectives. The Great Gatsby’s lead character depicts a true understanding and partaking of America’s obsession at the time with wealth. Nick throught the book becomes masked in his new persona created for himself in West Egg. Through evolving into his new role as a wealthy man, Nick gains himself a higher level on the social ladder leading him into the small exclusive group of the wealthy upper class, such as

Gatsby.
Throughout the book all of Fitzgerald’s characters are in their own search for their prosperous needs. As in the 1920’s everyone was trying to become a better version than who they once were. Whether or not it was financially, concern amongst outward social appearance was crucial. Your worth was based off of materialistic items. As shown through Myrtle, the aspect of being wealthy and respected was of something many middle class men and women wanted. Social levels were very much separated in how they were treated because they couldn’t live as lavishly as others. Although the upper class was the minority group at the time, many were striving to be accepted into their exclusive group because they were viewed as superiors. Along with the idea that even those who were wealthy in the 1920’s often had to maintain and expand upon their display of wealth to remain on the high social ladder. As Gatsby had demonstrated when he was constantly held at high levels for the output of materialistic wealth to try and impress Daisy, a woman that could only be deterred by money and eventually kept up the act of this display through parties at his lavishly wealthy home. The novel parallels the 1920’s due to mass concern over money and social ranking, ultimately failing in bringing any closure, happiness or peace into America and later leading into the downfall of the Great Depression.