Raisin In The Sun Women

Female Assertion in A Raisin in the Sun

Female assertion can have different responses and impacts considering how much power the woman who is asserting herself holds. Women with more power are regarded more respectfully while women with less power are responded with teasing and jokes after asserting themselves. Additionally, when a woman with less power asserts herself, she is usually blown off. The three main female characters in the play A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, all assert themselves at times, but the response ranges depending on whether it’s Mama, Beneatha, or Ruth because of their varying roles, based on power stemming from motherhood and age. This is applicable to life during the time period which the play was based,

She is the head of the house, the eldest, and has the ability to change all of the other main character’s lives - no one wants to go against her - and it shows in how they respond to her assertions. Although it may not be reflected in his words - “Mama-I don’t need no nagging at me today.” (Hansberry 72) - Walter cleary listens and considers his mother’s advice to him. This is most obviously shown nearing the end of the book, when Walter calls Lindor over. His original plan was to beg him for money, however, after telling his family of his plan his mother tried to convince him not to. Though he did not verbally say he agreed with her, it was seen through his actions when Lindor arrived that Mama’s words moved him. He did as she said he should do, and this is a clear expression that not only does he value her ideas, he also respects

Ruth being Walter’s wife, he cannot regard her the same as he would his sister or mother, but he still does not see her as an equal. It is seen many times throughout the play that he does not regard her as an authoritative person in the house, even in the opening scene. When Rutha expresses that she is upset and has no interest in messing around, Walter goes on a spiel about how “You all some eeeevil people at eight o’clock in the morning.” (Hansberry 27), blaming her attitude on the time of day rather than his own actions. Another instance which shows Walter shutting down Ruth’s assertions is when Walter was criticising Ruth’s parenting; after she had told Travis he could not have any more money, Walter blatantly disregarded her authority as a parent and gave Travis more than enough money to get what he needed. When Travis left, he and Ruth proceeded to fight until Walter stormed out of the house. Just after that, he came back inside, noticeably more calm, and asked Ruth for money for carfare. He was obviously embarrassed that he had to ask her for money - “He fumbles with his cap, starts to speak, looks everywhere but at Ruth,” (Hansberry 39) - not only because he just freely gave money to Travis despite Ruth saying they don’t have the money, but also because she is his wife, a woman, who is not supposed to be the one in charge of the money. In