Stereotypes In To Kill A Mockingbird

Everything, no matter how insignificant, changes or evolves with time- the environment, the creatures within it and everything surrounding it. Humans and their convictions are no exception to this truth. Within the past century, the concept of stereotypical genders has changed significantly in the way people accept them. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Maycomb is yet another town to have fallen victim to stereotypical views of gender. Whether it be from the need of acceptance by society, being ignorant of equality, or simply being raised into believing, a majority of the population in Maycomb hold and follow traditional views for each gender. It is well known that each character’s thoughts are their own, in contrast it seems

In order for the family name to maintain their high status, all members of the family must fulfill the stereotypes placed on their specific gender. For this reason Scout Finch is seen as a mar to this unrealistic picture perfect family. Her solution to this fallacious conundrum? Constantly tell Scout how she must dress and behave as a lady in order to properly grow and be successful in life. From the beginning her main concern was getting her way. As a result of this, she shows little regard in recognizing how her woeful demanding could possibly affect Scout. Alexandra holds these strong stereotypical views of gender for a number or reasons, one-to be seen as the ideal family in Maycomb, the other-to appear strong. For Aunt Alexandra gender norms are necessary in society to thrive, and for one to break them would result in

She did not conform to the gender roles placed on her, not only out of preference but also out of rebellion. In her point of view, to be a lady restricts all the activities she rather be doing: playing outside, exploring, or anything remotely fun. In other words Scout herself did not follow gender norms, but believed that other must obey them in order to be normal. This was only a part of why she rebelled; her own personal biases and aunt, with her constant nagging, caused Scout to somewhat resent the feminine gender role, and lean more towards the male gender. Despite her resentment, she experimented from time-to-time with femininity. By not choosing blindly Scout strengthened her views on traditional gender roles, while also broadening her spectrum of gender to see which best suit her. Regardless of how she felt towards the subject of femininity, Scout came to reason that one day becoming a lady was her destiny. Scout, not completely disagreeing with traditional views of gender, was led to eventually believe that these views were a necessary part of growing up and fully accepting her role in