White Women In The Great Gatsby

In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, women are portrayed as inferiors to men. In the 1920s, women were looked at as just something to look at. Women were just objects with pretty clothes and shiny legs. Their role was not expected to be intelligent or provide for their families, that’s what men were for. This book definitely showcases the stereotypical rich white woman in the twenties. Daisy and Myrtle both lay around all day and mooch off their husband’s money, that’s what they expect. Jordan also lays around with Daisy, but she at least goes out every once and a while on her own to play golf. It seems as though Daisy nor Myrtle can leave their home without a man to be there with them. Women were very dependent on other people and feel

If their husbands could afford the help, they are expected to just lay around in dresses and heels, looking pretty while men go out and make the money. Daisy is a prime example of this; she wears white at home doing nothing, symbolizing that she doesn’t have to work or get dirty (Fitzgerald 8). Even though she doesn’t have a job, she still does nothing around the house or for their child because they have people there to do it for them. A rich white woman with a man was not expected to do any work other than to look

They were expected to not say anything of intelligence, and basically only talk when it has nothing to do with important topics. Their input did not mean anything and everything they said could be reacted to by a simple, “Silly woman, she doesn’t know what she’s talking about.” That statement on its own seems like a common theme is the book. At parties, like the one with Tom, Gatsby, Daisy, and Jordan at the hotel, when Tom and Gatsby were fighting, the women were expected to stay out of it. When Daisy goes to stand up for herself, Tom says, “sit down, Daisy,” (Fitzgerald 131). He’s very disrespectful and treats her as though is a child or a pet. Women did not have validation to