Harper Lee's novel, To Kill Mockingbird, has sparked much controversy and analysis on its main theme of bias and racism. However, the novel also depicts the gender biases and stereotypes of the time. Set in the 1930s in the small southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, To Kill a Mockingbird reveals the common gender inequality for women that occurred during this time period. In fact, societal norms toward women are best illustrated by the behaviors and personalities of the female characters in the novel. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In contrast to Alexandra's portrayal of the pure southern lady, the novel's main character and narrator, Jean Louise Finch is a six-year-old college-aged maid who swears often and goes by the nickname Scout. She does not fit the traditional mold of a young woman and its standards of femininity. Scout's mother died when she was very young and she barely remembers her. Without a maternal and feminine role model, Scout became a tomboy always dressed in overalls and muddy shoes. She dislikes wearing dresses and is as rowdy as her older brother, Jem, and their friend, Dill, with whom she spends most of her time playing outside and arguing. As the boys grow up, they begin to exclude Scout, and she is often told that acting like a girl is undesirable. For example, Jem tells her, “Scout, I say to you for the last time, shut your trap or go home – I declare to the lord that you look more and more like a girl every day” in chapter six. Likewise, the lack of Scout traditional manners and feminine clothing often causes consternation among the ladies of Maycomb. For example, in Chapter 24, Aunt Alexandra and her missionary circle paused in their meeting for refreshments, Miss Stephanie said to Scout, "You won't get very far until you start wearing dresses more often. » Likewise, Mrs. Dubose became concerned about Scout and exclaimed, “What are you doing in that jumpsuit? You should be in a dress and a camisole, young lady! You will grow up serving at the table if someone doesn't change your habits. in chapter 11 which indicates that being a waitress is not an appropriate activity for a southern lady. In fact, Jem goes on to tell Scout, "Don't pay any attention to her, just hold your head high and be a gentleman," as if acting like a man is more valuable than acting like a woman. While Scout does not fit the stereotypical mold of a southern lady due to her tomboyish behavior and dress, Mayella Ewell is portrayed as unfeminine due to her social status and the fact that she has impure feelings for Tom Robinson, the black man who helped her at home. Mayella is alone and helpless due to the combination of her gender and poverty. Like all Ewells, she lacks education and is cut off from respectable white society. However, Harper Lee clarifies that although she is not part of the white community, gender and social prejudice dictate that as a white woman and the eldest in the family, Mayella is expected to keep the house and raise the younger ones. Mayella is further humiliated and separated from respectable people when Tom Robinson says on the witness stand that Mayella "reached out and kissed me on the side of my face." She says she's never kissed a grown man before... She says what her daddy does to her doesn't matter. When his alcoholic father, Bob Ewell, is.