This rude and unnecessary quote was said by Aunt Alexandra, the ultra housewife type character of this story. Here, she is basically telling Scout that she must learn how to be a girly girl and dress nice so boys will like her. The idea that a young girl can only find a significant other by dressing nice and learning how to be feminine is unfair because boys often expect this from girls when they don't even try. Also the assumption that Scout will even like boys is not Alexandra's choice to make. Scout can like whatever gender she chooses though in those times being gay would have been uncommon and frowned upon.
Why is Alexandra's idea of being feminine the way Scout has to be? Who says being feminine isn't wearing pants and playing sports? I think being truly feminine is being strong and having courage to think for yourself.
I really liked your quote and your argument was strong and really brought out the sexism/patriarchy in that sentence. I also strongly agree with your point about how women don't have to wear dresses and act like a "lady" to be feminine.
ReplyDeleteYeah Your point was so right and I agree so much. I hate how Aunt Alexandra represents how the world expects of Scout. She is pretty awesome right now, and having to deal with that at such a young age is amazing.
ReplyDeleteYou make really good points, especially your last few sentences about what it means to be feminine and how being confident and strong minded is a womanly thing to be/do. I loved the picture also because it illustrates how dumb people can be towards others.
ReplyDeleteyeah honestly its so annoying when relatives you've spoken to maybe three times in your life suddenly start interrogating you about whether or not you have a boyfriend, and when you say you don't want one, they claim that you don't know what your talking about and that eventually you will want one
ReplyDeletethis is what alexandra reminded me of in your quote and in the entire book