To Kill a Mockingbird: Final Essay
One of the main themes in “To Kill A Mockingbird” is a person’s sex should not determine their role in society. Throughout the book Scout was continuously told to be a lady even though she was just a kid. She was also constantly learning more information about how to become a lady and no one ever once told her it was acceptable to be an independent women. In modern society it is acceptable to be independent and choose how they want to present themselves, but sexism is still relevant because women are not receiving equal pay as their male co-workers.
One of the main themes from To Kill a Mockingbird” is that a person’s sex should not determine their role in society. There are many references that Lee has in her book. A quote that supports the main theme is,
“Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants.” (Lee, 108)
When Scout said she could not do anything while wearing a dress, Aunt Alexandra responded in a way that implied that you would not need to do anything because a proper Southern Belle was to be the perfect role model for society, host many gatherings, and to be very social. This shows that women were not supposed to do any strenuous activity that required the need to have pants on. This quote perfectly responds to the theme because her aunt is telling her she is a girl and she must follow all other women of that time and that is her one role in society.
Another quote that relates unmistakably with the theme is when Scout is asking her father why the court system can not put fair people on the jury like Miss Maudie. Atticus’s reply was:
"For one thing, Miss Maudie can't serve on a jury because she's a woman-"
"You mean women in Alabama can't-?" I was indignant.
"I do. I guess it's to protect our frail ladies from sordid cases like Tom's. Besides," Atticus grinned, "I doubt if we'd ever get a complete case tried—the ladies'd be interrupting to ask questions." (Lee, 296)
This quote suggests that women were too delicate to hear public trials and if they were deemed tough enough to hear the case it was implied that they would not know what was happening and it would stall the case from completion because the would be asking too many questions.
The third quote that proves that sexism was a huge part of book was at the very beginning when Scout was giving the reader background information about the Radley’s son and why he never left his house.
“Mr. Conner said he knew who each and every one of them was, and he was bound and determined they wouldn’t get away with it, so the boys came before the probate judge on charges of disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, and using abusive and profane language in the presence and hearing of a female.” (Lee, 12)
This shows that in the 1930’s women were not even allowed to hear certain terms and words but men were free to use that language but not around women. This implies that women must still have to be innocent minded and they must be pure. These are three quotes out of many that show all women were supposed to maintain the same innocent role in society because their gender dictated them to act like that without a choice.
Sexism was prevalent throughout the book form social norms to more political matters and it is still in our current society. One form of modern sexism is that women of the same profession with men of equal degrees and credentials are paid significantly less. This topic relates to the main theme, a person’s sex should not determine your role in society because a person’s gender factors into their annual pay. If that gender pay gap is broken less women will be in poverty and it will help the United States economy.
It is estimated that the average woman earns 80% of her male co-worker (iwpr.org). If the pay of part-time male workers are compared to the female’s part-time pay, she would only be making 73% of her male worker (iwpr.org). The 20% difference amidst pay greatly changes based on the ethnic background of the worker, their age and occupation. For example the average woman’s pay as a construction worker has not increased in forty years (iwpr.org). Even though the number 80% appears an inadequate amount of pay compared to a white male, society has been making improvements so there will one day be no gender pay bias. The pay gap was at its widest in 1973 when an average woman only earned 63% as a male worker (iwpr.org). Since then is has gotten significantly better and if the trend line from 1960-2015 continues the pay gap should close by 2059, but if the trend line continues the same way it has from 2001-2015 it is estimated that it will close by 2152 (aauw.org). For more information please refer to figure 1. This gap will close at different times for different individuals due to racial inequality. For a person of African American descent it will take approximately 107 years for the gap to close, and for a woman of Hispanic descent it will take 231 years for the gap to closed (iwpr.org). For more information please refer to figure 2. Even though a person’s sex no longer dictates their role played in society, it still drastically affects their earnings.
Closing the pay gap will lead to a drastic decline poverty in the female population. One in three women in the work field are single mothers that solely support their family (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). Most of them face poverty because they are not getting the pay they deserve, which makes it harder financially to run a family (iwpr.org). Equal pay for all women would cut their property rate from 8.1% to 3.9% (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). For the single mother population their poverty rate will decline by almost half, 28.7% to 15% (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). For women that support only themselves their poverty rate will decrease over half because they will be able to support themselves just as well as an independent man; the decline would be from 11% to 4.6% (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). For more information please refer to figure 3. Also many women already start off their career with college debt and it takes them longer to pay it off because they will have to pay more interest fines (aauw.org). If they had equal pay they would be in debt for a lesser amount of time which would also lead to the decline in poverty rates. Have a person’s pay not determined by their gender would relate to the main theme because it will abolish the gender norms of society because one’s gender should not factor into their financial outcome.
Requiring women to receive equal pay as their male colleagues would also increase the United States annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). This is due to the increased amount of money flowing to and from people. It is estimated that equaling pay between the genders would increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2.9% which means 447.6 billion dollars would be added to our current GDP of 18.04 trillion (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). Also having the females pay be equivalent to their male co-workers with the same qualifications and diplomas, would also increase the average income of the American worker; this will increase the per capita income (PPP) of the United States (iwpr.org). By having women be paid based on what they are capable to do and not their gender will not only be better for society, but better for the economy. It will also prove the main theme wrong because women will no longer be prejudged based on their gender.
The theme in “To Kill a Mockingbird”, a person’s sex should not determine their role in society, relates closely with the inequality between different genders’ pay. They are related because in “To Kill a Mockingbird” a person’s gender identity was attributed to what they would do later in life in terms of profession, that is no longer the case, but now a person’s gender determines how much they will get paid in their profession. They are different because back in the 1930’s when the book took place women and men just accepted their fate whether that be a lawyer or “southern belle”. In modern society women are now mainly given the opportunity to choose their career, but most of the time employers are bias to women, therefore they will end up receiving a smaller paycheck than their equal male colleague.
Sexism is throughout “To Kill a Mockingbird”, from Scout constantly being told to be a lady to women not being capable to be publicly apart of political matters. Today sexism is still a huge problem, one example of this is the gender pay gap. This is hurting women’s financial business along with poverty levels and the economy. These are just a few reasons to why a person’s gender should not determine one’s place in society. It is important to recognize sexism in society because if it left alone, the problem will only get worse. That is why sexism is such a major topic in “To Kill a Mockingbird”.
One of the main themes from To Kill a Mockingbird” is that a person’s sex should not determine their role in society. There are many references that Lee has in her book. A quote that supports the main theme is,
“Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants.” (Lee, 108)
When Scout said she could not do anything while wearing a dress, Aunt Alexandra responded in a way that implied that you would not need to do anything because a proper Southern Belle was to be the perfect role model for society, host many gatherings, and to be very social. This shows that women were not supposed to do any strenuous activity that required the need to have pants on. This quote perfectly responds to the theme because her aunt is telling her she is a girl and she must follow all other women of that time and that is her one role in society.
Another quote that relates unmistakably with the theme is when Scout is asking her father why the court system can not put fair people on the jury like Miss Maudie. Atticus’s reply was:
"For one thing, Miss Maudie can't serve on a jury because she's a woman-"
"You mean women in Alabama can't-?" I was indignant.
"I do. I guess it's to protect our frail ladies from sordid cases like Tom's. Besides," Atticus grinned, "I doubt if we'd ever get a complete case tried—the ladies'd be interrupting to ask questions." (Lee, 296)
This quote suggests that women were too delicate to hear public trials and if they were deemed tough enough to hear the case it was implied that they would not know what was happening and it would stall the case from completion because the would be asking too many questions.
The third quote that proves that sexism was a huge part of book was at the very beginning when Scout was giving the reader background information about the Radley’s son and why he never left his house.
“Mr. Conner said he knew who each and every one of them was, and he was bound and determined they wouldn’t get away with it, so the boys came before the probate judge on charges of disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, and using abusive and profane language in the presence and hearing of a female.” (Lee, 12)
This shows that in the 1930’s women were not even allowed to hear certain terms and words but men were free to use that language but not around women. This implies that women must still have to be innocent minded and they must be pure. These are three quotes out of many that show all women were supposed to maintain the same innocent role in society because their gender dictated them to act like that without a choice.
Sexism was prevalent throughout the book form social norms to more political matters and it is still in our current society. One form of modern sexism is that women of the same profession with men of equal degrees and credentials are paid significantly less. This topic relates to the main theme, a person’s sex should not determine your role in society because a person’s gender factors into their annual pay. If that gender pay gap is broken less women will be in poverty and it will help the United States economy.
It is estimated that the average woman earns 80% of her male co-worker (iwpr.org). If the pay of part-time male workers are compared to the female’s part-time pay, she would only be making 73% of her male worker (iwpr.org). The 20% difference amidst pay greatly changes based on the ethnic background of the worker, their age and occupation. For example the average woman’s pay as a construction worker has not increased in forty years (iwpr.org). Even though the number 80% appears an inadequate amount of pay compared to a white male, society has been making improvements so there will one day be no gender pay bias. The pay gap was at its widest in 1973 when an average woman only earned 63% as a male worker (iwpr.org). Since then is has gotten significantly better and if the trend line from 1960-2015 continues the pay gap should close by 2059, but if the trend line continues the same way it has from 2001-2015 it is estimated that it will close by 2152 (aauw.org). For more information please refer to figure 1. This gap will close at different times for different individuals due to racial inequality. For a person of African American descent it will take approximately 107 years for the gap to close, and for a woman of Hispanic descent it will take 231 years for the gap to closed (iwpr.org). For more information please refer to figure 2. Even though a person’s sex no longer dictates their role played in society, it still drastically affects their earnings.
Closing the pay gap will lead to a drastic decline poverty in the female population. One in three women in the work field are single mothers that solely support their family (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). Most of them face poverty because they are not getting the pay they deserve, which makes it harder financially to run a family (iwpr.org). Equal pay for all women would cut their property rate from 8.1% to 3.9% (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). For the single mother population their poverty rate will decline by almost half, 28.7% to 15% (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). For women that support only themselves their poverty rate will decrease over half because they will be able to support themselves just as well as an independent man; the decline would be from 11% to 4.6% (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). For more information please refer to figure 3. Also many women already start off their career with college debt and it takes them longer to pay it off because they will have to pay more interest fines (aauw.org). If they had equal pay they would be in debt for a lesser amount of time which would also lead to the decline in poverty rates. Have a person’s pay not determined by their gender would relate to the main theme because it will abolish the gender norms of society because one’s gender should not factor into their financial outcome.
Requiring women to receive equal pay as their male colleagues would also increase the United States annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). This is due to the increased amount of money flowing to and from people. It is estimated that equaling pay between the genders would increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2.9% which means 447.6 billion dollars would be added to our current GDP of 18.04 trillion (Heidi Hartmann, Jeffrey Hayes, Jennifer Clark). Also having the females pay be equivalent to their male co-workers with the same qualifications and diplomas, would also increase the average income of the American worker; this will increase the per capita income (PPP) of the United States (iwpr.org). By having women be paid based on what they are capable to do and not their gender will not only be better for society, but better for the economy. It will also prove the main theme wrong because women will no longer be prejudged based on their gender.
The theme in “To Kill a Mockingbird”, a person’s sex should not determine their role in society, relates closely with the inequality between different genders’ pay. They are related because in “To Kill a Mockingbird” a person’s gender identity was attributed to what they would do later in life in terms of profession, that is no longer the case, but now a person’s gender determines how much they will get paid in their profession. They are different because back in the 1930’s when the book took place women and men just accepted their fate whether that be a lawyer or “southern belle”. In modern society women are now mainly given the opportunity to choose their career, but most of the time employers are bias to women, therefore they will end up receiving a smaller paycheck than their equal male colleague.
Sexism is throughout “To Kill a Mockingbird”, from Scout constantly being told to be a lady to women not being capable to be publicly apart of political matters. Today sexism is still a huge problem, one example of this is the gender pay gap. This is hurting women’s financial business along with poverty levels and the economy. These are just a few reasons to why a person’s gender should not determine one’s place in society. It is important to recognize sexism in society because if it left alone, the problem will only get worse. That is why sexism is such a major topic in “To Kill a Mockingbird”.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Works Cited
Hartmann, Heidi, et al. “How Equal Pay for Working Women Would Reduce Poverty and
Grow the American Economy.” How Equal Pay for Working Women Would Reduce Poverty and Grow the American Economy, Jan. 2014, iwpr.org/wp-content/uploads/wpallimport/files/iwpr-export/publications/C411.pdf.
“Pay Equity & Discrimination.” Institute for Women's Policy Research, Institute for
Women's Policy Research, iwpr.org/issue/employment-education-economic-change/pay-equity-discrimination/. Accessed 5ADAD.
“ AAUW Issues: Gender Pay Gap.” American Association of University Women,
American Association of University Women, www.aauw.org/what-we-do/public-policy/aauw-issues/gender-pay-gap/.
Hill, Catherine. The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap. American Association of
University Women, 2017, www.aauw.org/aauw_check/pdf_download/show_pdf.php?file=The-Simple-Truth.
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York, NY, Grand Central Publishing.
Grow the American Economy.” How Equal Pay for Working Women Would Reduce Poverty and Grow the American Economy, Jan. 2014, iwpr.org/wp-content/uploads/wpallimport/files/iwpr-export/publications/C411.pdf.
“Pay Equity & Discrimination.” Institute for Women's Policy Research, Institute for
Women's Policy Research, iwpr.org/issue/employment-education-economic-change/pay-equity-discrimination/. Accessed 5ADAD.
“ AAUW Issues: Gender Pay Gap.” American Association of University Women,
American Association of University Women, www.aauw.org/what-we-do/public-policy/aauw-issues/gender-pay-gap/.
Hill, Catherine. The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap. American Association of
University Women, 2017, www.aauw.org/aauw_check/pdf_download/show_pdf.php?file=The-Simple-Truth.
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. New York, NY, Grand Central Publishing.