Effects Of Sexism In To Kill A Mockingbird

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Racism, Sexism, and Classism in To Kill a Mockingbird
Prejudice and discrimination are ongoing issues that affect various types of people in a society, as everyone has different identities and it is impossible to avoid judgment towards them. Prejudice created in a society affects the mind of a person as they struggle to conform or to reject these assumptions. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird clearly depicts a time, presumably in the 1930’s, where the Jim Crow system, gender roles and class distinctions were widely accepted. The effects of racism, sexism, and classism on characters and events in the novel are prominent. These effects are significant to the novel as a whole as well as they develop characterization and creates a deeper understanding of the social atmosphere of Maycomb.
Racism is the …show more content…
The hostility surrounding Tom Robinson’s case is introduced in the novel. The language that Mrs. Dubose uses to describe Robinson (ie. N-word) is derogatory and contemptuous and shows the senseless hatred that Mrs. Dubose has towards black people. Mrs. Dubose’s remark reveals the opposition that the white community has against Atticus as he goes against Maycomb’s racist social contract which so many people are accustomed to. In addition, the fact that an adult is attacking children because of this issue shows how deeply rooted racism is in Maycomb. The backlash that Scout receives from Mrs. Dubose opens her eyes to the reality/seriousness of racism, a concept she has trouble understanding. Another significant instance of racism in the novel is when Lula, a black woman, rejects Jem and Scout from attending a black church because of their race. Lula says to Calpurnia, “You ain’t got no business bringin’ white chillun here—they got their church, we got our’n. It is our church aint it Miss Cal?” To which Calpurnia replies, “It’s the same God, ain’t it?” (Lee 119). Lula’s
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