Their Eyes Were Watching God Gender Analysis

Gender, sexuality and the power derived from both Many individuals in today’s society are subject to different identities. The ways a vast number of people are identified is dependent on race, gender, ethnicity, and religion. Every person has the right to express identity and make decisions based on will. Some individuals, however, derive power from prejudging, belittling and disrespecting others whom they deem inferior or represent a minority. Likewise, the power derived from gender and sexuality is elicited in the events of Janie Starks and her partners in the novel Their eyes were watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston. Janie Starks as well as other women are denied self-importance when they are treated as servants and ridiculed in every …show more content…
Logan Killicks “[aims] to bring two mules to the taters in fall [and] he aims to run two plows with it.” The mule, an animal valued lesser than a horse is used for arduous work on the farm. As Logan Killicks says he is going to get another mule, he also implies he will be getting a new wife because Janie does not work enough. This is due to the fact that he no longer values and views Janie as the precious gem that he sort for (Hurston 26). Moreover, he begins to talk to her in all manners of ways (what manner of ways disrespectful, belittling?). Rather than a wife that her husband loves she is oppressed and treated like a grazing animal. As the story develops, Janie’s new lover Joe Starks sweeps Janie of her feet but he begins to treat her like a wild animal. Hurston introduces the idea of women being mules when the novel says, “Ah does feed im. He's jus’ too mean tuh git fat. He stay poor and rawbony jus’ fuh spite. Skeered he’ll hafra work some” (Hurston 52). In this instance , the mule is yet a worker receiving nurturing from its owner as a baby would. In fact, the mule represents Janie, as her husband Joe Starks provides and grooms her with elegance. However, Janie prefers to live a conventional lifestyle, contradictory to opulence. In addition, she despises working in the store as compared to a farm that is ploughed. With regards to this, it clarifies that the men pamper the women …show more content…
Joe “orders Janie to tie up her hair around the store” as other men begin to admire it for its beauty (Hurston 55). Due to the fact that Janie’s is not of pure African American descent, her hair becomes a symbol of potency among an African American male dominated society (Hurston 67). This is because they give all glory and honor and reverence to the non-colored. As a result, many men begin to admire and give reverence to a woman just because of her hair. Therefore, her husband becomes jealous and instructs her to entangle it because it gives her more authority and respect as a woman . After Jody’s death, Janie epiphanizes her identity and power in her hair. She “tears the kerchief from head, lets [her] hair down and [it] beholds her glory” (Hurston). Janie recognizes that she lets herself into a relationship where her husband is a master and she a slave ; however, as he dies she is set free. With regards to this, she untangles her hair and untangles herself from servitude. In addition, she finds her identity and pride in the woman that she is. Janie no longer satisfies the needs of people but pleases and accepts herself for her true image as a woman. It is evident, by her epiphany that women are powerful and should not allow any form of oppression to degrade them. That being the case, pride in oneself is powerful enough despite age or

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