Sexism In To Kill A Mockingbird

In To Kill a Mockingbird gender stereotypes are pressed upon girls and boys, forcing them to change how they act in order to fit in. They can still be seen being influenced to change who they are today.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee uses Scout and Dill to show how kids are forced to change. One place Harper Lee gives her message of the effect of sexism is when, after hearing Scout swear, Uncle Jack tells her to stop and “of course” she wants to be a lady (105). By saying this, Uncle Jack becomes an example of how Harper Lee shows that there are many expectations for girls, particularly Scout. These times where people verbally describe how they expect Scout to act and live like when Jack tells her not to swear since she is female, are
In the book, Lee shows this through Scout as she gets older and older. First, she starts experiencing that people expect her to be something she’s not through the adults in the neighborhood. Today, girls feel pressure from their peers at first and start wanting to be someone else than who they truly are. Next, Scout feels pressure from Aunt Alexandra who is a family figure in her life so she feels what Aunt Alexandra thinks is the correct thing to think. She is a major influence on Scout and some of the things she says to Scout and tells her to do make her change who she is. Today, there are many influences on young girls similar to Aunt Alexandra in the book; but one that stands out is famous people. They play the same role on young girls as Aunt Alexandra and other adults do on Scout, by pressuring people to be like them, and pressuring them act like everyone else. Finally, social media has the biggest effect on putting pressure on girls to be someone who they aren't. They surround girl's’ life just like how in TKAM the standards and opinions of other people surround Scouts decisions that affect who she becomes as she gets older. The YouTube video of the 3 famous guys is a perfect example of how famous people and social media has a huge effect on shaping girls’ lives all across America. Similar to the women like Mrs. Dubose that surround Scout throughout her childhood.
All in all, the message displayed in To Kill a Mockingbird occurs widely today through social media, the news, and just day to day interactions. This message is one that shows how great of an effect sexism and stereotypes have on people. Such as, how men/women should talk, act, dress and live their life. Thus causing many people to change who they are to fit the “standards” set in today's society as well as shown in the