Someone Has to Wear the Pants
Although feminism is a modern term, female characters in literature have shown these qualities throughout time. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, tells a story about a single father raising a boy and a girl during the 1930’s in Maycomb, Alabama. The main character, Jean Louise Finch, also known as "Scout," narrates the story of her childhood, growing up with a brother and another boy during a time when women were expected to be polite and feminine at all times. Scout is a unique female character during this time because she is a tomboy who has a boyish nickname, and would climb fences and fight, and always wears overalls or pants, instead of dresses.
First, Jean Louise is referred to as “Scout” throughout the book, instead of Jean Louise. Scout is a unisex name that would be more for a boy than a girl during this time. At one point, Jem says to Scout, “I'm tellin' you for the last time, shut your trap or go home - I declare to the Lord you're gettin' more like a girl every day'" (52). Although the nickname accurately describes her personality, it not normal for a girl to have such a boyish nickname during this time in history. Jem yells Scout for acting like a girl because he does not want her to grow up and be like those ‘girly girls’ that young boys are led to believe all girls are. Because Scout does do what society, especially Aunt Alexandria wants her to do, she exhibits the traits of a feminist. Throughout the novel, Lee has Scout acting in ways that were more fitting of a boy than a girl. One action in particular, fighting with boys to stand up for what she believes, is an example of this. Scout narrates, "Catching Walter Cunningham in the schoolyard gave me some pleasure, but when I was rubbing his nose in the dirt Jem came by and told me to stop. 'You're bigger'n he is,' he said" (22). Traditionally, young girls do not participate in fistfights, even now. Instead, many girls play games with dolls, take ballet lessons, and wear dresses. However, Scout partakes in many fights and finds "pleasure" in beating her fellow classmates. When Scout fights with Walter Cunningham, her older brother, Jem, feels obligated to scold his little sister and stop the fight. This is a role reversal because Jem is the one who is restraining Scout, rather than the other way around. Scout often wears jeans, overalls, and other boyish clothes in order to fit in with her male friends. Her only young friends are her older brother Jem, and Dill, a boy who visits Maycomb during the summer. She spends most of her time with these two boys and does not associate with many girls. Unfortunately, she is often criticized by female adults about the way she dresses. In one
the Boy Scouts of America have made it their mission to, “prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating, citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law.” Number 4 of the 12 Boy Scout laws requires a scout to be, “Friendly. A Scout is a friend to all. He seeks to understand others. He respects those with ideas and customs other than his own.” However, most ambivalently, the Boy Scouts of America have actively enforced a ban on gay Scouts and Scout Leaders…
interested me all of my life. 3. I am an Eagle Scout, I m dedicated to my studies, and I am an honest and hardworking person 4. The most meaningful activity I have participated in throughout high school is Scouting. I became an Eagle Scout during my freshman year of high school. This activity has developed my leadership skills and has exposed me to many different real-life situations that have made me a better person. 5. I have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, along with three Eagle Palms. 6. My 'never…
Cub, Boy, Venturing, Varsity Scouts and Explorers! Camping Trips, Advancements, Service Projects, Trainings, Kickoffs, Celebrations, Camporees, Roundtables, Pinewood Derbies, and more! Program Planning Calendar September 2013 — December 2014 BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CRADLE OF LIBERTY COUNCIL Welcome from the Council Key Leaders Greetings! Scouting is alive and well in Cradle of Liberty Council. With over 5,000 dedicated volunteers serving over 17,000 Cubs, Scouts, Ventures and Explorers…
computer for the worship services. He became an Eagle Scout in August 2011 having completed his project, designing and building a decorative retaining wall in the Cambridge City Park. We as a family were very proud of Brian when he received his Eagle Scout Award May 6, 2012 in an Eagle Scout Court of Honor. This was a tribute to years of work and dedication that Brian has spent in Cub Scouts, the honorary Order of the Arrow and the Boy Scouts of America. Unfortunately, Brian’s father, Robert, was…
the Boy Scouts of America Background The United Way of America is an organization which takes in donations from people and businesses and distributes the funds to programs across the nation to help serve the community. One of the organizations which receive funds from the United Way, is the Boy Scouts of America. In 1990, an assistant scoutmaster was found out to be gay and was expelled from the Scouts as consequence. This went to the courts with the final verdict being that the Boy Scouts…
COM 102-301 07/06/13 Back to the Basics The year is 2013; now imagine being denied entry into an organization based on sexual preference. The Boy Scouts of America is currently undergoing controversial reform on their policy on whether or not to allow openly gay scouts into their programs. There are many institutions that have sponsored the program for many years, some of which are for the reform and some of which are against it. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are…
Background Information The plaintiff in this case is named James dale. Mr. Dale was a member of the Boy Scouts of America from a young age until he became an adult. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was a very outstanding and ideal member of the Boy Scouts. After Mr. Dale became an adult he applied to become an adult member of the boy scouts and was accepted as such into the Monmouth Council’s Cub Scout Pack 142. He was then appointed as the assistant scoutmaster to Troop 73, according to Moran (2011)…
beginning of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” we are introduced Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. A fiery, rebellious little girl, who tries to fit in with the guys. Although her kin looks down upon her habits, she refuses to abandon her ways. The first few chapters for Scout are rough. Starting school, getting into fights, romping around her overalls, she was a stereotypical tomboy. Even though she knew she wasn’t being a proper lady, Scout didn’t care. It was her way or the high way, or so she thought. During…
my participation in the Boy Scouts of America and in attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. I imagine being a Boy Scout in the 1950’s was a much more popular concept than it is today when life was perhaps a little more relaxed and slower. In today’s world, which is anything but slow and relaxed, I had many external pressures, including academics, sports, girls, extra-curricular activities and indeed peer pressure, which would have made it very easy to never join the Boy Scouts or join and later drop…
In What Ways Does Harper Lee Present Scout In To Kill A Mockingbird Harper Lee presents scout in many different ways throughout the book, but in particular in four main ways; she has a boyish approach to life, she has been bought up in an adult style and is therefore confident, she is well educated and clever; finally she is mature and understanding. She is a good character to have narrated the book as she is a girl and she is young, this is good as she gives a clear unbiased perspective on the…