Essay about setting in AJOHP_Opal

Susan Glaspells depressed short story, A Jury of Her Peers, illustrates the discrimination

among genders in the period of 20th century in America.

The characters in the story effectively portray the gender discrimination in 20th century that

women are believed to become housewives, raise children, and behave under the males power.

During that time, most of females thoughts and ideas are considered to be nonsensical. By contrast,

men are believed to be leaders, intellectuals, and individuals who take part in the political processes.

In the story, males such as a sheriff and Mr. Henderson, an attorney, demonstrate high and powerful

positions in the society. In the other hands, all women in the story are presented to be housewives

who responsible for all domestic duties. This conditions significantly show the discrimination

among them in terms of the social status which men are usually superior to women. Additionally,

the male characters thoughts and words have clearly reflected clarify womens roles which are

insulted and unaccepted. In the story, the sheriff states Nothing here but kitchen things when they

enter the kitchen and try to find the evidence (p.7). It perfectly implies how males view the roles of

women to be insignificant as the kitchen resembles the womens place where many domestic duties

are done. The insulting actions of male toward the women and kitchen as they are foolish things are

also backed up by Mrs. Hales experience. She states, Id hate to have men comin into my

kitchen, and she continually says snoopin round and criticizin (p.9). Her words clearly portray

mens attitudes and discriminating behaviors toward women that are normally done in their daily

lives during the period of 20th century. The discrimination among genders even becomes more

obvious when Mr. Hale states women are used to worrying over trifles which he refers it to Mrs.

Wrights worry (p.7). This proves how womens thought are not valued and are not accepted. The

condition of Mrs. Wright after married to Mr. Wright that she stops singing, an activity that used to

bring much joy to her, also greatly demonstrates her unpleasant married life that her freedom is

being confined under her husband power. This condition is told by Mrs. Hale: She used to sing. He
 Essay about setting in AJOHP_Opal

killed that too (p.20). It also implies the practice of women that need to follow mens decisions and

the fact that they could not really express their own feelings and desires. These actions and

conditions of the characters in the story potentially reflect the gender discrimination that occur in

the 20th century.

Discrimination has always occurred among humankind. It could form in the past, disappear

in the present, and exist again in the future.