Effects of Sexism Sanjeet S.

Parab
Adv. American Lit
04/21/2003
Period 4

Sexism, for the most part, has always been a part of every person of every culture.

It is no paradox that the victims of sexism have mostly been women and as a result have

suffered its stifling effects. The lack of initiative to fight sexism has prevented women

from developing as much as men, thus leading society in a completely different direction.

In the 1910’s, in the midst of the suffrage struggle for women, something new and more

fundamental began to take place. A new generation of women activists was rising. They

were determined not to be hemmed in by the social constraints of women’s “separate

sphere.” These women were feminists. Feminism meant freedom for full personal

development, which in its specifics covered many things such as freedom to follow a

career, but in a larger sense it meant, above all, the freedom from the stifling stereotypes

of woman’s separate sphere. Although sexism is not indicated directly in Zora Neale

Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, the feministic view point of the major issue in

the book being sexism and its stifling effects is evident through Janie Crawford’s

relations with her husbands.

Janie’s grandmother’s intention of providing Janie protection seemed to serve its

purpose but eventually could not protect Janie from sexist attacks from Logan Killicks,

Janie’s first husband. When Janie’s grandmother asks whether Logan has been fussing,

Janie responds buy saying, “No’m, he ain’t even talked ‘bout hittin’ me. He says he never

mean to lay de weight uh his hand on me in malice. He chops all de wood he think Ah

wants and den he totes it inside de kitchen for me. Keeps both water buckets full.” This

illustrates the willingness of Logan Killicks to carry out the chores without Janie having
to sweat out a drop. A cause for a man going to such extents is either immeasurable

passion for his spouse or sheer desire for self benefit. In this case Logan wanted to get his

work done from Janie and this is evident when he commands Janie to, “Come help me

move dis manure pile befo’ de sun gits hot. You don’t take a bit of interest in dis place.

‘Tain’t no use in foolin’ round in dat kitchen all day long.” When Janie refuses to help

Logan and do as he commands, Logan says, “Don’t you change too many words wid me

dis mawnin’, Janie, do Ah’ll take and change ends wid yuh! Heah, Ah just as good as

take you out de white folks’ kitchen and set you down on you’ royal diasticutis and you

take and low-rate me! Ah’ll take holt uh dat ax and come in dere and kill yuh! You better

dry up in dere! Ah’m too honest and hard-workin’ for anybody in you’ family, dat’s de

reason you don’t want me!” Logan’s loss of temper is his first and final attack on Janie. It

illustrates the tendency of certain men of trying to take advantage of their power over

women. It also illustrates the feminist view of the major issue of the book being effects of

sexism. Janie’s grandmother’s attempt to protect Janie eventually ended up becoming a

threat.

Similar to Janie’s grandmother’s intention of providing Janie with protection

served its purpose towards the beginning of Mr. Killicks’ and Janie’s marriage, smooth

relations remained between Janie and Joe Starks, her second husband, until Janie was

once again a victim of sexist attack from a man; this time Joe Starks. If a prey of sexism

is interpreted as the one who discriminates based on gender and not the one who is

discriminated, then Joe Stark is the predator. This statement is valid through, “De day

you puts yo’ hand in mine, Ah wouldn’t let de sun go down on us single. Ah’m uh man

wid principles. You ain’t never knowed what it was to be treated lak a lady and Ah wants
to be de one tuh show yuh. Call me Jody lak you do sometime.” As time progresses and

the passion cools down along with the increased popularity and respect, Jody begins to

treat Janie as an employee at the store but at the same time as a mayor’s wife. The

treatment that Janie receives as a mayor’s wife is not that of love, but of Joe Stark’s

expectations of the behavior of a mayor’s wife. Zora Neale illustrates this when Joe

Stark’s reply upon Janie’s request to attend the dragging out of the mule is, “Dat’s right,

but Ah’m uh man even if Ah is de Mayor. But de mayor’s wife is somethin’ different

again. Anyhow they’s liable tuh need me tuh say uh few words over de carcass, dis bein’

uh special case. But you ain’t goin’ off in all dat mess uh commonness. Ah’m surprised at

yuh fuh askin’.” This illustrates the lack of opportunities received by women due to

sexist views in society. Joe Starks’ gradual change from the predator to prey is evident

through his treatment of Janie. He begins acting like the boss and treats Janie as a mere

employee. This is seen when he says, “Janie, Ah reckon you better go fetch me dem old

black gaiters. Dese tan shoes sets mah feet on fire. Plenty room in ‘em, but they hurts

regardless.” Joe Starks expresses his superiority when he attacks Janie upon not finding a

bill by saying, “Naw it ain’t neither. You ain’t put it where Ah told yuh tuh. If you’d git

yo’ mind out de streets and keep it on yo’ business maybe you could git somethin’

straight sometimes.” This illustrates the gradual change in Joe Starks’ attitude and

displays the direction he is heading towards. This direction is known after the intense

quarrel between the couple. Even though Joe Starks had no reason other than to express

his superiority and hide his defects, he continued to assert sexist views such as, “T’ain’t

no use in getting’ all mad, Janie, ‘cause Ah mention you ain’t no young gal no mo’.

Nobody in heah ain’t lookin’ for no wife outa yuh. Old as you is.” This depicts the
presence of sexism, the issue that feminists believe is the major issue of Hurston’s Their

Eyes Were Watching God. Janie had to face the stifling effects of sexism even though Joe

Starks promised her of not making a dog out of her.

Janie finds true love with Mr. Woods-Tea Cake. Tea Cake is the ideal man for

Janie. They get along very well together and Tea Cake presents himself in a way that

attracts Janie on their first encounter. They both have a blissful time together until the elf

of sexism interferes. To show Tea Cake’s superiority over Janie, the narrator narrates,

“Before the week was over he had whipped Janie. Not because her behavior justified his

jealousy, but it relieved that awful fear inside him.” From a feminist’s point of view, this

would be an act of sexism because Tea Cake had the right to whip Janie when she was

not at fault just to reassure his possession over her. Whipping was one way to express a

man’s possession on his wife. This is illustrated when Sop-de-Bottom says, “Lawd!

Wouldn’t Ah love tuh whip uh tender woman lak Janie! Ah bet she don’t even holler. She

jus’ cries, eh Tea Cake?” This expresses sexist views over women and the superiority of

men. Physical abuse was one of the stifling effects of sexism. Upon getting whipped by

Tea Cake, Janie did not have any negative feelings towards him because she understands

why he did so and knows that she will not end up like she did with Logan Killicks and

Joe Starks.

The different treatments received from different husbands by Janie depicts the

issue of sexism in the book. Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God illustrates the

lives of victims of sexism and its stifling effects. Sexism leads to nowhere.