Gender

Question 1

Beauty

Answer 1

“Scoff at women in magazines”
shows that women at the time were only valued for their looks and physical appearance
“heavily made-up”
Curley’s wife really takes care of herself

Question 2

Cat House

Answer 2

• shows how back then women had low value

- used as items to please men and are shown without self respect

Question 3

Suzy’s Place

Answer 3

• the only other women that men see are prostitutes (sexual objects)
• all they could do to provide for themselves

Question 4

Curley’s Wife

Answer 4

-only good woman is a dead woman
-seen as Curley’s possession
“can’t talk to nobody but Curley”
therefore she seeks attention from others
-she’s nameless due to her dependence on her husband and is treated as an object
-lack of importance
-only woman on the ranch and is therefore always excluded from activities (horse shoes)
-goes on the ranch seeking company
-throughout the novel she’s called derogatory terms such as “tart”, “jailbait” and “looloo” therefore being presented through the eyes of a male and can’t have a dream
-the quote “stay the hell home where she belongs” also shows how big of an issue sexism was in the 1930s

Question 5

Pressures placed on men

Answer 5

1930s/1940s men had to work really hard for money as women played the role of housewives
“If i was alone i could live so easily”
Lennie represents the child-like burden that men felt to support/look after themselves

Question 6

Slim=White male stereotype

Answer 6

“Prince of the ranch”

he has a high place on the ranch because he’s well respected and superior