Gender Roles and Feminism in To Kill a Mockingbird When the novel To Kill a Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee, the Southern United States was still tightly held on to traditional values. Southern societies pressured men to behave like gentlemen, and women were expected to be polite and wear suits. These strict gender roles were respected in small Southern towns because they were isolated from the more progressive attitudes of other areas of the United States. Harper Lee documents the life of a young girl growing up in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama. Jean Louise Finch, also known as "Scout", is a young girl searching for her identity. Scout, a young tomboy, faces pressure from adults who insist that she conform to the traditional role of a Southern woman. Harper Lee establishes and promotes Jean's masculinity through the use of nicknames, fighting, and masculine clothing, contrasting her with women who fit the stereotypical female model. In traditional society, parents name children based on their gender. Common names for boys include John, Robert and James, while Elizabeth, Sarah and Cathy represent standard names for girls. The author gives her main character two common female titles, Jean Louise. Many Southern women have two names that reinforce their role in society as a Southern Belle or traditional Southern lady. Lee contrasts this extremely feminine name with its masculine label, Scout. “'Scout, I tell you [Jem] for the last time, shut your mouth or go home – I declare to the Lord that you become more like a girl every day'” (52). It seems interesting that Lee gives Jean Louise such a manly name. While the nickname accurately describes her personality, it doesn't seem like a… middle of paper… describes pompous women. The author uses the women's conversations to emphasize the reasons why Scout remains a tomboy and rejects the traits of Maycomb females. Harper Lee provides the reader with several examples of typical Maycomb females. He establishes Scout's masculinity with fighting and explains his behavior by contrasting it with typical adult women in the novel. The author also allows Jean Louise to wear men's clothing and gives her a manly nickname. Therefore, the author favors Scout's unique personality and implies that women should not act in a stereotypical manner. The book could inspire girls to become independent and create their own unique personality. To Kill a Mockingbird emerges as an important novel that contradicts female society and suggests that girls should not feel pressured to play written "feminine" roles..