Rising against Gender Roles

Set in the twentieth century, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” addressed the role sexism played in Florida communities at that time. The main character, Janie, faced an immense amount of sexism from her peers and was able to rise against this by the end of the book. Although Janie was able to gain her independence, many other women were not able to do so because sexism was the social norm.

The author, Zora Neale Hurston, employed the theme of sexism in Janie’s life and her rise against it to lend greater depth to the narrative.

Sexism, which Janie had to face as a woman, is a major recurring theme throughout the story. Even at a young age, Janie knew that there were certain expectations placed upon her owing to her gender, such as the need to marry someone to whom she felt no affection. The author elucidated, “She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman” (Hurston 25). During this period, women were expected to marry whomever their family preferred. The hope of marrying for love was but a dream for Janie, squashed by the ambitions of her grandmother who wished her to marry someone who would provide a lifestyle she herself had always desired. Janie soon realized that part of being a woman was acknowledging that one does not marry for love, but for convenience. Her first husband had no respect for her and was of the opinion that she should have no say in matters. Her husband said, ‘And now we’ll listen tuh uh few words uh encouragement from Mrs. Mayor Starks.’ The burst of applause was cut short by Joe taking the floor himself. ‘Thank yuh fuh yo’ compliments, but mah wife don’t know nothin’ ‘bout no speech-makin’.

Ah never married her for nothin’ lak dat. She’s uh woman and her place is in de home’” (Hurston 43). Joe adhered to the traditional mindset where women were expected to play the married role dictated by society and were treated less like individuals and more as the property of men. After her husband’s death, Janie moved to a new town and met Tea Cake. For the most part, he always respected her as a woman, but there were instances when he clearly did not. Tea Cake observed, “Jes lak uh lil girl wid her Easter dress on. Even nice! He locked the door and shook it to be sure and handed her the key. ‘Come on now, Ah’ll see yuh inside yo’ door and git on down de Dixie” (Hurston 98). Even as Tea Cake attempted to treat men and women as equals, his inadvertent portrayal of women as the weaker sex, his assumption that women needed men to escort them home safely, and his infantilizing of Janie by comparing her to a little girl in an Easter dress revealed enduring sexist perspectives. Even though Tea Cake’s behavior was well-intended, his language and offer to walk Janie home can be interpreted as subtly sexist, as was his attempt to get invited into her house. Such subtle sexism was endemic amongst many characters throughout the work. As manifested in this passage, a character who appeared as the only male without a trace of sexism subtly embraced it. Making the sexism towards Janie very explicit throughout the book allows the readers to appreciate her struggle of asserting herself and demonstrates her determination to follow her own path.

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