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To Kill A Mockingbird Essay on Social Discrimination

   Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is a book full of stereotyping and discrimination.
However these things are used to paint an accurate picture of the South in the 1930’s.  In 
this essay I will try to point out some of the social categorizing of Maycomb’s citizens.  
	
   Women are one of the three main groups that the people of Maycomb stereotype.  The
ideal woman is quiet, calm, and polite.  She always wears a dress and stays home to cook and
mind the children.  Scout thinks, “Aunt Alexandria was fanatical on the subject of my attire.
I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in 
a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants.”(p.85-86) Most of
Maycomb’s society carried similar views about the dress and roles of women.  With this much
support of sexist views, most women went along with the stereotype.

   Another group of people who were greatly discriminated against was those of lower social 
class.  Many of Maycomb’s residents are poor, primarily those who are black, and those who 
live in the country.  These people have been poor for generations and will most likely remain
that way for the time being, due to the racist beliefs of the time, and the fact that owning 
a small family farm wasn’t very profitable at the time.  The poverty of these people is 
multiplied by the economic collapse of the time, To Kill A Mockingbird taking place during
the Great Depression.  Much of the Maycomb town dwelling society has negative feelings towards
these people.  They may outwardly talk to them, and even show respect to them, but internally 
they feel that these people are inferior.  For example, Aunt Alexandra puts Atticus up to 
telling the children, “You are not run-of-the-mill people, you are the product of gentle 
breeding…and that you should try to live up to your name.”  These beliefs most likely have 
been passed on through the generations of the richer, “superior” class, stemming possibly 
even from feudal times.
	
   The final group of people I want to look at is the blacks of Maycomb County, or more 
importantly the entire country, were, and oftentimes still are treated.   The blacks in
Maycomb seemed to have their own society, isolated from that of Maycomb’s white residents.  For
the most part the limit of Black and White integration was one of employment necessity.  A 
black woman working in the house, or a black man working in the field.  Any one who disagreed
with this stereotype was hugely frowned upon, for example Dolphus Raymond, who faked a liquor 
problem to avoid criticism, or the shock caused when Tom testified that Mayella kissed him.  
Other than that, Maycomb was two separate societies.  The blacks community had it’s own church
and housing.  Both facilities were run down, most likely because their owners had no money for
repair, with blacks obviously being paid low wages for long hours of work.  The racial hatred is
shown by the frequent use of the word “nigger,” which is even a common part of the vocabulary of
many of the children.  Though many of Maycomb's citizens weren’t in the mob that came after 
Atticus and Tom, they have internal distrust and resentment of blacks.  As exiting the courtroom
someone says that Tom “Got what he deserved,” even though Atticus obviously proved him innocent.
The scary thing is that this was typical of the time all over the South, and often into the North.  
A high melanin count in your skin was evidence enough to send you to prison for life, or to death.
   
   Though these stereotypes may not be so rampant nearing the end of the century, they still
continue, all over the country.  Many times in today’s justice system, poverty or skin color can
lead to a conviction.  Women are still looked down upon by parts of society.  I have seen people
supporting all these stereotypical beliefs in our school.  They haven’t been killed yet, and that
is what worries me.