Sexism in The Great Gatsby
“This is a man’s world. All wise women conform to the man’s lead” represents the
viewpoint of most 1920’s men (Kerr 406). To enforce their superiority, men restricted women to
caring for the household and children. However, gaining the right to vote empowered many
women to break free from the oppression by men. As a result, many 1920’s novels, like F. Scott
Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, reveal the male author’s disapproval of this new brand of woman.
Many feminist critics, therefore, debate over the unfavorable portrayal of women and gender
inequality in this work. In particular, Fitzgerald reinforces the superiority of men by portraying
different women who do not fit into the prescribed role of women in the 1920’s by using the
characters of Myrtle Wilson, Daisy Buchanan, and Jordan Baker.
Myrtle Wilson represents women who men exploit for their own pleasure. As a woman
driven by the search for wealth and fame, she completely depends on men to provide for her.
Lacking satisfaction with her current social status, Myrtle uses her body to gain a higher
standing. Fitzgerald, thus, purposely devalues her femininity to convince readers that her flaunty
behavior is unacceptable; “her left breast was swinging loose like a flap, and there was no need
to listen for the heart beneath” (Fitzgerald 137). According to men, Myrtle failed at her only job
in life: to have and raise children. Therefore, Fitzgerald depicts her heart as empty because she
lacks empathy for children, convincing readers to not accept her lifestyle. In addition, men’s
desire for pleasure provokes the oppression of Myrtle’s opinions and wants. For example, Tom
Buchanan punches her to reinforce his superiority in response to Myrtle repeating Daisy’s name;
“making a short deft movement Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand” (37). When
she stops providing pleasure and becomes a nuisance, Tom physically abuses her to stay in
control and keep their affair secret. In other words, his selfish want for satisfaction overrides her
emotional and physical well-being. Furthermore, Frances Kerr believes that the portrayal of
Myrtle in this scene depicts all woman as unintelligent. She states that every detail “is made to
suggest that women’s collective sentimentality, portrayed as the outcome of narcissism and the
utter lack of taste and discrimination, is an anti-intellectual force” (Kerr 401). Since she serves
the needs of men, Myrtle receives little attention from them in return. In an attempt to entice men
to give her attention, she obsesses over her image by dressing and acting in a sexual way.
Therefore, Fitzgerald makes this public expression of her femininity seem unintelligent because
he disapproves of it. Rather than taking the responsibility for causing her behavior, men in
general blame her and all women as incapable. In conclusion, by being a toy that men use and
discard, Myrtle Wilson reinforces the justification of men’s superiority.
Daisy Buchanan represents women who men objectify for their own betterment. As a
