Rebelling against narrow gender-based
expectations is a recurring theme in and thus appears in several chapters.
Jean Louise () is determined to enjoy gender equality with the two boys she is close toher
older brother, , and her younger friend, Dillas well as to act upon her own principles and in
accordance with her character. One of the main things she rejects is wearing girls clothes.
Scouts favorite outfit is overalls, and her Aunt Alexandra is hard pressed to get her out of
them, if only for Sunday school.
In contrast, however, she is flattered by
the attention Dill pays her and seems to take seriously his offer of marriage, in future when
they are adults. Being a wife seems to spell social acceptance in Scouts eyes, and she is not
ready to give it up. Scout is disturbed by Jems behavior, and jealous when Dill starts spending
more time with them. She feels that she is being excluded just because of her gender, as Jem and
Dill not only play together but her brother scornfully tells her their games are not for girls.
By the novel's end, however, she has developed deeper respect for the ladies of the town, and
she is not sorry that she put on a dress (albeit over her overalls) to serve afternoon
tea.
Although gender-aligned appearances and responsibilities have changed
significantly over the last 80 years, dress and comportment are still strongly associated with
gender. Not only tomboys like Scout but all girls routinely wear pantseven overalls. For boys,
dressing in girls clothes, such as skirts, is far less widely accepted.
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