in Maycomb against blacks and especially Tom Robinson. The town of Maycomb treats its women just as unfairly as its blacks. Maycomb discriminates against women by making them think are incapable of self-reliance. Women have no place in business in Maycomb's society. Scout is constantly reminded to "act like a lady" and "dress like a lady". Aunt Alexandra constantly reminds Scout about the proper place for a woman. She thinks that Atticus lets the children run wild with no discipline or moral upbringing. Scout recalls once that "the only time I ever heard Atticus speak sharply to anyone was when I was heard him say, 'Sister, I do the best I can with them!' It had something to do with my going around in overalls" (81). Atticus believed in the way that he raised his children even though others often criticized him. According to Aunt Alexandra, and the other proper ladies of Maycomb, attire was an important issue when it came to a lady's properness. Aunt Alexandra always wore her clothes in a fashion that best represented the female body: "She was not fat, but solid and she chose protective garments that drew up her bosom to giddy heights, pinched in her waist, flared out her rear, and managed to suggest that Aunt Alexandra's was once an hour-glass figure" (128). She also obsessed over Scout and her dress as a southern lady: "Aunt Alexandra 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 requires pants" (81). This proves that Scout was constantly reminded about being a lady even though she was just a child. One of Atticus's reasons for having Aunt Alexandra live with them was for Scout to have some "feminine influence" (127). Scout even stereotypes her brother once in the book for wanting to learn how to cook. "Boys don't cook," exclaims Scout towards Jem (82). This bac...
