Figueroa 1

Oscar Figueroa

Professor Ditch

English 115

6 November 2017

Breaking and Conforming to Gender Norms

Elizabeth McKenna and Juliet Ashton, are two protagonists in the novel, The Guernsey

Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Elizabeth McKenna is not physically present in the novel

because she was killed in a concentration camp, but is mentioned many times throughout the

novel with high regards. Juliet Ashton is a journalist from London who came in contact with the

people in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society after Dawsey Adams wrote to her

about a book, Selected Essays of Elia that once belonged to her, and somehow ended up in the

islands of Guernsey. Elizabeth McKenna and Juliet Ashton prove themselves to be strong,

independent women at a time where living as women was tough. This took place after World

War II, where women went into the second phase of the women's rights movement which was

trying to get jobs, and doing more than just being the typical stay at home housewife. Despite the

harsh time these women lived in, they proved themselves to be strong by not letting all the

trouble around them bother them. The strong personalities that these women possess allows them

to break free from the stereotypes that pertain to women. Although they break free from those

stereotypes, they also conform to their prescribed gender norms as nurturing women. Both Juliet

and Elizabeth are radical in their gender performance, however at times still conform to their

gender identity.

Sex is made up of two categories, either male or female, in which are classified

depending on biology or anatomy. There is no control over what sex one is born as, nevertheless
 Figueroa 2

it is possible to express who we choose to be through gender. Gender is a social construct that in

ways controls our decisions by trying to make them fit into gender norms. This is done so that

one can be classified under the gender they choose to be. In society, gender is either feminine or

masculine, where women are supposed to be feminine and men are supposed to be masculine.

Behaviors that associate with femininity are being subordinate and caring, while behaviors that

associate with masculinity are being controlling and strong. In Jason Del Gandios Rhetoric for

Radicals, it is stated that ...social norms often set limits for acceptable behavior (20).

Although the social norm is for women to be feminine and men to be masculine, it is possible to

go against social norms. Even if one identifies as a man or women, they can be radical, and

perform accordingly to their prescribed gender. Elizabeth and Juliet are characters that do in fact

perform accordingly to their gender identity, but are also radical and break free from

stereotypical norms.

Elizabeth Mckenna is radical in her gender performance by taking charge and showing

her bravery when the odds are against her. For instance, when the group of islanders stayed to

feast on the roasted pig and left after curfew and were caught by the German soldiers. In order to

get out of that predicament, Elizabeth came up with a lie telling the soldiers that they were at a

literary club meeting and lost track of time. Elizabeths bravery and quick thinking allowed her

to stand up for the group and lie to the soldiers, telling them that they were at their first gathering

for their new literary club. In Holly Brewers Article, List of Gender Stereotypes she talks

about gender stereotypes, of which asserts, women are never in charge. Elizabeth is radical

against this claim because she does take charge by standing up for the group that was caught

after curfew. If Elizabeth was to behave in a feminine manner, she would have stayed back, and

waited for a man to take authority and defend the group. Instead she did what a typical woman
 Figueroa 3

would not do and took initiative, which is seen as masculine. Elizabeth also performed bravely

when she died defending another woman that was being beat in the concentration camp. She

deliberately went into harm's way knowing she would have to pay the consequences. This is

radical because a common feminine woman would stay away from danger because a feminine

norm is avoiding conflict. In Caroline Turners article Masculine and Feminine Styles of

Handling it is stated that ...research and observation show that more men than women utilize a

direct or aggressive style of conflict, whereas more women than men handle conflict indirectly or

avoid it altogether. On the other hand, Elizabeth goes against this norm by diving right into

conflict to defend the women getting beat, and unfortunately dies for the courageous action.

Despite Elizabeth acting radical to womens gender norms, she at times conformed to the

norms associated with women. She shows this when she took care of Junes child Eli, as well as

June herself when she was pregnant. In Aaron Devors article, Becoming Members of Society

it is stated that, femininity, according to this traditional formulation, would result in warm and

continued relationships with men, a sense of maternity, interest in caring for children, and the

capacity to work productively and continuously in female occupations (40). It is shown that

Elizabeth has interest in caring for children when Eben Ramsey wrote to Juliet saying, It was

Elizabeth who did the needful things to get Eli on the evacuation ship and Elizabeth worked

like a whirl-a-gig, washing and sewing Elis clothes and helping him understand why he could

not bring his pet rabbit with him (78). As she does this she conforms to her prescribed gender

because she is taking the typical female occupation as a housewife by taking care of Eli, as well

as working inside the house washing and sewing. In Rhetoric for Radicals it is said that

...women are still seen as birth-givers, as caretakers (20 Gandio). Gandio gives examples of

how women are supposed to act according to social views. Especially during the time where this
 Figueroa 4

story took place, the social norm for women was working inside their houses as housewives

because they didnt really have the opportunity to do anything else. Furthermore, Elizabeth

conforms to womens gender roles, similar to Juliet although Juliet is also radical in her gender

performance.

In The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Juliet breaks free from her

prescribed gender roles by behaving in such ways that appear to be masculine. For instance, she

behaves masculine when she displays aggression when Mr. Gilbert was making false accusations

about her and Lieutenant Dartry. She then was exhausted of these false accusations so it led her

to viciously throw a teapot at him. Aggression is a masculine characteristic and usually applies to

men in the social norms. In this story its applying to a woman which implies that Juliet is radical

by behaving in a masculine manner. She also shows that she is radical by not being the typical

submissive women. This is shown when Juliet writes about Lieutenant Dartry replacing her

books on the bookshelf with his awards and trophies. Instead of accepting the change he made

she exclaimed How dare you! What have you DONE?! Put my books back! (25). This goes to

show that Juliet is not a pushover and shes radical by not being submissive, and orders him to

put the books back. Like Elizabeth, she takes authority by showing her dominance and giving

Lieutenant Dartry a demand. Having authority is usually an ability that men typically possess,

therefor making her radical to societies gender norms.

Although Juliet at times is radical to her prescribed gender roles, every so often she

would also conform. For example, she shows her emotional and caring personality when Sidney

writes to her saying that he fell off his horse and Juliet reacted by saying, OH, GOD, WHICH

LEG? AM SO SORRY (83). This exclamation represents how caring she is because it shows

that she is worried about him. The reaction to Sidney breaking his leg, displays the feminine
 Figueroa 5

characteristics of being overly emotional and dramatic. In Ruth Hubbards article Rethinking

Womens Biology it is stated, ... the descriptions scientist have offered that characterize

women as weak, overemotional, and at the mercy of our raging hormones,... (46). Juliet

conforms to these characterizations of being overly emotional and weak because harmful news

like Sidneys makes her vulnerable.

Furthermore, she also conforms to what the typical women should look like when Susan

gives Juliet a makeover. Juliet wrote, I hadn't known her half an hour before she told me my

make-up, my clothes, my hair, and my shoes were drab, all drab. Susan did not think Juliet fit

the social norm of what a woman should look like so she pressured her into to changing into a

look that was socially acceptable for a woman. Again, Aaron Devor states that, Gender

identities act as cognitive filtering devices guiding people to attend to and learn gender role

behaviors appropriate to their statuses (35). Before Susans make over Juliet did not fit the

social definition of being a lady. Juliets new feminine look was now socially acceptable, and she

conformed under her gender identity in order to become a member of society. In Planned

Parenthood's article What are Gender Roles and Stereotypes? it is stated that Gender roles in

society means how were expected to act, speak, dress, groom, and conduct ourselves based upon

our assigned sex. In Juliets case she conformed to how she is expected to display herself. She

changed her appearance into a look that is expected from a woman.

Sex has to do with ones assigned biological features whereas gender is having the right

to be whoever you choose to be, female or male. Society has constructed gender norms which

defines a man as masculine and a woman as feminine. Elizabeth Mckenna and Juliet are the

prime examples of women breaking these norms and displaying masculine traits. These women

both carry characteristics that fit their feminine norms but also have characteristics that are
 Figueroa 6

radical. Elizabeth and Juliet are radical because they at times behave in a masculine manner that

is usually applied to men. Although they break free from feminine norms, they also conform

when they are faced with a task that is seen as a typical job for a women, like caring for

children or being a housewife. These characters identify as women, nevertheless they go against

the means of being a women, while still conforming to women behaviors.

 Figueroa 7

Works Cited

Shaffer, Mary Ann, and Annie Barrows. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

Dial Press Trade Paperback, 2009.

Gandio, Jason Del. Rhetoric for radicals: a handbook for 21st century activists. New Society

Publishers, 2008, p. 20.

Devor, Aaron. Becoming Members of Society: The Social Meanings of Gender. Composing

Gender: a Bedford Spotlight Reader, Bedford/St. Martin's, 2014, p. 35-44.

Hubbard, Ruth . Rethinking Womens Biology. Composing Gender: a Bedford Spotlight

Reader, Bedford/St. Martin's, 2014, p. 46.

Brewer, Holly. List of Gender Stereotypes. HealthGuidance.org, Healthguidance.Org, 2017,

www.healthguidance.org/entry/15910/1/List-of-Gender-Stereotypes.html.

Parenthood, Planned. What is Biological Sex? | Female, Male and Intersex. Planned

Parenthood, Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc., 2017,

www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual-orientation-gender/gender-gender-identity.