Social Dynamics

Reading The Great Gatsby has opened my eyes to the social hierarchy and dynamics in the 1900s. Throughout the book, women are not treated with proper respect and are instead treated as objects. For instance one of the characters, Tom Buchanan, deliberately breaks one of the women's noses. And guess what happens? Nothing. No one does anything and everyone continues with what they are doing like nothing just happened. Male characters are also very open about how many women they have and it is not something to be ashamed of. No one criticizes him for his actions or choices. 

But this whole notion of degradation towards women confuses me. Because though this is the 1990s, this time period is when modernism was created as well as women's empowerment. Women empowerment was more spoken about the rights of women. This was also the time period when flappers, women in short dresses, and short hair, were created. This is why while reading this book I would think there would be more on women empowerment. 

Looking at the change from the 1990s to 2023, there has been tremendous change in the rights of women and how women are treated and perceived but, it is women still don't have equal rights in many parts of the world. In my opinion, I feel like America treats women and men as mostly equal, but in many parts of the world, women are still treated like how Tom Buchanan treats women. This is infuriating because in 2023 the world has accomplished so much. But women still don't have proper rights. 

A lot changed from the 1990s to 2023 but not enough. In another 100 years, things might change, or they may not.