Norms In John Updike's A & P

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It is a popular belief that when young women are scarcely dressed in public they are seeking attention. Whether they want to show off their bodies, or follow the lead of their peers they have invited people to judge their actions. In John Updike’s short story, “A & P” three young women walk into a grocery store wearing two-piece swimsuits. Written in 1961 the story is set near Boston, Massachusetts about five miles from the nearest beach. Wearing a swimsuit into a public place would be highly unusual and most likely would have not occurred during this time period. The general population of the United States had just begun to accept the fashion trend of wearing a two-piece bathing suits as an acceptable practice on beaches and in swimming areas. …show more content…
Unfortunately, we live in a world where women are often unfairly judged and most often held to higher standards then young men. When young women wear inappropriate or risqué clothing they are not only exploiting themselves, but subjecting themselves to judgement from others.
Wearing a bathing suit into a grocery store during the 1960’s would not have been considered appropriate clothing or the norm set by most of society. According to the study of psychological anthropology, “Norms enable us to predict behavior of other people and make it clear what is expected of us as members of social groups. We dress, speak, and make exchanges based on our understanding of norms”. (Searles)62 The opening line in John Updike’s story the young male store clerk and narrator comments on the apparel of the young women entering the store. “In walks three girls in nothing but bathing suits”. (Updike) During this time period young women’s clothing begin to change from what had previously been more …show more content…
The men working in the store found the lack of clothing to be very sexually arousing. “Oh Daddy,” Stokesie said beside me. “I feel so faint.” “Darling,” I said. “Hold me tight”. (Updike) The girls didn’t see their actions as wrong. What was considered acceptable clothing for young women had begun to change among teens and young adults. The general population still believed it was indecent to wear bathing suit into a grocery store. When the store manager told them they need to be decent when they come into the store, Queenie replied “We are decent” (Updike) The attitude towards sexual expression has change considerably since the 1960’s. “Over the course of the past century, social attitudes in the United States have become more accepting of most aspects of human sexuality”. (Macionis) 134 Even with a more open acceptance wearing revealing clothing still causes others to view young women in a very sexual manner. In a court appeal case in Ohio a man had been arrested for masturbating in his car while watching two women in bikinis on a beach. A motion to suppress the evidence was filed and the court granted it, because the young women had no right to privacy on a public beach. (State vs. Frost. 634 N.E.2d 272, 92. Ohio Court of Appeals) Regardless if it is to seek attention or not by wearing
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