The Pearl Gender

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History has a track record of repetition, with one of the frequent motifs being that the people who have power oppress and push their morals and social constructs onto the oppressed people, who accept it only because they must, as they do not always have the power to rise up and revolt. This struggle caused by the motif is frequently discussed and shown in a story about an indigenous family living in Mexico after European people instilled themselves within the country. Kino and Juana, who lives in poverty in La Paz, Mexico, are the parents of Coyotito, a baby. They rush to the doctor who Coyotito gets stung by a scorpion, but are turned away when the doctor finds out they are not white nor have money. Motivated by the need for money to treat his …show more content…
Because of the gender roles, there is a patriarchal structure in society, keeping women in unhealthy relationships and promoting misogynistic violence amongst men. Kino, in a rage after Juana tries to get rid of the pearl, “struck her in the face with his clenched fist … kicked her in the side” (Steinbeck 59), and Juana is said to feel that “it was all right; she had accepted it, and she would not resist or even protest” (Steinbeck 59). Kino, acting as the aggressor, abuses Juana in a rage, and although Kino is shown to be disgusted with his actions afterwards, he is hypermasculine, his actions being merely the description of male gender roles exaggerated. Juana, on the other hand, is shown to be completely alright with his actions, thinking that it is not Kino’s fault, and not bringing it up again. Therefore the scene illustrates how hypermasculinity and emphasis on male gender roles can often lead into domestic violence or violence in

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