4.1.5

Women

Test yourself on Women

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Women

Sexism shaped relations in American society. Steinbeck demonstrates this in Of Mice and Men.

Sexist attitudes to women

Sexist attitudes to women

  • Before Curley’s wife is introduced in person, Steinbeck includes a conversation between the ranch workers where various derogatory things are said about her, for example, Candy calls her a “tart” (Candy, Section 2).
  • The fact that these things are said about Curley’s wife behind her back, before the reader has been properly introduced to her, might evoke some sympathy for Curley’s wife as the only woman surrounded by all of these sexist men.
Brothels

Brothels

  • The general attitude that the men have towards women is also seen through their tendency to spend their money in brothels, or “Old Susy’s place” (Whit, Section 3).
Curley's wife's femininity

Curley's wife's femininity

  • Curley’s wife is presented as being glamorous and “heavily made up” (Section 2). She is meant to stand out in the predominantly male surroundings.
  • You could say that Curley's wife embodies the traditional model of feminine beauty.
Curley's wife flirtatiousness

Curley's wife flirtatiousness

  • Curley’s wife has a flirtatious manner when around the ranch workers: “She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.” (Section 2).
Jump to other topics
1

Context & Overview

1.1

Context & Overview

1.1.1The Great Depression1.1.2Racism1.1.3The American Dream1.1.4Of Mice & Men
1.2

John Steinbeck

1.2.1John Steinbeck's Life1.2.2End of Topic Test - Context & Overview
2

Plot

2.1

Section 1 - Analysis

2.1.1Section 1 - Plot2.1.2Section 1 - Overview
2.2

Section 2 - Analysis

2.2.1Section 2 - Plot2.2.2Section 2 - Overview
2.3

Section 3 - Analysis

2.3.1Section 3 - Plot2.3.2Section 3 - Overview2.3.3End of Topic Test - Sections 1-3
2.4

Section 4 - Analysis

2.4.1Section 4 - Plot2.4.2Section 4 - Overview
2.5

Section 5 - Analysis

2.5.1Section 5 - Plot2.5.2Section 5 - Overview
2.6

Section 6 - Analysis

2.6.1Section 6 - Plot2.6.2Section 6 - Overview2.6.3End of Topic Test - Sections 4-6
3

Key Characters

3.1

Main Characters

3.1.1George3.1.2Lennie - Strength3.1.3Lennie - Innocence & Dependence3.1.4Slim3.1.5Curley3.1.6Curley's Wife - Flirtatious3.1.7Curley's Wife - Lonely & Heartbroken3.1.8Crooks3.1.9Candy3.1.10End of Topic Test - George & Lennie3.1.11End of Topic Test - Slim, Curley & Curley's Wife
3.2

Minor Characters

3.2.1Minor Characters3.2.2End of Topic Test - Crooks, Candy & Others
4

Themes

4.1

Key Themes

4.1.1Hopes, Dreams & Reality4.1.2Racial Prejudice4.1.3Loneliness & Companionship4.1.4The Weak & Strong4.1.5Women4.1.6End of Topic Test - Key Themes
5

Authorial Method

5.1

Writing Techniques

5.1.1Dialogue5.1.2Imagery5.1.3Light5.1.4Sound5.1.5Symbolism5.1.6Structure5.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Quotes per Section

6.1.1Section 1 - Quotations6.1.2Section 2 - Quotations6.1.3Section 3 - Quotations6.1.4Section 4 - Quotations6.1.5Section 5 - Quotations6.1.6Section 6 - Quotations
6.2

Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Imagery - Quotations6.2.2Light - Quotations6.2.3Sound - Quotations6.2.4Symbolism - Quotations

Practice questions on Women

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What derogatory word do the men on the ranch use to describe Curley's Wife? Multiple choice
Answer all questions on Women

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

The Weak & Strong

End of Topic Test - Key Themes