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Mariah Wood
Professor Corri Ditch
English 113B 8 AM
14 March 2015
Females Perform Against Gendered Norms as Heroes
In current society, a person is given the choice to either conform to societies expectations, or to
rebel by staying true to yourself while setting a role for others to follow. If you are female, it is
expected that you possess feminine traits, and if you are male, masculine traits. Gender performance in
simple terms, can be defined as the way a person behaves not as a function of biology, but according to
the social constructs that make up gender itself. If you are female, then it is expected that you possess
feminine traits, and if you are male, masculine traits. While masculine traits are dominant, aggressive,
and strong, feminine traits are subordinate, passive, and weak. However, while each gender may be
expected by society to obey specific rules according to one's gender without any hesitation, there is still
some small wiggle-room for digression. This rebellion against gendered norms is quite clear in the
book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The way you choose to behave, or perform
may or may not accurately represent your gender. In the book, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel
Pie Society, many of the female characters possess masculine traits that defy the norms of gender
performance and lead them to carrying out some very valiant acts.
One character that unmistakeably bends the typical norms of Gender performance would be
Juliet. Juliet is bold, witty, independent, and completely goes against the grain of typical gender norms
to assert her independence. At one point in the book, Juliet goes through an internal conflict after
meeting the rich American publisher, Mark Reynolds. Mark continuously sends Juliet love-letters, and
though she is flattered at first, she is not so quick to trust him. Juliet realizes that because Mark
Reynolds is of such high social status, she could have access to virtually all the fame and fortune she

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could ever want. However, Juliet admits that while she may enjoy the superficial aspects that she'd
obtain from being with Mark, she ultimately knows that his personality clashes with her own, and
choosing him over her happiness would go against what she stands for. Juliet outwardly exclaims that,
I don't want to be married just to be married. I can't think of anything lonelier than spending the rest of
my life with someone I can't talk to, or worse, someone I can't be silent with(Barrows 8) This quote,
along with the previous example I provided highlights Juliet's more masculine traits. In the article,
Rethinking Women's' Biology, Ruth Hubbard mentions that women are characterized as weak, overemotional, and at the mercy of our raging hormones, and that construct of our entire being around the
function of our reproductive organs(Hubbard 46). Women are expected to be submissive and
dependent, but Juliet defies this stereotype with her bold, independent, and individualistic personality.
Juliet could have taken the easy way out by marrying Mark and becoming financially dependent on
him, but rejects his marriage proposal and courageously moves on to pursue what she wants out of life.
Juliet also becomes more enthusiastic about her writing project about the history of the book club in
Guernsey, and it finally registers with her that heading to Guernsey is what she truly wants to do the
most. Juliet tells Mark that You're probably right, but even so, I'm going to Guernsey tomorrow and
you can't stop me. I'm sorry I can't give you the answer you want. Mark did his best to stop me, but I
resisted him mushily, right to the bitter end(Barrows 163). The conflicting situation with Mark
Reynolds allowed

Juliet to reflect on her own wants, motives, and needs. After her self reflection she

was able to gather that her happiness and personal interest and passion for writing far outweighed her
slight interest in Mark. Juliet is bold, witty, and free-spirited. She makes it clear to those around her that
she refuses to be any man's trophy-wife.
Another example of what it means to be outspoken and possessing masculine traits would be in
the story, How to Tame a Wild Tongue, by Gloria Anzaldua. The author writes about how restricted

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she is due to cultural boundaries. Anzaldua writes, I will no longer be made to feel ashamed of
existing. I will have my voice: Indian, Spanish, white. I will have my serpent's tongue - my woman's
voice, my sexual voice, my poet's voice. I will overcome the tradition of silence.(Anzaldua 42).
Though the author is writing about a different scenario, this quote exemplifies the strength and
outspoken behavior in this character. Juliet shares this same sort of morals with this character. Juliet is
brash and quite frank with those around her, but when she does speak out about something it is for a
good reason. Juliet is always concerned with justice, and refuses to settle for what is wrong or immoral.
For this very reason she is more blunt and straightforward. Though she is rather reckless, her
spontaneity as well as the decisions she makes steers her in the right direction more than it gets her into
trouble. Her traits, interests and motives lead Juliet to reject Mark's proposal and go on her journey to
Guernsey.
In the book Gender Performance in the Modern World, it states that Sex became viewed as
representative of physiological traits and characteristics, while gender became viewed as a socially
constructed concept related to societal expectations of trait expression stemming from ones underlying
sex. Both sex and gender are the focus of attention; however, as the editors illustrate through their
inclusion of articles related to transgender and inter-sex identities, these dimensions are not always
mutually exclusive(Enoch 1). This quote is saying that while sex has to do primarily with one's
biology/genitalia, gender refers to ones behavior, or traits possessed that can be socially constructed by
your environment. It's not necessarily just your biology that affects your behavior, or your environment
individually; both come into play in making up your personality as a whole. For Juliet, however,
mainly became so independent and strong-willed due to her harsh upbringing. Juliet's character was
mainly molded by her childhood experiences because she she was orphaned at age twelve, and raised
by an uncle who was quite neglecting, and sent her to boarding school. Juliet somehow remained strong

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and grew into an intelligent and independent woman with a good head on her shoulders.
Another character that challenges traditional gender roles is Elizabeth. Elizabeth, though she is
not physically in Guernsey during any of the events in the story(The letter-writing, as well as Juliet's
arrival to Guernsey) still functions as a crucial character and a major force throughout the novel. It is
mentioned by many of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie society members how she possesses
such contrasting characteristics. She is known as the kind and nurturing figure in the society, but is also
known for her spontaneous and rash behavior. In the book Rhetoric for Radicals, it mentions that
Some folks are inter-sexed, meaning that their chromosomes and genitalia are not exclusively male or
female. Our masculinity and feminine traits are are in no way biologically determined, but rather
socialized into rigid categories.(Gandio 113) What this quote is basically saying, is that a female can
possess masculine traits without being a male, and vice-versa. Elizabeth, though kind, understanding
and nurturing, is also quite courageous, strong, and leading. These masculine traits she owns lead her to
the creation of the Literary Society. Elizabeth drew in her breath and stepped forward. Elizabeth isn't
so tall, so the pistols were lined up at her eyes, but she didn't blink. She acted like she didn't see any
pistols at all. She walked up to the officers in charge and started talking. You never heard such
lies(Barrows 29). This quote accurately depicts how brave and selfless Elizabeth is in the novel.Rather
than letting fear dominate her, Elizabeth bravely confronts the soldiers with an improvised story that
most likely saved her friend's lives. Though leadership is considered a more masculine trait, Elizabeth
still behaves in this manner.
Another prime example of Elizabeth's bravery would be where she risks her own life to hide a
Polish slave-workers in her home. Elizabeth did this out of the kindness of her own heart, but was
unfortunately discovered and arrested by one of the German soldiers who sent her to jail, where she
was later shot. One may argue that Elizabeth is too reckless for her own good, and that her masculine

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traits lead to her deportation from Guernsey, but there were many positive outcomes due to her quick
wit and sharp tongue. The Potato Peel Pie Society members have Elizabeth to thank for the society's
existence. If it weren't for her, the book club would not have likely formed, and the members would
have likely been taken away by the German soldiers. According to Elizabeth's gender, she is expected
to be weak and dependent, but proves herself to be quite courageous throughout the novel, and
functions as one of the most crucial characters. Many of these traits would be considered more rare to
find in a female as they are considered more masculine. However, due to these traits-Elizabeth's
bravery, sharp wit/tongue, she was able to speak up on behalf of her friends, and not only save their
lives, but start a book-club as well. If it weren't for Elizabeth, the GLAPPPS would not likely exist.
Elizabeth confronting the German soldiers, as well as hiding a slave-worker in her home exemplifies
not only her passion for what is right, but her positive masculine traits.
In the book Rhetoric for Radicals, it brings up that It's a social norm for women to be
caretakers and homemakers, but each woman does this differently. Some are stern and tough-loving
while others are unconditionally supportive...and of course some women adamantly and rightfully
reject this gendered expectation. There are no absolute social norms; we all enact these norms
differently(Gandio 2). This quote refers to how social norms do exist, but nothing is complete in terms
of what it means to be male or female. This quote highlights Juliet and Elizabeth's behavior quite
accurately because they both reject these gendered expectations throughout the novel.
Both Juliet and Elizabeth are two characters that represent the opposite of what it means to be
feminine. They had several opportunities to either take the easier way out, but proved to be loyal to
themselves and others by not making choices based upon what they should do according to their
gender, but what they believed was right. The masculine traits they possess- brave, spontaneous,
outspoken, led them in the right direction to make some brash, but impressively brave decisions that

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positively influenced not only their own lives, but many of the other characters around them.

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Work-cited:
Enoch, Robert. "Gender Performance in the Modern World. Encyclopedia of Gender and Society,
Web. 2009.
Shaffer, Mary Ann and Annie Barrows. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. New York:
New York Times, July 2008. Print
Gandio, Jason. Rhetoric for Radicals. New Society Publishers, 2008. Print.
Anzaldua, Gloria. How to Tame a Wild Tongue. Web. 2014
Groner, Rachael, and John F. O'Hara. Composing Gender. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013.