"A Jury of Her Peers" and the role of women

Today we started off class by journaling words we have heard used or seen used in literature to describe women. At first, the activity was slightly difficult - I didn't know where to start - but as my mind began to churn and as we began to discuss, my journal page quickly filled up with words ranging from timid and defenseless to passionate and confident. Other words included determined, nurturing, infantilized, flirtatious and gentle.

I was struck by how different all of these words were and by the fact that some of these adjectives completely contradicted each other. Part of this, I believe, is due to the versatility of women. In only a week of class we have read poems and stories featuring women as breadwinners, scientists, mistresses, and even murderers. Women have a flexibility in literature that allows them to be molded to whatever the writer desires - a flexibility that men do not necessarily possess.

The role of women in "A Jury of Her Peers" can be described as somewhat of a traditional role with the women acting passively and appearing nearly subservient to their husbands. For one, the women are rarely mentioned by first name, but instead are called Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, emphasizing the importance of their husbands.

Marriage plays a defining role in this story, especially for the character of Minnie Foster Wright. The other women in the story remark on how Mrs. Wright (formerly known as Minnie Foster) has transformed since marrying Mr. Wright. Mrs. Hale notes,

"She -- come to think of it, she was kind of like a bird herself. Real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and -- fluttery. How -- she -- did -- change," (Glaspell 13). 

Later, after discovering the dead bird that Mr. Wright strangled, Mrs. Hale states,

"...a thing that sang. She used to sing. He killed that too," (Glaspell 15). 

"A Jury of Her Peers" also brings up the theme of sisterhood and the common bond that women share. The men of this story group the women together. The women only accompany the men to the Wright's house to keep each other company and to prevent one another from growing uneasy or scared. They hang back as the men investigate. Nonetheless, the men make several sexist comments towards the women, grouping them together. The sheriff jokes, "Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder, and worrying about her preserves!" (Glaspell 6) and when Mrs. Hale tries to defend Mrs. Wright's dirty kitchen, the county attorney interjects, "Ah, loyal to your sex, I see," (Glaspell 7).
Although the women bicker throughout the story, after they begin to realize that Minnie Foster was potentially abused, their relationship changes. Although no words on the subject are exchanged, they are both under the agreement that it is not their responsibility to alert the men to what they have found, a sort of protective gesture to Minnie Foster. They share pity for the woman, and Mrs. Hale laments that she didn't make enough of an effort to form a relationship with Mrs. Wright.