# Gender Roles and Expectations in Anne of Green Gables

> Theme guide for Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.

The initial disappointment that Anne is a girl instead of a boy, along with her challenges to conventional female behavior, subtly critiques rigid gender expectations of the late 19th century.

## Where it surfaces

- [Matthew Insists on Puffed Sleeves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/xxv-matthew-insists-on-puffed-sleeves): Marilla's practical, no-frills approach to dressing Anne contrasts with societal expectations of femininity and fashion, highlighting differing views on raising girls.
- [Where the Brook and River Meet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/chapters/xxxi-where-the-brook-and-river-meet): Anne questions why women cannot be ministers, challenging contemporary gender norms, while Mrs. Lynde's reaction underscores societal restrictions.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/themes/gender_roles_and_expectations
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anne_of_green_gables_se/themes