# Gender Roles and Patriarchy in Scarlet Sister Mary

> Theme guide for Scarlet Sister Mary by Julia Peterkin.

Mary's life is shaped by the expectations of women to be submissive to men, as seen in July's dominance and her eventual independence, highlighting the double standards and resilience required of women in a patriarchal society.

## Where it surfaces

- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/v): Mary is expected to remain passive and chaste as a church member, while July freely dances with another woman.
- [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/ix): Mary is left to manage household and child alone while July roams freely; she feels powerless to express her hurt and is expected to forgive without complaint.
- [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/x): July asserts dominance through physical violence and control over Mary's movements, while Mary uses feigned weakness as a survival strategy.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/themes/gender_roles_and_patriarchy
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/themes