Being Prohibited to Share Her Opinions in Family Discussion
This shows that Ma is prohibited to express her opinion toward the price. All the stuff that the Joads have just gets in eighteen dollars. Eighteen
dollar is not enough for eight people in the family to move to California. For that reason, Ma argues the stuffs are worth for forty dollars.
However, Pa orders to his wife to close her mouth. This implies that Ma has no opportunity to share her opinion, but Pa can decide whatever he
wants. This is discrimination toward women. Another example is that when the Joads are preparing to go to
California. Ma has set all the cooking utensil to be brought to California. However, Pa orders his son to leave unnecessary utensil because the
room space is full for family. Ma argues that she cannot cook without the utensil, but Pa does not consider her argument. This can be seen below.
Pa said, ―the car is overstuff. We can‘ brin‘ all of it. Tom, throw bucket, knives, forks, and spoons. No need fo‘ them.
Ma interputs, ―we need them. People says the journey tak‘ a long.‖ Pa does not consider his wife‘s opinion. ―just throw it,
Tom ‖ Steinbeck,1939:104 This situation shows that Pa discriminates his wife from expressing
arguments. Ma has to accept Pa‘s order because she is powerless. It implies that Pa is superior than Ma. He can manage everything without
any objection from other people in the family because he is the leader, and he is a man. She is not ready to face the consequence of being
disobey toward Pa‘s order. The consequence is that the society assumes
that Ma is not good wife because she does not obey her husband.
The last example is that when grandma is sick. Ma thinks that the family should stop the journey and bring grandma to a doctor. However,
Pa assumes that Ma tries to tell him what should he does, and he does not like it. Then, he decides to give a pain killer rather than following her
suggestion. This can be seen below. The Joads family is beside grandpa. Ma said,‖she gets a pain in
her stomick, she says ―we better go for a doctor, an‘ stop our journey‖. He says, ―dont‘t tell me what should I do, Ma She just
got stomickacher. You et too much. Take a dose a pain killer‖. Nex‘ noon she‘s outa her head, an‘ she dies. Steinbeck,1939:45
In the patriarchal system, any decision made by men is the absolute truth. Because men have important status, they have a right to decide anything
without any suggestion from women. It is in line with Beauvoir 1949:7 that A man is in the right in being a man; it is the woman who is in the
wrong.‖ It means that Pa never make mistakes because he is a man. This is different from Ma who is in the wrong side because she is a woman.
Therefore, women‘s suggestion or opinion is regarded as unimportant and should not be considered.