Women

• Sexism shaped relations in American society. Steinbeck demonstrates this in Of Mice and Men.
• Before Curley’s wife is introduced in person, Steinbeck has included a conversation between the ranch workers where various derogatory things are said about her, for example, Candy calls her a “tart” (Candy, Section 2).
• The fact that these things are said about Curley’s wife behind her back, before the reader has been properly introduced to her, might evoke some sympathy for Curley’s wife as the only woman surrounded by all of these sexist men.
• The general attitude that the men have towards women is also seen through their tendency to spend their money in brothels, or “Old Susy’s place” (Whit, Section 3).
• Curley’s wife is presented as being glamorous and “heavily made up” (Section 2). She is meant to stand out in the predominantly male surroundings.

  You could say that Curley's wife embodies the traditional model of feminine beauty.
• Curley’s wife has a flirtatious manner when around the ranch workers: “She put her hands behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.” (Section 2).