Gender Roles in The Bell Jar (post #6)

What do you notice about gender thus far in your reading of The Bell Jar? From Esther’s perspective, what does it mean to be a woman in 1950s America? What about class? Do you recognize any relationship between class status and gender? 

So far in my readings, I’ve noticed that gender issues are an important aspect of this story.  For education, it seems understood that males will be well-educated and have good careers. For women, on the other hand, education and careers are important; but it is implied that the woman will give up her career to raise a family when she gets married.  In regards to class, I got the impression that women were assumed to be fairly average and middle class, and their means to achieving higher societal status were through marriage or possibly through being highly educated.  On the other hand, men achieved higher social standing through their career or education, rather than through marriage.