A Late Aubade Women and Femininity Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Line)

Quote #1

Or rising in an elevator-cage
Toward Ladies' Apparel. (3-4)

These lines make it seem like shopping is a woman-specific activity. This is one of the instances where maybe Wilbur, intentionally or unintentionally, paints a slightly negative stereotypical picture of women.

Quote #2

You could be planting a raucous bed
Of salvia, in rubber gloves, (5-6)

Gardening? Is this a strictly female activity? Or did Wilbur simply list this as an activity anyone could be doing, man or woman? It's up to you to decide.

Quote #3

Or lunching through a screed of someone's loves
With pitying head. (7-8)

Hmm, having lunch while gossiping with a lovelorn friend, eh? It's hard to imagine this as something other than stereotypical, but maybe it's not all negative. Maybe Wilbur thinks that it's good to show that kind of support to a friend. It's hard to say with just this line since he doesn't seem to offer judgment one way or the other.