A&P, Question 2
Feminist cultural model:
Given the time period that A&P was written in, the early 1960s still had the traditional and conservative values from the 1950s, where it wasn't until later in the decade that social change would begin to occur. That being said, women had very specific and expected social roles, like the housewife. Women would do the chores and the shopping, but in "decent" clothing. They were expected to look decent everywhere they went, which is why the girls in A&P were forced to leave because of their indecent bathing suits. The age of the girls is particularly important. Teenagers during this time period wanted to break free from traditional values, hence the obsession with rock and roll music and drive-in theaters. The younger generation was the one to inspire and go about social change, a sort of rebellion against the older generation, which is why the manager of A&P, Lengel, tells the girls "they need to come in here with your shoulders covered". Lengel is a part of the older generation. Sammy doesn't object to the girls wearing their bathing suits because he is a part of the younger generation.
I hadn't even put into consideration of the time period that this was written. It really does make a difference of the men's reactions. While today it is still unlikely to see a woman go grocery shopping in nothing but a bathing suit, the reactions of the men would have probably been more accepting and less shocked.
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