Masculinity and Femininity

In Last Night at the Telegraph Club, masculinity and femininity form a major theme, particularly in terms of how stereotypical gender roles can represent an obstacle to achieving an understanding of one’s gender and sexuality. This concept of how gender expectations can be harmful is introduced at the beginning of the novel, when Lily is observing the contestants in the Miss Chinatown contest. She is entranced by the girls’ similarities and their adoption of American beauty conventions, but she sees how this makes them vulnerable to criticism, as even her friend Shirley remarks that one of the girls is “acting like she’s a Hollywood star or something” (6). This situation includes cultural complexities, as some of the criticism leveled at them is based on the idea that they do not look Chinese enough, but it still demonstrates the general danger present in beauty...