John Steinbeck uses his unique literary style to write the short story “The Chrysanthemums,” where he brings his readers into a society of gender inequality. “The Chrysanthemums” depicts the challenges of Elisa Allen, a thirty-five-year-old woman who is expected to become a traditional housewife. Her continued transformation throughout the story depicts the life of a woman trying to find meaning in her boring life in the 1930s. John Steinbeck's "The Chrysanthemums" shows the true feelings of the protagonist, Elisa Allen, through the use of femininity, self-awareness and weakness. Elisa's character undergoes a complete transformation of womanhood, due to her conversation with the handyman. The story initially describes Elisa's appearance using words associated with manhood, as Steinbeck says, her face is "strong, eager and beautiful", and her figure is "blocked and heavy" (228). Additionally, she wears a man's hat, heavy leather gloves, and a large apron that hides her printed dress (228). As a result, she is portrayed as a woman with greater masculine qualities than feminine ones. However, as soon as she meets the handyman and notices his interest in chrysanthemums, "irritation melts from Elisa's face" (232), and eventually reveals her feminine side. After the handyman left, she “rubbed her legs and thighs, her kidneys, her chest and arms with a small block of pumice stone, until her skin was scratched and red” (236). She then bathes and puts on a dress to appear more feminine (237). For the first time, Elisa feels valued and special by the handyman. As a result, she devotes more effort to beautifying herself than she does at home or in the garden. Therefore, it can be seen that although Elisa is in the middle of the paper, fragile and insignificant housewives and mothers. Instead, she must remain in a “closed pot” (228), exactly as she is expected to do. As a result, she cries over the truth that she will always be reminded, that she is a "weak" and "useless" woman, which only increases her frustrations and dissatisfactions with her marriage (238). In conclusion, “Steinbeck's Chrysanthemums” illustrates the life of Elisa Allen, who struggles with femininity, self-recognition and powerlessness. Although she is portrayed as a modern 1930s housewife, it is clear that she is far from the average traditional wife. Rather, she aspires to be represented in the male world. However, through Elisa's tribulations and limitations, she unfortunately lost her stature. Therefore, we must learn to make the best use of our current equality rights..