Men and women have very different roles in this novel. Woman are considered weak and are defined by their relationship towards their husbands, and for that marriage is a big deal. In the novel, it is shown that women can only gain power through marrying ambitious men but must be held confined to their strict rules. One can see this happen when Jody doesn't allow Janie to wear her hair down, and beats her. Men impose these standards on women by silencing them, limiting their actions, and insulting their appearance.
Her hair play an importance on the story and Jody's determination to keep her (Janie) to himself because she (Janie) is not allowed to wear it down, or allow anyone to touch it. In texture and appearance, Janie's hair represents a biracial unity because of her white father and black mother. Connected to this, her hair creates a sense of beauty that to her is freedom, which Jody doesn't like. Lastly, Janie's reluctance to let her hair down once Jody passes, indicates her wanting to be loved and free from what the community believes should be accepted.
When Jody beats her, it shows dominance and power again, that men have over women in their community. Because Jody is ambitious it is considered justified when he hits her because, most people in the community are scared to speak up. When Jody is introduced at the beggining of the novel, he is a stylish, rich guy and for that no one messes with him.
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