Gender Roles in “The Gift of Cochise” and “The Walking Woman”

Using characters, “The Gift of Cochise” by Louis L'Amour and “The Walking Woman” by Mary Austin critique traditional gender roles in the Western genre by showcasing how it occurs from two perspectives: female empowerment and independence. In “The Gift of Cochise,” Angie Lowe is a determined woman who stands up for her family, even when the challenges are tough. The quote, "Yet alone, a woman with two small children had fought them off, and the woman was barely more than a girl" (p. 270), makes this clear. In a Western part that is usually played by men, L'Amour uses vivid imagery and direct…