What is the significance of gender roles in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Most of the gender roles in To Kill a Mockingbird are very traditional for the timeframe the book is set. In other words, most of the characters fulfill the expectations of traditional gender roles. The one main exception to this is, of course, Scout.

Scout is a tomboy and very clearly not in any hurry to become a "lady." Her mother died when she was just a toddler, so she has had more male influence...

Most of the gender roles in To Kill a Mockingbird are very traditional for the timeframe the book is set. In other words, most of the characters fulfill the expectations of traditional gender roles. The one main exception to this is, of course, Scout.

Scout is a tomboy and very clearly not in any hurry to become a "lady." Her mother died when she was just a toddler, so she has had more male influence in her life than female. Although Calpurnia is around, she is not her mother and Atticus and Jem still have far more influence over her. She prefers to play with boys than girls, she hates dresses, and all of the expectations society has of "ladies" simply do not suit her. Unfortunately, her Aunt Alexandra is bound and determined to turn her into one:

"I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn't supposed to be doing things that required pants. (Ch. 9)

Aside from Scout, there are some other indications that not everyone is comfortable with the traditional roles that society sets forth. Miss Maudie is also quite happy in overalls and accepts Scout for who she is rather than trying to convert her to being more girlish. Miss Maudie herself is not as ladylike as many of the women in town and this is obvious to Scout, who seems to admire that trait in her. We also see Dill as a fairly effeminate little boy. He is small for his age and loves to talk and tell stories. He gets along great with Scout and Jem, but he does not seem to have any other friends who are boys outside of Jem.

Lee's subtext throughout the book is that there should be room in society for those who do not wish to conform to the traditional gender roles - as she herself did not, either.