Subverting the Aristocratic perspective on race

Published in 2009, The Help is a novel by Kathryn Stockett, which stands as an important contribution to the discussion of race, class, and gender in the context of US Southern society in the Sixties. Set in Jackson, Mississippi, The Help delves into several issues surrounding the concepts of identity and belonging, touching on both lives of African American characters mainly represented through the narration of Aibileen and Minny and white characters through the narration of Eugenia, also known as Skeeter, a rebellious woman who challenges the ideals and values of the Southern Aristocracy to which she belongs, making herself a target for their judgement. Eugenia receives criticism based on her gender, class and race because she is viewed as an outcast and a threat to the stability and established order of the Southern society.