In Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, how are Anne’s views of women different from those of most women of her day?

Anne Frank compares herself to other women such as Margot, Mrs. Frank, Mrs. Van Daan, and her friends at school. She sees herself as an independent woman who is strong and can carry herself through her own choices. She values honesty and integrity, but she also won't allow anyone to talk down to her or about her. She feels that these character traits of hers are unique because most women seem to act meek, mild, quiet, and roll over whenever anyone challenges them. For Anne, this is disgusting. For example, Anne doesn't truly respect her sister Margot for the following reasons:

“I might tell you I don’t want to be in the least like Margot. She is much too soft and passive for my liking, and allows everyone to talk her around, and gives in about everything. I want to be a stronger character!” (66).

Anne certainly is a stronger character; but, what Anne may not know is that it might take a lot of strength for Margot to mind her manners and temper. Anne wants to be a strong woman, but she doesn't want to lose her self-respect. Anne loses respect for Mrs. Van Daan when she flirts with Mr. Frank and Mr. Dussel. Even though Anne isn't Mrs. Frank's biggest fan, she respects her mother for keeping her flirting to herself. Near the end of the time in the annex, Anne loses respect again for Mrs. Van Daan when she becomes more and more desperate. Anne discloses her thoughts about Mrs. Van Daan as follows:

“Mrs. Van Daan is desperate, talks about a bullet through her head, prison, hanging, and suicide . . . she quarrels, uses abusive language, cries, pities herself, laughs, and then starts a fresh quarrel again. What on earth can one do with such a foolish, blubbering specimen? No one takes her seriously, she hasn’t any character, and she grumbles to everyone" (252).

Again, Anne wants to be a strong, independent woman. She wants to be a journalist or a writer one day; and because she doesn't mention it in her diary, she doesn't seem to want to be a mother and a wife like many in her generation were brought up to be. Anne is more ambitious and seems to desire a career more than anything else at this stage in her life. She also feels as though she is more affectionate with Peter than other girls her age might be. She worries a little bit about her behavior with Peter as shown in the following passage:

"I know almost for certain that Margot would never kiss a boy unless there had been some talk of an engagement or marriage, but neither Peter nor I have anything like that in mind. I’m sure too that Mummy never touched a man before Daddy. What would my girl friends say about it if they knew that I lay on Peter’s arms, my heart against his chest, my head on his shoulder and with his head against mine!” (212).

Even though Anne worries about what others may think, she keeps doing as she sees fit for the most part. She believes that she is independent and strong enough to check herself if needs be. Many other girls might cling more to their parents for guidance and advice, and Anne does go to her father about Peter once or twice; but for the most part, Anne is her own woman no matter what other women in the world might be doing.