"Men and girls, men and girls: Artificial swine and pearls"

This quote by Gertrude Stein is a commentary on the artificiality of modern life. By juxtaposing the words "males and girls" with "artificial swine and pearls," Stein is suggesting that the roles of males and females in society have become artificial and superficial. The phrase "synthetic swine" might be analyzed as a metaphor for the way in which guys are expected to behave in a certain way, while "pearls" might be viewed as a metaphor for the method which females are anticipated to act in a specific method. In this way, Stein is recommending that the functions of men and women in society have become extremely stiff and synthetic, which this is an issue that needs to be attended to. By utilizing this quote, Stein is encouraging us to believe critically about the roles of men and women in society and to question the artificiality of these roles.