Miss Baker is compared to a “young cadet,” and further description of her androgynous features characterizes her as a “flapper.” This makes her representative of the novel’s emphasis on modern styles that clash with established, traditional standards, including gender roles.
The Great Gatsby – 1
The Great Gatsby – 4
Tom’s mistress, Myrtle Wilson, is described in a manner that contrasts with the descriptions of Jordan Baker and Daisy Buchanan. She’s “faintly stout” and carries her “surplus flesh sensuously.” She’s also described as having “rather wide hips.” She is not a flapper, so she might be symbolic of something more traditional.