Viola most likely chose to disguise herself as a man because, at the time, men were viewed as more superior to women and women were often seen as weak and frail compared to men.
Hope this helps!
Marguerite in the story <em>I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings </em> was asked by her mother to change her clothes when she was about to go to Mrs. Flower's house because her mother wanted to show her masterpiece- a knitted dress. Mrs. Flower loves knitted dress that's why she was made to wear it.