Monday, February 6, 2017

Article of the Day 2/6/17

If Gender Stereotypes Didn't Exist

Gender Stereotypes are restricting. I believe you can be who you actually are, deep down inside that part that is just so you, if you ignore what you're told is unacceptable to like. You are your most genuine self when you shed gender expectations, personality guildlines, and more. If you enjoy what you enjoy then you are happier. In my sociology class, one article we read really peaked my interest. I don't have the textbook anymore but what it was about was about about how there are even gender differences in what's acceptable to non-conform to. This article reminded me of the discussion because it was about how it's more okay for females to conform to male interests than it is for males to like female interests. Because of all the great advancement, there are more things that are acceptable for girls to do (Don't get me wrong. I do not believe it's fully there). I'm aware it's not the case for everyone, but in my own life and in the article it explained how girls were praised for being "like a man". Girls were encouraged and praised for adapting "male traits" while boys were shamed for "female traits". This mindset is saying that it's better to be a male than a female. It's saying that male traits and interests are better than female. Masculine is better than femininity. The sociogical article also went into depth about how this fear of male's being feminine actually comes from a place of homophobia. Fathers fear that their son who takes an interest in feminine things might be gay. The same was not thought of for girls. The fear of males being feminine is directly connected to the fear that they could be gay. There are so many problems with this. Not only is being gay a bad thing, but there is nothing wrong with liking "feminine" things. Just because a boy likes baby dolls doesn't mean he likes boys. And what's so wrong if he did? The article also discussed on how fathers saw males like feminine things and being gay as a failure of their own masculinity and parental role. Again, there are so many problems with that. Just because your son liked to wear floral scents doesn't mean that you failed as a father. Again, this is also a place of homophobia. Just because your son is gay doesn't mean that you failed as a parent.

I am planning of doing gender stereotypes for my research project as I have SO much more to say :)

No comments:

Post a Comment