Modern society is characterized by biased gender differences. All over the world, women face difficulties in hiring and are forced to be torn between work responsibilities and family. Gender stereotypes harm men no less: they are forced to conform to normative ideas about masculinity and often burn out at work. However, when meeting for the first time, numerous individuals tend to attribute qualities based on sex.
Fig.1 Vacuuming Woman Resting Man
The chosen image represents one of the most common gender biases – women are obliged to do the chores because it is not men’s responsibility. The picture shows that a female does the vacuum cleaning while the male is resting on the sofa. This stereotype is rooted back centuries when ladies were considered hearth keepers and gentlemen – providers. However, this bias has undergone much debate and criticism, especially with the surge of feministic movements. The situation has drastically changed, and now men and women can share or delegate housekeeping responsibilities.
The representation is generally negative because females are exposed to criticism if they do not comply with chores. In addition, it creates an impression that men can easily rest after a long day of work, while women are not allowed to do it unless their house is clean. This perception is harmful since it places too many responsibilities on a female and exposes her to contempt if they go against the accepted norms. Ultimately, it does not allow them to delegate such duties making them feel guilty.
In conclusion, gender stereotypes pose a potential menace to humans because they define the qualities of people based on their sex. Even though the situation has altered with the rise of feminism, there are still contemptuous views on women who do not do the chores. The modern world does not restrain gender stereotypes from flowing into people’s consciousness despite the harmfulness caused by biases and their impact on one’s life.
The human society is a rather complicated phenomenon where the interrelations between the human beings are complex and various. The social stereotypes and norms distinguish people according to their race, age, wellbeing level, social status, and, what is most important, sex and gender. The issue here is that the public understanding of both terms is rather misperceived which causes a lot of controversy in the society. Aaron Devor and Deborah Rudacille are the scholars dealing with the gender issues in their works, and the present paper will focus on the comparative analysis of the ideas expressed by both authors aimed at finding out their major similar and different points and explaining both.
To start with, the arguments presented by Devor (2007) have the development of gender in children as their main focus. Claiming the age differences in forming and understanding the basic gender behaviors and public attitudes to them, Devor (2007) argues that “learning to behave in accordance with one’s gender identity is a lifelong process” (p. 383). The further development of this idea is reflected in the simple rule that Devor (2007) concludes from his research: “All persons are either male or female. All males are first boys and then men; all females are first girls and then women” (Devor, 2007, p. 384). The author is also concerned with the topic of intercultural understanding of gender, which is different across nations and ethnic groups. Nevertheless, certain stereotypes are common to all the societies of today: “A more evenhanded description of the social qualities subsumed by femininity and masculinity might be to label masculinity as generally concerned with egoistic dominance and femininity as striving for cooperation or communion” (Devor, 2007, p. 387).
Nevertheless, the main idea of Devor’s (2007) paper is the consideration of the development of gender awareness in children. Examining this topic, the author comes to the idea that “children begin to settle into a gender identity between the age of eighteen months and two years” (Devor, 2007, p. 383). The next stage of this process comes at the age of three when children have “firm and consistent concept of gender” (Devor, 2007, p. 384) and moves further to the age of five to seven years when the complete and permanent understanding of gender group belonging comes to them. Finally, Devor considers the role of language in the “establishment, depth, and tenacity of gender identity” (Devor, 2007, p. 385) and concludes that gender is more a social than innate concept.
As contrasted, the paper by Deborah Rudacille (2007) has certain similar and different points of discussion. First of all, the focus of the work is on other aspects of the gender perception issue. Rudacille (2007) builds her argument on the basis of the historical and medical data that defend the idea of the gender variance and transsexuality: “…gender crossing is so ubiquitous, that genitalia by itself has never been a universal nor essential insignia of a lifelong gender” (Rudacille, 2007, p. 454). Defending this idea, Rudacille (2007) addresses the research works of other scholars including Bullough and Diamond who argue that “gender variance should be considered neither an anomaly nor a pathology, but a simple variation” (Rudacille, 2007, p. 459). Drawing from these ideas, and from the drawn line between the biological notion of sex and the social one of gender, Rudacille (2007) expresses probably the leading thought of her paper reading that “sexual orientation is invisible, but gender identity is difficult to hide” (p. 460).
Moreover, the bulk of the paper by Rudacille (2007) is dedicated to the historical exemplification of transsexuality as a usual phenomenon in the human society. Here another difference from the reading by Devor (2007) can be observed. Rudacille (2007) argues that “many (though not all) of the persons whose names and stories are known to us today were born female and lived some or all of their lives as men” (p. 455). The author exemplifies her argument by the cases of Chevalier d’Eon, Adelaide Herculine Barbin and other people with the only aim – to come to the conclusion that unites this work with the paper by Devor (2007). Rudacille (2007) claims the freedom of sexual orientation and makes admits gender as one of the most controversial topics of the society: “Biological sex (and therefore gender identity) is thus regulated by the state in a way that sexual orientation is not. Citizens of the United States and most other nations are not required to announce their sexual orientation or to affirm it in legal documents” (Rudacille, 2007, p. 472).
To conclude, the works by Devor (2007) and Rudacille (2007) touch upon the controversial topic of gender identification in the modern society. These works are different in their focuses while the former examines the shaping of gender awareness in children and considers the public attitudes towards gender, while the latter studies the issues of public attitudes towards various sexual orientations and transsexuality and exemplifies the arguments putting the ideas in the historical context. Nevertheless, both works are similar in their focus on the issues of sex, gender, sexuality, and public attitudes towards these phenomena.
Works Cited
Devor, Aaron H. “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender.” Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. Eds. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen and Bonnie Lisle. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007. 383 – 393.
Rudacille, Deborah. “The Hands of God.” Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. Eds. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen and Bonnie Lisle. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2007. 454 – 472.
Although considerable effort has been made to enhance diversity in professional settings, gender still has a significant effect on employees’ prospects. The extent to which gender stereotypes affect females’ careers is specifically apparent within the criminal justice system (Mallicoat, 2018). These stereotypes are often displayed and rather spread in media. This paper includes a brief analysis of the way gender stereotypes are made visible in the popular TV show Brooklyn 9-9.
The media product has a particular interest for the research of gender roles in the criminal justice system as the fictional department is rather inclusive. The TV show is an entertaining comedy sitcom displaying the functioning of a fictional NYPD precinct, but the team is very diversified in terms of gender, race, and even sexual identity. The head of the department is an open gay who is trying to create a perfect team (Goor & Schur, 2014). The TV show has a wide audience, and it is quite popular with a high Rotten Tomatoes rating (critic rating is 89% and audience score is 94%) (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” n.d.). According to viewers’ comments, the TV show is a good pastime. The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which stereotypes against female officers are perpetuated in this TV show.
Methodology and Theoretical Background
For the purpose of this study, thirty minutes of the show were closely analyzed. The first and a half of the second episode were chosen as the pilot episode often reflects the essence of the entire show. It is hypothesized that the episodes under consideration will contain numerous instances of stereotyping against women. In order to check the hypothesis, the following variables were identified. Gender is the independent variable, and such dependent variables as using weapons, fighting, displaying compassion, being in control were chosen. These qualities are often seen as central to gender stereotyping and the ones associated with the think-manager-think-male approach within the criminal justice system (Tabassum & Nayak, 2021). The focus will be on professional roles assigned to male and female officers as well as the way these roles are performed.
Liberal feminism will be the theoretical framework guiding this research as it effectively explains the nature of gender stereotyping. According to this paradigm, social roles are distributed unevenlys and the world is still patriarchal since females are often seen as unfit for some duties and types of job, which is placed to the fore in the criminal justice system (Mallicoat, 2018). Females are seen as rather submissive, capable of communicating, and showing compassion individuals who are incapable of completing men’s job (policing).
Results
The episode under analysis features nine main characters (with 33% of female employees, two detectives and one civilian administrator). Based on the data shown in Table 1, it is clear that the team is diverse, to a certain extent, in terms of gender, age, and ethnicity with prevailing white employees and males. The majority of employees are below 40, but their sexual identities are quite homogenous, with only one gay person.
Table 1. Demographic Data
Variable
Features
Number
Percentage
Gender
Male
6
67
Female
3
33
Ages
30-40
6
67
41-55
3
33
Race
White
5
56
Black
2
22
Hispanic
2
22
Sexual orientation
Straight
8
89
Gay
1
11
As far as the stereotype-related variables, the analysis shows that qualities typical of male characters prevail (see Table 2). Assertiveness and being in control are manifested by attempts to show superiority, provide solutions, and lead. Raymond Holt is the captain, so he is in the position of a leader. Gina Linetti is the administrator, so her work is different from the professional duties of detectives.
Table 2. Behavior Stereotypes
Instances of displaying empathy / compassion
Instances of participating in fight
Instances of weapon use
Instances of being assertive/being in control
Raymond Holt
2
11
Jake Peralta
1
1
3
9
Rosa Diaz
1
1
6
Amy Santiago
1
1
1
5
Terry Jeffords
1
4
Charles Boyle
2
1
2
Gina Linetti
1
Discussion
As mentioned above, the TV show displays an inclusive working environment, but still, males dominate in the police department. As for the dependent variables, the features assigned to men are displayed by both males and females. Peralta is the main character trying to secure his position as a leader in the team under the supervision of the captain and lieutenant, which can explain the figures. At that, females also try to be in control and assertive.
Conclusion
The data show that females have to display male-associated features to be successful in the role of a detective. The TV show displays this stereotype clearly and makes it even stronger. The relationships between male and female employees are shown as gender-neutral as men can call female officers ‘dude.’ Female detectives are always dressed in pants, but their outfits are often tight compared to more comfortable loose clothes of male characters. It is quite obvious that although the criminal justice system is undergoing transformations, gender stereotypes still exist and women need to behave like men to be successful. Female detectives are more disciplined and hardworking as compared to their male peers, but they still occupy the same position. The way women are featured in the TV show also suggests that females are still expected to look pretty and sexy while being assertive and competitive rather than compassionate when trying to police.
Goor, D., & Schur, M. (Producers). (2014). Pilot [Television series episode]. In D. Goor & M. Schur (Producers), Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 1. Los Angeles, CA: Fremulon.
Mallicoat, S. L. (2018). Women, gender, and crime (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
“Good girls do not fight!” “Good boys do not cry!” Since the moment of birth, everyone of every sort has been surrounded by a plethora of gender stereotypes teaching girls to do what a girl is expected to do and instructing boys to do what a boy is supposed to do. Scientifically, these ‘good-girls-like’ and ‘good-boys-like’ deeds and modes of conduct are respectively termed as femininity and masculinity. Femininity is defined as a set of qualities traditionally ascribed to females, whereas masculinity is interpreted as a group of characteristics conventionally attributed to males. The article “Gender role behaviors and attitudes” by Aaron Devor examines the both notions, depicts their traits, analyses their essence, speculates on their universally accepted natural origin and arrives at the conclusion that the current perception of femininity and masculinity might be an outcome of secular gender inequalities. Nowadays, since both women and men happen to struggle to put the best foot forward and strive for power and leadership, femininity tends to be evaluated as something second-rate, despite the fact that the concept proves to contain the traits which today’s world with its aggressiveness appears to lack. First, overall androgyny is asserted to result in increased volume of violence and cruelty. Second, qualities like sensitivity, tenderness, and sympathy cannot be considered as servile and shameful. Third, femininity and masculinity prove to be characterized by both positive and negative features.
Depreciation of the function of femininity is frequently promulgated in various types of the media, in different kinds of art, and in day-to-day life. The message sounds like “be strong, or lose” and it requires from everyone to acquire masculine traits whatever it might cost. Devor states that there is a tendency to “view feminine persons as “born losers” and to consider masculinity as “innately” valuable,” which is acknowledged to “magnify the hierarchical dominance of masculinity.” Hence, one of the peculiarities of the modern society is that it is believed to consist of masculine winners and feminine losers. However, it is a matter of attitude and social structure. Taken solely and out of any context, feminine qualities are likely to be considered as virtues, but, unfortunately, they do not work when it comes to action in society. Thus, the idea of femininity happens to be admirably romantic, although in the chase for success the traits associated with it proves to be worthless.
People say, “Boys will be boys, girls will be girls,” which might have a grain of truth and be reasonable if considered from a habitual viewpoint. Written in 1978 by an Antiguan-American writer Jamaica Kincaid, “Girl” is a short story which, in fact, presents a what-to-do list to become a woman of a good reputation and, thus, supplies a powerful message of the role of femininity in the society: being a true – feminine – woman manages to help open many doors. In spite of some old-fashioned realities (for it was written almost forty years ago), this is excellent two-page guidance narrated by the mother to her daughter. Being organized as one sentence, it creates the idea of continuity: as the instruction goes on, it feels like that the girl grows up and becomes more mature while the advice gets more sophisticated. As if planned to support Devor’s ideas that “the goals of femininity and, by implication, of all biological females are presumed to revolve round heterosexuality and maternity” and that women should “dress, move, speak, and act in ways that men will find attractive,” the guidance touches upon various aspects of girls’ day-to-day life. They are conduct: “this is how to behave in the presence of men you don’t know very well,” appearance: “this is how to hem a dress when you see the hem coming down so to prevent yourself from looking like a slut,” chores: “this is how you sweep a whole house,” routines: “this is how to make the ends meet,” and relationships: “this is how you smile to someone you don’t like at all.” At the same time, due to its literary value, the story tends to appear sort of exaggerated and might seem even tactless since it gives away certain extremely intimate secrets which an adult woman shares with a young girl: “this is how to make a good medicine to throw away a child before it even becomes a child,” “this is how to bully a man,” “and this is how to love a man.” Despite this, it does teach the girl to preserve feminine qualities, to develop good will and to become a woman of a decent reputation “who the baker will let near the bread.”
Another insight into the story is its symbolic interpretation from the viewpoint of the use of power. It takes readers back to the times when the author’s country of origin Antigua used to be a colony under England’s rule. Hence, the instructive mother enacts England, and the obedient daughter represents Antigua. In Devor’s words and as depicted by Kincaid, England has “masculine thirst for power, which can, but need not, lead to aggression,” whereas Antigua endeavors “feminine quest for harmony and communal well-being, which can, but need not, result in passivity and dependence.” England intervenes into the local culture with its “don’t sing benna” and “this is how to make a bread pudding” in the context of aboriginal Antiguan cultural peculiarities described in the story. The intention of good will is absent from such understanding of the text, as it portrays the aggressor’s strict administration and the conquest’s dutiful submissiveness.
In conclusion, it is necessary to admit that femininity and masculinity are two sides of the same medal, and neither should be neglected. It would have been impossible to reflect on one of them without dwelling upon the other. Both concepts have positive qualities and drawbacks. In his article, Devor culminates that this is gender discrimination that has resulted in the situation where the balance between the two notions in question happens to have turned unequal and unfair. It might be reasonable to go further and to claim that overall masculinity of the world has evidently been entraining aggressiveness, cruelty, and violence, whereas the general femininity of the world, be it the ruling concept, might have brought about sensitivity, tenderness, and sympathy. Ideally, it could have been an opposition of the world of war and the world of love. However, the first one is the case, whereas the other one is a utopia. The idea that “good boys don’t cry” is ultimately masculine and, in fact, might cause psychological trouble, as it involves reserving emotions, which is not considered healthy. Being emotional should not be shameful for either men or women. Possibly old-fashioned and probably conservative, the idea that “good girls don’t fight” is not, actually, evil, as it appeals to peace and conveys the image of a woman who does not acquire those masculine characteristics which are alien to her. Hence, in spite of being depreciated, femininity is necessary, and the goals to be reached are a balance between the concepts and an avoidance of any prejudices.
It would be reasonable to say that the modern world provides women with the opportunities to get involved in practically every sphere of human activities on an equal basis with men. However, there is evidence that today, quite a considerable number of contradictive gender issues exist. In particular, a relevant point is whether to mention a woman’s accomplishments outside work or not. On the one hand, it should be admitted that for females, many kinds of work are more exhaustive and pressing from the physical perspective in comparison with males. The latter ones – in most cases – have stronger bodies and mental resistance, given that these aspects are interrelated. On the other hand, nowadays’ conditions within the given scope are founded on equality. The major part of employment opportunities lies within spheres in which gender differences are diminished in various ways (automatization, gender-equality provisions, statutes, etc.). Hence, if to accept such a reality, the state of affairs in which a woman should be praised at work just for the fact that she is a woman is not appropriate.
Moreover, when it comes to the field of science, emphasizing a prominent scientist, engineer, or mathematician as a woman, wife, or mother does not seem to align with the current principle of gender equality. Given the fact that this is a whole intellectual sphere, the capabilities of males and females are equilibrated to the greatest extent. Nevertheless, it might be assumed that gender peculiarities, indeed, should be taken into account. For example, women should have the opportunity for maternity leave. Still, this is related to the general conditions – that are to be based on respect and adequacy – in which females work. When it comes to the recognition of their scientific accomplishments, the focus must be on the latter but not on various gender characteristics and stereotypes.
Here, it seems rational to note that there have been some cases that draw attention to the described issue. For instance, in her New York Times obituary, Yvonne Brill’s scientific attainments were blurred due to the detailed depiction of her domestic life as a mother and wife (Sullivan). Such an approach was not accepted by the readers, and it was criticized significantly. Indeed, numerous publications on the related themes confirm that the problem “is that when you emphasize a woman’s sex, you inevitably end up dismissing her science” (Aschwanden). It is visible that the issue cannot be neglected, and the scientific community should take appropriate measures constantly.
Thus, the inertia of attitudes towards women still persists; to a large extent, this is facilitated by gender stereotypes or the maintenance of traditional roles in the family. Then, there is the maintenance of the phenomenon of “double burden”, when a woman does two to three times more household work in the house than a man. Also, traditionally, a woman is entrusted with all the responsibilities of caring for and raising children and adolescents. All this creates unequal chances and opportunities for career advancement, full immersion in scientific work. Despite the significant obstacles women have to the public recognition of their scientific contributions, their role in science is great. Differences between men and women in the perception of the world, its functioning and values, comfort, and the need for change will give science more potential if mixed, gender-balanced teams work in science. The equal recognition of their accomplishments will stimulate this process appropriately.
Media have a substantial impact on modern people; in particular, they create specific perceptions about genders. Often in ads, movies, and social networks, gender is portrayed vividly and exaggeratedly. These details are fixed in the minds of people, and as a result, any deviations from these “norms” are considered incorrect and are condemned by a significant part of society. However, undoubtedly, this process is fatal because it forces people to abandon their individual characteristics and follow the majority opinion.
For example, this is manifested in the development of the beauty industry, which is constantly changing but continues to flourish. Women all over the world spend money and time to match the ideal ideas of society. They use makeup, make hairstyles, wear high heels, and even if it causes them inconvenience, they continue to do so. Thus, they sacrifice their identities to meet beauty standards.
There are many examples of advertisements in which gender is stereotyped. One of them is the advertisement of Old Spice, whose protagonist is overly masculine (Old Spice, 2010). Undoubtedly, the public likes these videos because they are quite fun and dynamic. However, in this case, the problem is that because of such advertisements, men tend to achieve the shown kind of appearance and way of thinking.
Currently, the list of gender characteristics is changing with society. Many women like to wear pants and baggy clothes and cut their hair short. Men, on the contrary, calmly wear bright-colored clothes and make unusual hairstyles. Therefore, despite the abundance of stereotypes, people struggle with them and pay more attention to who they want to be. This is beneficial because it makes people feel more confident and comfortable.
In general, I cannot say that I possess any particular traits that usually belong to the “list” of the other sex. However, sometimes, depending on my mood, I want to dress unusually, which can be considered a manifestation of these features. In such situations, fortunately, I do not feel constrained by social stereotypes. My environment is calm about people’s appearance, so everyone always feels comfortable and safe.
Some of my friends, however, pay great attention to specifically challenging this list. One of them, for example, is actively advocating for women’s rights. She cuts her hair short, does not use makeup and dresses unusually, because she likes this style. In addition, she writes about gender issues in social networks, drawing public attention to them. Although not everyone is ready to accept her as she is, she can be herself without being ashamed of it.
Similar examples can often be found in the media. For example, the Always ad campaign Like a Girl is interesting in this regard. It depicts women and girls not as weak and charming creatures. Many of them have great internal strength and can independently go through life and solve their problems (Always, 2014). Understanding this is important for society, which makes this ad quite popular.
In my opinion, gender is indeed socially constructed in many ways. This is manifested even in infancy, when parents use specific colors in the interior and clothes of the child, depending on gender. Even later, people’s attitudes differ according to gender: at school, at university, and also at work. Despite this, people have the right to be free and to feel comfortable in any condition and with any appearance.
Although it is a common belief that everybody may be themselves and accomplishes anything they want in the world, this is rarely the case for most people. Many nations throughout the globe do not treat all genders equally and occasionally do not even acknowledge some genders, such as transgender and non-binary (Streiff & Dundes, 2017). This unfair treatment is highlighted even more by the sex discrimination presented in films. Stereotypes are frequently spread by the way genders are portrayed in movies. For instance, women are commonly perceived as petite and frail, whereas men are often considered vital (Streiff & Dundes, 2017). Films significantly impact people’s lives, especially children, as the characters in children’s movies may serve as role models for young viewers. Gender roles have been a prevalent issue throughout the post-2000 era and continue to do so now. This essay analyzes two films, Frozen and Shrek, which portray women as bright, energetic, and, most importantly, independent, in contrast to the 1930s when society’s ideas about the female gender were prevalent.
The Frozen Film
Disney films frequently featured gender stereotypes from the past, and its lead female characters stood in for established social norms. They shared the same traits: friendliness, passivity, and dependency. In addition, women’s only aspirations in the movies were constrained by outdated notions of marriage and their desperate desire for a dashing prince to save them. Unrealistic depictions of women’s bodies further the one-dimensional impression created by stereotyped heroines from the past. However, society’s evolution has impacted how people view women generally and their place in society.
The movie’s guiding ideas reflect a change in gender stereotypes. This is portrayed through the conflict between Elsa and Anna, which outlines the tension between long-held beliefs and newer perceptions. Elsa is a brilliant, powerful, witty, and independent character who contrasts with Anna’s amorous disposition (Buck &Lee, 2013). Her ideals of independence, ambition, and decisiveness are innate, but her sister’s soft personality suggests a penchant for reliance and empathy. The differences in their attributes illustrate the dissimilarity between Elsa’s and Anna’s visions.
The motivations of female characters in Disney movies are directly tied to the development of goals and ambitions because it is the source of these notions. Anna’s goal of falling in love with a prince embodies the antiquated concept of women being able to find their position in society (Buck &Lee, 2013). However, since such an incentive does not take reality into account, it seems sensible to replace it with other factors. Elsa’s motivations for wanting to be strong, independent, and accepting of her are far more in line with the necessities of the modern world. They contribute to a better impression given to kids by the movie.
Changes in society’s perception of gender stereotypes primarily impact current motivations, values, and objectives, and this is also true of how women are viewed in society. The desire to marry the ideal man and, as a result, have someone who can come to their rescue in a crisis characterized their image in the past (Shu et al., 2022). Such motives and objectives suggest the predominance of values like reliance and empathy. In contrast to this model, modern women seek independence, which involves ambition and initiative. Therefore, this strategy meets the world’s needs and elevates Elsa above Anna as a role model.
The Shrek Film
The discussion of stereotypes in modern movies is less prevalent than it was in older movies. The stereotypes are still prevalent, even though they are not always immediately apparent to the spectator. Many well-known films, including Shrek, nevertheless follow the cliché of the hero rescuing the damsel. Furthermore, the king in the movie is hunting for the ideal princess. While the film does use these preconceptions for fun, it also shows that they are not unchangeable (Adamson& Jenson, 2001). In the movie, Shrek features several male tropes such as prowess, bravery, violence, and grossness.
Gender norms that dictate that males must be affluent and charming princes and those women must be beautiful and ladylike to live as princesses have been defied by the plot, setting, and characters of the main actor. Shrek is a giant, repulsive green ogre who falls in love with a lovely princess. Later, the charming princess morphs into an evil, hideous ogre. In essence, the film’s storyline is a conventional fairytale with a beautiful princess being saved by a prince and falling in love. The traditional fairytale upholds the standards that depict “brave knights” who protect the queen and go on to become affluent, attractive princes. But later in the story, Shrek becomes a good man who gets along with the princess (Adamson& Jenson, 2001). Unlike familiar fairy tales with a happy ending, the typical lovely princess transforms into an ogre.
Other fairy tales typically feature weak women and princesses who wait for powerful males to come to their rescue. Princess Fiona and her lady dragon are ferocious and strong-willed characters in the Shrek film. The characters in the film are shocked when she defeats an army of men in the forest since they had not anticipated it. In addition, many knights who came looking for her had been slaughtered by her dragon. The issue of gender roles is illustrated through the use of characters in “Shrek.” for instance, Shrek exhibits masculine characteristics in his way of life (Adamson& Jenson, 2001). He lives by himself in a marsh and makes candles out of his ear wax. He is accustomed to carrying out complex tasks like saving Princess Fiona. Just because he is a man and acts in a way often associated with men, such as showing pride, does not make his behavior acceptable to society.
The characters that the ogre portrays are typically associated with masculinity in society. One component of gender roles in an organization is the distance between the two genders. In communities, this form of nonverbal communication is frequently witnessed in routine actions like dressing. For instance, in the movie “Shrek,” when meeting with Donkey, Shrek notices a more considerable distance than when meeting with Fiona (Adamson& Jenson, 2001). This characteristic relates to the gender’s masculine traits. Prince Charming, however, is opposed to such a quality because it would appear to go against the wishes of society. In daily activities, males and females each have specific duties to play. Fiona, however, exhibits male traits in “Shrek” when she engages her assailants led by Robin Hood.
Since fighting is considered the domain of men, Fiona is not supposed to exhibit these tendencies as a woman, according to society. In doing so, Fiona disproves the myth that women should not fight in wars because it is thought that men should be fighting in them. The gender portrayal is justified by the fear of social rejection of odd appearance (Putri & Retnaningdyah, 2021). Fiona, who plays an ogre in the movie “Shrek,” worries that Shrek will not accept her because she is an ogre (Adamson& Jenson, 2001). The femininity is supported when she invites everyone into her feminine dialogue and significantly contributes to developing the relationship between her family and Shrek. The perception of gender roles has changed due to the movie “Shrek.” The masculine and the feminine have moved from one side to the other to achieve more power.
Conclusion
The idea of gender is a difficult one since, unlike the binary gender roles found in cultural artifacts, the idea of gender instability has just lately started to be introduced in certain cultural aspects. A person’s biology does not determine gender but results from their activities. Disney’s Frozen and Shrek are two examples of the development of contemporary movies, and they demonstrate a striking contrast in character portrayal from its earlier princess flicks. Even if they are retrograde, their musical routines expose the audience to traditional gender norms while allowing the protagonists to defy those constraints.
Anna gives herself up on her own to save her sister at the end of the film, while Elsa responds out of pure love to save Anna. The two female characters carry out both heroic deeds. Elsa’s heroic deed was especially intriguing because she sobbed inconsolably, the stereotypical distraught feminine response. As to argue that feminine metamorphosis, not male, is what is driving the advancement of gender norms in society, the movie turns this act of extreme emotion into something heroic. The film Shrek is fantastic because it appeals to adults and children in different ways, provoking thoughts on topics such as gender dynamics and how they are seen in society. It is a film that unquestionably questions the gender stereotypes we are used to, bringing to light our erroneous understanding of gender and the reality that we frequently stereotype and group people based on their behavior, looks, and language.
References
Adamson, A., & Jenson, V. (2001). Shrek. DreamWorks Distribution.
Buck, C., & Lee, J. (2013). Frozen. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
The article “The Smurfette Principle” by Katha Pollitt, coins the underlying truth of gender stereotype in the popular culture. She draws her reference from various Children Media literature and finds them to exemplify the impact of media on gender roles. She also points out that almost all television children’s shows (cartoon, movies, and books) contribute to gender stereotyping (Pollitt, 1991).
From her children and media review, she observes that female characters play a peripheral role compared to male characters. Pollitt’s work tries to create awareness that the society should not accept what Children Media is promoting about gender stereotypes. She uses her daughter, Sophie, to put her points across.
After watching “The Little Mermaid”, and reading “The Cat in the Hat”, Sophie is left disgusted by the peripheral role that female characters play in the media (Pollitt 1991). She concludes by acknowledging that the media is a problem in the society. However, in the contemporary context, most of these materials have changed significantly in order to give women a leading role and avoid bias, chauvinism, and sexism.
I agree with Katha Pollitt’s observations that Children Media plays a major role in gender stereotyping. I further agree with her insinuation that the media is a problem. This is premised on the fact that the messages that the Children Media puts across fundamentally lead to anti-social effects.
Technology has advanced immensely in the last few decades. Different forms of media such as television shows, advertisements, print media, music, video games, movies, and comic books utilize both male and female characters (Hollis-Sawyer & Lorilene, 2013).
According to Ducille (1994), these forms of media exemplify women and girls playing a different role. The most notable roles include the performance of domestic chores, such as laundry and cooking, victims of assault, sex objects, recipient of harassment, love seekers and submissiveness, as well as weaknesses and need for protection. Conversely, these media use action movies to portray men as being aggressive and muscular. The children Media also portrays male characters as bosses and great inventors.
It is now twenty years since Katha Pollitt wrote “Smurfette Principle”, and yet the female characters are still portrayed to have minor roles, in both children and adult literature. Today, animated films only include one or in rare occasions two female characters. In current movie reviews, it is common to come across reviewers terming few starred female characters as ‘feisty’.
Most of the movies produced nowadays are sexist (Fischer & Bolton-Holz, 2010). For instance, the ‘Bee Movie’ changes the rule of the colony living, by depicting the colony leader to be a male, as opposed to the leader being a queen (female). The hero in this movie is a man. This is a negative sexist action that portrays male as the only leaders. It indicates clearly that the male characters are associated with good roles.
I also agree with Katha Pollitt that gender stereotypes are inherent in the society. They cause problems that need to be addressed. Children Media should stop portraying female gender negatively, and instead strengthen both genders without discrimination. As a remedy to these stereotypes, I also agree with the author that parents should play a major role in choosing the right media, channels, and programs that their children should watch.
Similarly, the media ought to be more responsible while providing entertainment for children. According to Schlosser (2012), we should look to our children and identify their personalities and talents by guiding them through their literature (Schlosser, 2012).
Parents should watch children’s movies, read children’s story books, watch children’s cartoon shows, and guide them to conceptualize what they see and learn (Lamb, Bigler, Liben & Green, 2009). This will help them in choosing right from wrong. Failure to do this will lead to continuous gender stereotypes in generations to come.
References
Ducille, A. (1994). Dyes and dolls: multicultural Barbie and the merchandising of differences. Journal of Feminist Cultural Studies, 6(1), 46-48.
Fischer, A. R., & Bolton-Holz, K. (2010). Testing a model of women’s personal sense of justice, control, well‐being, and distress in the context of sexist discrimination. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 34(3), 297-310.
Hollis-Sawyer, L., & Cuevas, L. (2013). Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Ageist and Sexist Double Jeopardy Portrayals in Children’s Picture Books. Educational Gerontology, 39(12), 902-914.
Lamb, L. M., Bigler, R. S., Liben, L. S., & Green, V. A. (2009). Teaching children to confront peers’ sexist remarks: Implications for theories of gender development and educational practice. Sex Roles, 61(5-6), 361-382.
Pollitt, K. (1991). The Smurfette principle. New York Times Magazine, 7, 2224.
Such a problem as gender stereotypes is one of the most urgent in modern society. Despite many years of struggle for equal rights for both sexes, prejudices towards the female population still exist. In addition, they can often fail not only in communication but also in aspects such as advertising. This is especially dangerous because advertising companies are characterized by reaching a large population. Therefore, the more people see the picture, the more the idea that the manifestation of gender stereotypes is the norm will take root in society.
Figure 1. Calvin Klein Advertisement (“The most sexist adverts in history”, n.d.).
Furthermore, this work, as an instance of gender-biased advertising, explores the example of the add of the world-famous Calvin Klein company. It depicts a man and a woman and their remarks about specific actions (Fig. 1). Research states that females “are shown as sex objects to promote the brand, while men are portrayed as athletic, strong male individual engaging in high status jobs” (Heathy, 2020, p. 45). Hence, it may seem that only men can be successful and earn money, and women’s desires are limited by seduction.
I believe that this advertisement only contributes to the development of gender stereotypes, especially when the statements of a girl are placed next to the statements of a man. In addition, I think that this example has a negative contribution and can become harmful for limiting gender stereotypes due to the downplaying of the importance of women. People may get the wrong impression that the prerogative of being successful may be inherent only to the male sex, which is untrue and contributes to the development of sexism in the society.
References
Heathy, B. H. (2020). Gender stereotypes in advertising: A critical discourse analysis. Language in India, 20(1), 45-56.
Social construction refers to the overall values, tenets, and norms that a community presumes. Generally accepted patterns are given priority which in turn leads to dominance by specific special groups that are favored by these patterns. Dominance may result from institutions like religion, the influence of media, education level, and economic status among others. The constructed social norms and beliefs then dictate upward mobility that characterizes gender roles, personality, and sexual identity, and orientations. Therefore, gender roles in a given society are dictated by the above-mentioned social construction, norms, and values as early as the time an infant is born. As growth takes place, both male and female children are conditioned in a way that their gender will conform to the values and tenets of society. The novel by Mary Maud Montgomery The Blue Castle covers this theme more elaborately. For instance, the story begins with the author stating that “One does not sleep well, sometimes, when one is twenty-nine on the morrow, and unmarried, in a community and connection where the unmarried are simply those who have failed to get a man,” (Montgomery and Tracey, p. 31).
This essay looks at the role of social construction in defining gender roles in society with specific reference to the novel, The Blue Castle.
Overview of The Blue Castle
The novel, The Blue Castle was written in 1926 by a famous Canadian writer; thus the stories contained in the book capture the social structures of Canada in the early 1920s. The setting of the novel is in Deerwood in the region of Ontario. Montgomery is said to have visited Bala, Ontario in 1922 and the thematic issues reflected in the book should therefore be interpreted as issues that affected the society at that time. The role of gender was earlier dominated by men and women had little influence in societal undertakings, unlike today. In the past decades, a female child in society had to be prepared for the roles of a mother and a wife to help her take care of the family when she gets married in the future. Therefore, she has to be prepared to be compassionate, fostering, considerate, and supportive. Females are also viewed as delicate and vulnerable and this is illustrated when Valancy is allowed to sleep extra minutes long after Cousin Stickles and Mrs. Frederick Stirling had already gotten up. “Valancy was allowed to lie abed half an hour longer because of a family tradition that she was delicate,” (Montgomery and Tracey, p. 42.). On the contrary, a male child is prepared to lead an independent life, be competitive, and be assertive enough to take a leadership role in the family later in life. Since novels and books can influence the perceived character of a female, Valancy is not allowed to read certain novels, only nature books like those written by John Foster. According to Montgomery and Tracey, (p. 38), “It was permissible to read, even laudable, to read to improve your mind and your religion, but a book that was enjoyable was dangerous.”
Culture seems to divide males and females into groups of gender stereotypes and social construction. For this reason, the interaction between men and women in society is influenced by the traits nurtured from social construction. Social construction and stereotypes influence external lifestyles as depicted in conversation patterns where males are expected to talk while females listen. Valancy is afraid of speaking her mind for several fear factors; one being, the fear of giving her opinion because she is supposed to only listen, (Montgomery and Tracey, p. 44). In addition to this, education among females is viewed as less important and a waste of time. Valancy is ‘advised’ to quit reading because it is unimportant when Valancy’s mother says, “I dislike contradiction. And I do not see what you want to get a book for, anyhow. You waste too much time reading,” (Montgomery and Tracey, p. 50).
Automotive Culture as a Social Construct of Gender
There are ways of showing that gender roles and stereotypes depend on cultural practices and social construction in society. Different cultures and social lives have different gender expectations. These differences result from time differences, space, and place. As a result, the roles of males and females are not static but overlap from one society to the other and from one generation to the next. In the case of Montgomery’s story, she uses automobiles as a social construct to bring gender issues to Deerwood. There are not many cars in Deerwood and Valancy and others in the area can know Barney Snaith’s car by just listening to its sound.
According to Mullally (p., 121), “Barney’s noisy car also signifies the jolt of modernity to the values and strictures of Victorian society. The main character Valancy, teetering on the edge of spinsterhood, chafes under the burden of Victorian ‘respectability’.” Montgomery uses motors and the thrill of speeding to bring out gender roles. Valancy leads a fearful life: fear of speaking her mind, fear of confronting her mother, fear that she is not a beau and fear of not getting a partner at the age of 29. However, her fears are conquered by the mobility and free will of Barney’s motor.
Automobiles stand as a symbol of psychological and social freedom. Valancy fears the shrieks of cars, and this she shares with her family members. Barney drives his car around the tiny area of Deerwood and the fact that he has a car gives him an avenue of illicit courtship and sexual advantage. Valancy overcomes her fear for cars and when she gets into Barney’s car, she discovers something. Valancy finds new meaning in an automobile and now to her, a car signifies freedom and privacy away from her devaluating family members. In the car, she discovers the pleasure and new meaning of courtship and sexuality. This is because it is while aboard Barney’s car for her first car drive that she falls in love with Barney. Her enthusiasm and new awakening represent her newfound repression and sexual autonomy. She is quick to confront Barney even though she has only seen him for a second time and submit to Barney’s marriage proposal. She does this despite Barney being considered a bank robber and a notorious murderer, (Montgomery and Tracey, pp. 62-63). Also, Mullally, (p., 122) notes that “…proposes marriage to Barney for the sole reason of pleasing herself and enjoying what she believes to be the last months of her life.”
Valancy finds out the thrill of speeding when being driven along with Port Lawrence, symbolizing a dissipation of her fears and a new exile to freedom and pleasure away from her family. Cultural constraints are not favoring the female gender and Valancy is caught in this social construct given that she is 29 years old no man chasing after her. Her family is unsupportive and speeding enables her to fantasize about possible pleasures of escaping the ties of her community. The significance of gender and its place in society is brought in Montgomery’s novel by the use of automobiles and their associated freedom. In a wider perspective, Montgomery brings out the emergence of automobile culture in Canada from a female’s perspective.
In Canada today, the role of gender stereotypes has been altered as perceived decades ago. Today the roles of women have changed in the religious, economic, and political fronts. Women were perceived to have a smaller brain capacity and more delicate as compared to males and this made them ‘difficult to educate’. It will be very wrong and abuse of human rights if a normal person would make the same observation today. Today there are many successful women all over the world in various disciplines and this has narrowed the gap of gender inequality. Marriage, childbearing, and motherhood are no longer viewed as must-have responsibilities for a complete modern woman. The war on gender inequality would not have borne fruit if the likes of Montgomery had not upped the fight for feminism. Helwig, (p. 16) conducted research in which the following observations were made;
The gender of children was not a factor in explaining the responses of these children regarding the traditionality of occupations of men or women or how they perceived the role of a married woman with or without young children. However, as the children matured from second to sixth grade, change was evident. Asked whether there were jobs only men or only women should do, about 50% of second graders said no. By sixth grade, approximately three-fourths of the children said no.
Conclusion
In a nutshell; therefore, it is right to note that the role of social construction and gender stereotypes is getting more accommodative with both sexes given equal opportunities. Montgomery’s novel The Blue Castle is an advocate for gender equality and her dreams have almost been realized in modern cultures of Canada.
Works Cited
Helwig, Andrew. Gender-Role Stereotyping: Testing Theory with a Longitudinal Sample. 38 (5/6) 403-423. 1998. Print.
Montgomery, Lucy Maud and Tracey, Collett. “The Blue Castle.” Voyageur Classics. Toronto: Dundurn Press Ltd. 2007. Print.
Mullally, Sasha. ‘Daisy,’ ‘Dodgie,’ and ‘Lady Jane Grey Dort’: L. M. Montgomery and the Automobile in L. M Montgomery and Canadian Culture. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. 1999. Print.
