Gender Stereotyping

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Susan Brownmiller in "Femininity" deals with stereotypes of the female gender by accepting restrictions that are put on woman to be considered feminine; Richard Rodriguez in "Complexion" deals with stereotypes of how a male should behave as a Spanish-American male. The author points out that a commonality in the books is the telling of fairy tales or myths to convey proper gender behavior. The paper reveals that both stories presented a unique insight into gender roles: Brownmiller talks about how men are like forks and knifes and women are like spoons, and Rodriguez talks about the three F's-- "feo", "fuerte", and formal--and the importance they held in his ethnic background.

From the Paper:

"In "Femininity", Susan Brownmiller describes how the fairy tales that were read to her at night taught her gender roles. In "Complexion", Richard Rodriguez states that, "Even today, when so much about the myth of the macho no longer concerns me, I cannot evade such notions." Another commonality is that both authors' parents and the people they are around teach the authors about gender ideas by the way the speak, their actions, and their behaviors. In "Femininity", Susan Browmiller asks "Did my loving, anxious mother, who dressed me in white organdy pinafores and Mary Janes and who cried hot tears when I got them dirty, give me my first instructions," and "Did my doting aunts and uncles with their gifts of pretty dolls and miniature tea sets had to my education?""

More papers on Gender Stereotyping:

• Term Paper # 121179 : "Gender Stereotyping in Comic Books"
• Research Proposal # 95388 : "Gender Stereotyping in the Workplace"
• Term Paper # 122237 : "Gender Stereotyping and the News"

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