Pink or Blue?

After reading the Social Construction of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality I gained a new perspective on gender stereotyping.  The definition of gender given by Nelson & Robinson reads "Gender refers to the designation of feminine and masculine, as identified from a sociocultural standpoint.  Their term ‘gender’ is of relatively recent origin, having been introduced into our vocabulary by psychologist John Money in 1995” (Nelson & Robinson p.144).  This definition applies to wetsernized cultures.  We learn from a very young age that gender follows sex.  Right from birth you are introduced to your gender colour, pink or blue.  Having lived in Canada for my whole life, I fit the typical feminine gender role.  I am a sucker for beauty products, clothes, fitness, and have typical mannerisms that define femininity.  This reflection is going to look at how gender stereotyping has affected women in various ways.

 In Canadian and other western cultures, it seems as though we are obsessed with “defining a person’s ‘master status’, the status by which a person is chiefly identified” (Nelson & Robinson p. 147).  A person may fall into one of two categories, male or female. We have only two male female.  However the Northern First Nations recognize, and accept more than two status’s.  For comparison sake, I am going to use the example of the ‘berdache’.   "It is a person usually a biological male, who effects a change in his or her gender status by adopting the clothing styles, occupations, and behaviors of the other sex" (Nelson & Robinson p.146).  I find this and enlightening and, unexpected.

            While reading the Social Construction of Sex, gender, and Sexuality my immediate and most powerful thought brought me back to grade one and two.  I had a best friend who I spent all my time with. Some times we got to hang out with her older sister; who was in our eyes, ‘cool’ and athletic.  This led us both down the road to the love of sport.  However, there was one slight difference.  My mom dressed me in very girlie attires along with matching bows or ribbons in my hair.  I think you get where I am coming from.  Where as, my best friend, was quite the opposite.  She took after her older sister who had short hair and wore more, let’s say, not so feminine clothes.  I remember one day she came to me very upset.  She was at a restaurant with her parents the night prior and was on her way into the lady’s washroom, when a woman stopped her to say "the little boy’s room is next door".  Need I say more?  From that that point on, she fell into the typical western role of what a girl “should” look like.  This example perfectly exemplifies the power and expectations of what we know as gender stereotypes.  Our culture is so fixated on genders following their stereotype, that people who don’t comply can experience feelings unacceptance.  

            In class we discussed the story of Castor Semenya, a South African middle distance runner.  Her sex came into light due to the speculation that she may have been a he.  Unlike her competitors, she wore long shorts and had a more masculine appearance (Picture 1).  The IAAF put Castor through public humiliation and infringed on personal privacy all in the name of gender stereotyping.  I believe she posed for the cover of You Magazine (having been made over) to show the world her feminine side.  This is just another example of how western culture smothered a girl, until she eventually complied with her stereotype. 

            In the age of mass media we are surrounded by thousand of ads everyday.  It does not take long till the majority of people fall into the gender stereotype trap. Men and women in North America spend billions of dollars on products, procedures etc to meet the ideal image that we know as femininity and masculinity.  We are turning men and women into narcissistic, debt ridden, clones!  After researching many advertisements, I came across a picture of Cinderella dancing with her prince. (Picture 2)  Who stereotypes gender roles better than Disney?  The female is always passive, pretty, slender and awaiting her rescue.  The male character is most often physically fit/strong, handsome, and displays qualities of courage, and confidence.  To me, this is North America’s idealism of men and women. 

            Some last hypothetical thoughts that come to mind are: Am I a result of North America’s stereotype?  Would I dress or act differently if I wasn’t natured or nurtured the way I was?  Would we live in a more positive society if we were more accepting of different roles like that of the First Nations?  Or perhaps my friend would have taken a different path.