Gender Norms: What purpose do they serve?
Many of us claim that we are our own person and some of us concede that, yeah, sometimes we find ourselves influenced by gender norms about how to act or how to think. So, let's think of this without judging these norms as good or bad. Instead, develop an argument that finds at least one positive or functional purpose behind following a gender norm and find at least one positive / functional purpose behind identifying and changing a behavior of yours based on a gender norm.
You might think of other gender norms, but here are some discussed in class.
Think of the Rachel (from Friends) and Alphonso (the Man-Child from Brawny Academy) as representatives of two type of gender norms. Rachel represents the female norm that encourages a preoccupation with figuring out what works/ doesn't work in relationships and then entering relationships with a partner who is less interested in commitment which creates crisis and eventually a concession that maybe the next relationship will work out. Alphonso repesents the male norm in which the world revolves around you, your interests, your ideas, your part of the conversation (i.e. your amount of influence) and is marked by reluctance to take responsibility of how a relationship works. In sum, a male self-centered norm and a female others-centered norm.
Comments
I am a very understanding but gullibel and trusting person. I think my ability to not judge others helps me in all social situations, and I am then capable of meeting people easily and developing simple relationships. Understanding someone also helps me help them which is usually a female trait, because it is others centered. Being gullible and trusting is also a female trait but I have a hard time with it. It is very easy for someone to earn my trust and even after they lose it I still believe them will usually fall into many of the same traps that I have before. This usually happens in my relationship, when I take back bad boyfriends and usually believe all the lies that they tell me over and over again. It can be really hard for me sometimes to see the truth that is blatently right in front of me. If I could learn who deserves my trust more than others then I think that I would not get hurt as much as I usually do.
Posted by: Melissa Fielden | March 6, 2007 5:00 AM
One way for a relationship to work is to have open communication. It helps if they have good communication skills so that they could resolve small issues before it gets big.
Gender differences are always there, we cannot change that. But it could be dealt with through communication skills. They can cope with their relationship if they understand each other.
Posted by: Communication Skills | January 10, 2008 5:29 PM
Quote:
One way for a relationship to work is to have open communication.
I'll have to agree.
Posted by: Wholesale | November 5, 2008 9:23 PM