As I sit in my bed, coffee in hand, watching Nick at Night’s priceless re-runs of The Nanny, I can’t help but notice the magnitude of the “typical” gender positions assumed within the American culture. We see Miss Fine looking sexy, as usual, dressed from head to toe in the stereotypical sexy woman outfit. Her job as a nanny suits a woman well within the American life, while the dashing Mr. Sheffield resides as the head of the house, bringing in an excessive amount of money. We see these roles being played all throughout America, whether it’s the media or simply within our daily lives. There are standards and expectations around every corner just waiting to create that barrier of the unattainable goals and dreams faced by women and men around the world.
In my mind, gender and identity have to do with the individuals that, as human beings, we grow and develop into. Each and every soul has the ability to decide just exactly what is going to make them who they truly are. Not one of us are exactly the same, each mind forms and deciphers the bits and pieces that will form them in their entirety. I believe that there is a lot of freedom in that process; however, I also believe that there is an intention and purpose behind the gender we find in our world. We were created for specific purposes within the human system of life and I think that we need to realize the beauty and intention behind it’s design.
I was highly informed, however, by Judith Lorber’s article about gender from a social perspective. We tend to associate, as a society, certain labels with each gender. We have expectations, stereotypes, and “norms” within our society that are ritualized on a daily basis. This kind of gender separation is not, in my opinion, the way it ought to be. I agree with Lorber in the fact that girls and boys are raised, taught, and expected to behave certain ways and like certain things. She explains, “In social interaction throughout their lives, individuals learn what is expected, see what is expected, act and react in expected ways, and thus simultaneously construct and maintain the gender order.” (Lorber, “Night to His Day”) Our order is constant, but is continually being broken and re-written. It has become more and more common to see men responsible for “womanly” duties, as well as women for “manly” duties. We are beginning to stretch the boundaries and the many assumptions placed upon the human race.
Being in this class and studying these areas of gender within America literature is going to stretch my views and opinions in various ways. I am anxious to learn and understand more about issues such as gender expectations and assumptions from other perspectives other than my own. Hopefully by the end of the semester I will have a broader understanding of the culture that I live and breathe every single day and I will have more confidence and assurance in my views regarding gender within our world.
I do indeed agree with you that when we are born we are free to form the identity that our personality creates. Yes, as human beings we do indeed grow and develop into our own unique individuals that at times do cross the gender boundaries placed by our society. Although I hardly watched The Nanny I too recognize as well the gender roles and stereotypes created within the world of the show. The nanny herself is dressed from head-to-toe quite beautifully and sexily. The man of the house, from what I can assume since I haven’t really watched the show, must make quite a lot of money to be able to afford such a lovely, large house. He must be making a decent amount of money as well to be able to afford to hire a nanny. The show represents that of that time the men went out to work, so called breadwinners by being usually the sole provider. Women stayed home and took care of the children and other house hold duties. Although they had these responsibilities, women also had to look hot and attractive for their spouses whenever they came home. I agree with you and Judith Lorber that as a society we have a tendency to categorize everything including gender. From we define baby girls and boys by whether the wear pink or blue. In the past boys were called fairies if they wore pink. However now in or society gender barriers are being crossed, as you say, men are fulfilling roles deemed feminine, while women are completing filling roles deemed masculine.
ReplyDeleteI love how you used the show The Nanny to be an example of gender roles. Ms. Fine is a prime example of how obsessed women are about finding a husband, and how women put so much emphasis on relationships. Men, like Mr. Sheffield, are solely focused on their work; and women, like Ms. Fine are concerned about looks, hair, and finding men. Even though not everyone fits into these socialized stereotypes a lot of underlying things keep women focused on these unnecessary things. Why is it that woman have three different types of labels; Miss, Mrs. And Ms., but men only have one label, Mr.? Why is it so important to label woman depending on their marital status, but when men are married or unmarried it is none of our concern? I agree a lot with things you are saying, but women don’t need to stay into these stereotypes. The Nanny was an older show based in the 90’s. It is amazing in just a few decades how so much will change. We have powerful woman characters in our children’s cartoons such as Dora the Explorer teaching little girls to be just as curious and adventurous as boys.
ReplyDeleteI think this was a great blog and insightful. I really like how you think that people grow and develop over time. I really believe in that motto because people should grow up being themselves, and not a product of society crafting who they are. I also liked how you mentioned the television show The Nanny because I think we can all see how even television and the media expect people to be. I think this is wrong because it puts a lot of pressure on people on the fact that they should be what people want them to be. I agree with you that we are all here for a purpose and people need to start seeing that. I also saw some hope one where you discussed about men starting to do “womanly” thing and women starting to do “manly” things. I see hope in this because society is starting to change, and I see that as a good thing. Stereotypes are so boring, and I think no one should try being a stereotypical person inn society. We all need to be different and we all need to be more acceptable to different people that come from different families and lifestyles.
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