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In the “The Social Construction of Gender” by

Judith Lorber the aspect of the social construct of gender is discussed. In this image, the depiction is a woman in her role as homemaker. For decades woman have been viewed as the homemaker and solely existing for the purpose of caring for children and their husband. Judith Lorber discusses the fact that gender is truly a social construct and gender is malleable in the aspect of it being what one decides it should be.

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In this image the man is providing and cooking for his wife. Whereas in the previous image the wife was “fulfilling” her gender role as homemaker. With this photo in mind, I want to discuss the idea of the patriarchy and how this photo tears down that wall. The patriarchy holds firm that men are in control and women must string along, the man is the head. In this photo, I can feel the switch of the gender roles. The wife it sitting firm as if she is expecting her meal to be placed in front of here. This image directly opposes the “normal” construct of gender roles and what the patriarchy aims to give. With merely a photo it can be felt that we as individuals create these roles.

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This photo alone fulfills every gender role norm and provides photo evidence of the Patriarchy. I would like to dive into women negotiating with their lives to feel a sense of control. The reading, “Migrant Filipina Domestic Workers and the International Division of Reproductive Laborz” By Rhacel Salazar Parrenas moved me in ways I did not expect. I come from a migrant family and I helped my mother clean houses and make meals while the men sat and “relaxed” because their exhaustion. This image demonstrates the “standard” role of a woman as homemaker, and caregiver and the role of the man as a father who is absent both inside and outside of the home because he is the provider. The reading discusses the aspect of women having no choices other than negotiation. As women we cannot choose without feeling a loss. We fight to work because we deserve the right to but at the expense of losing a part of ourselves to fight for the right to choose. As women we work both inside and outside the home, we do not get the privilege to “relax” because we must work both inside and outside of the home. Here is where the line of gender roles hits a crossroads. As women are we feeding these gender role norms by negotiating exploiting ourselves and the rights we have over our lives?

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Breaking the wall of gender role normalizations begins with assertion and power. As women and men we must break the barriers by expressing the power we hold. The journal ,”Patriarchy, Power, and Female Masculinity” By Athena Nguyen describes this topic specifically. Nguyen discusses that as individuals we must understand and navigate the societal expectations placed upon us, and explore how we must resist, negotiate, or subvert patriarchal norms in our daily lives. Impactful change needs a catalyst and feminism is the best one. Exercising the power we hold and using it to battle societal norms is what will crumble the wall of gender roles. By embodying the female masculinity and choosing our own paths without looking back, without having to negotiate and compromise is how we will be seen.

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Having the ability to choose without judgement is when the barrier has been crumbled. When a father can proudly state he is the homemaker, and when the mother can proudly state she is the breadwinner. The freedom to choose without shame is the goal. By interchanging femininity and masculinity these barriers are succumbed. Masculinity only exists to contrast femininity and the Connell 1995 reading discusses the aspect of masculinity and the toxicity of it all. Men are manipulated and brainwashed to believe they must be strong, fearless, and aggressive while women are made the believe they must oppose the characteristics of masculinity. Our behaviors create these categories, and our behaviors can create new categories and destroy the old. Connell shows us that gender is a social construct and made for the purpose of reproduction. Women must be soft and bear children, and men must the fearless to protect and provide. We created these expectations and we can demolish them. We must view each other as individuals and not as these expectations and standards set by those centuries before us. We must create the future standards because if we do not, no one will and we will be trapped in this loop for a centuries more to come.