Do I belong? by Brenda Sumano

bsuma002_ — 2023-11-28 05:54:40 UTC

Do you feel like you belong? Throughout the years people have struggled expressing themselves for fear of rejection. This is due to the norms of gender roles in society and if you fail to perform these roles you are belittled. But what are these gender roles? In S. Stryker "Transgender History" it is briefly explained how society views gender as the biological sex you are born as although that is not the case. It explained how there are gender roles stereotypes such as "a man should be a doctor and a woman should be a nurse....mothers should stay at home with their children and fathers should have steady jobs outside the home... and if we don't perform the prescribed expectations, we are failing to be proper women or men." However, not everyone feels this way and thus they try to break away from the norms by expressing their true self. This has been depicted in the Disney film "Brave" where Merida refuses to act feminine and instead likes to partake in archery which is considered a manly game mainly for males.

bsuma002_ — 2023-11-28 06:35:56 UTC

In addition the Disney Film "Mulan" depicts a further meaning of gender roles. Mulan despite being a female felt out of place when she was told to act elegant and mature. She felt desperate and guilty as she believed she failed her family for failing to uphold her role as women. And in attempt to regain her families honor, she pretended to be a man and secretly joined the war in her fathers place. But she found herself feeling like she found her place. Mulan couldn't play the role of an elegant female but she was able to become a strong warrior who is admired by others, she carries a sword and dresses less elegant as compared to other females. But this is what helped made her feel free. This could also be seen in today's society as many individuals who feel out of place form communities with each other in an attempt to find their place in society. These communities are referred to as lgbtq and it has allowed individuals to express themselves and learn to navigate in a society that focuses on gender roles.

bsuma002_ — 2023-11-28 07:16:25 UTC

But what causes individuals to feel this way? Though some media has explained that it could be due to medical issues, the article "Goodbye to Sex/Gender Distinction" by K. Messerschmidt tells otherwise. It is explained how sometimes individuals who feel out of place when partaking in the performance of gender roles feel this way due to influences they have experienced. For instance a study was performed on a girl names Kelly. Although she is a girl, she failed to meet the female gender norms because she liked to play video games rather than going to the mall and she often shaved her head. By doing so she was looked down upon by both males and females so she was taught to embrace a more tough act and "fight back by embodying a masculine presence and becoming accountably masculine at school." This caused Kelly to appear more masculine and enjoy the masculine statues she attained due to her sex appearance. This could also be seen in everyday life as individuals way of acting and dressing is a form of expression that provides them freedom. It allows these individuals to break away from gender norms.

bsuma002_ — 2023-11-28 07:51:32 UTC

Additionally, In "We Are All Works in Progress" by Leslie Feinberg, it is explained how every individual can change through time. For this reason individuals in society should not judge but instead aid one another and "together we can forge a coalition that can fight on behalf of...oppression..we can raise each other's grievances and win the kind of significant change we all long." What is conveyed here signifies that no individual should feel out of place in their own community. Everyone is human and should aid one another rather than harm each other. It has already been established that individuals don't have to follow society norms if they don't feel comfortable in them. What harm is done if a female prefers male clothes over feminine one or if males prefer more feminine activities.

bsuma002_ — 2023-11-28 07:58:46 UTC

Our society should and our gender norms should be broken so every individual can feel included. Our society should work like Ying and Yang. We are all different in our own way but together we can have a functional and accepting community were no individual is oppressed. Our differences are what allows us to come together so we should embrace our differences and our communities.