Gender

1.)   I have been taught that girls should be classy and polite with good manners. I also have been taught that girls should be clean and not get dirty the way boys would. Instead, I should play with Polly Pockets or Barbie dolls. I don’t think that a specific person taught me these messages. I think that by going to school and socializing with others has influenced the way I believe a girl should behave. However, when I was little my mom pointed me in the direction toward my “girlie girl” ways.

 

2.)   My family has definitely treated my sister and I differently than they have treated my brother. As my brother has gotten older, he is told that he is the man and should lift heavy packages or items, for example. On the other hand, my sister and I have been told that those items are too heavy for us; we should let a man pick them up.

3.)   I think going to an all-girls high school has affected my understanding of my gender by teaching me that I’m more than just a domestic figure. I have the opportunity and power to make a difference in the world, and do anything I want if I put my mind to it. To identify myself as a woman means that I am capable of not only being able to become a mother of love and affection, but also to do anything a man can do, and maybe even do it better. This school has made an impact on me by being in an environment that is so driven to teach us that we can do great things. I am capable of many absolutely anything and everything because I’m an educated, strong young woman.

4.)   I expect the “traditional” roles of men to apply to a romantic relationship, and I would anticipate taking on some of the typical women roles. However, I expect to be treated as an equal that can share the roles in a relationship. Also, I do not expect to be the only emotional and expressive type. I hope to meet a man that will treat me the right way and tell me how much he cares for me. I think I have these ideals because in society today, most girls anticipate a relationship being like the one I described. We expect equality, but men to do gentlemanly acts of kindness. We expect a man to tell us how much we mean to them because we would express that affection as well. I think that these ideals come from the media; especially “chick flicks” because those movies and TV shows as well idealize what a perfect relationship is or should be. I think I am modeling my expectations after my mom and dad’s relationship because they are always together with everything. With major decisions in our household, my parents always discuss everything together and never make any super important decisions without each other. In this case, they are equals all the way. My dad expresses his emotions, but sometimes he does that in very subtle ways. My dad and mom share all the chores as well.