The topic, gender, has created a variety of discrepancies over the years causing rebuttals between males and females based on what is considered right or wrong depending on their sex. However, in our day in age, sex and gender vary in definitions as gender is determined by how one views them self, while sex is based on the physical components you were born with. From our required readings in week nine, Four Waves of Feminism can support the difference between sex and gender as the article states, “Sex and gender were differentiated – the former being biological, and the later a social construct that varies culture-to-culture and over time”. However, it is important to consider that although your sex may define you as a male or female, one should not be strictly focused on performing the normative roles they may have been given depending on their biological features. Therefore, myself along with my fellow colleagues grasp an understanding of how gender has affected our views on this topic and how we have overcome the normative narratives our society has created.
i)Normative Narratives
Kristin’s self-story expresses how she found an interest for male sports and activities, but it caused her to have a discrepancy with her babysitter, Gail, after voicing that she “likes hanging out with the boys more than the girls sometimes”. Next, Kristin adds how Gail disapproved her for thinking such an idea was alright as she was a girl. Here, we can see a common gender stereotype of boys and girls being classified of what they should and should not do based on their gender. Even in this day in age, many individuals still assume that because of one’s gender, they must perform a specific role. Since society has created such stereotypes, it makes it difficult for someone to truly be accepted based on how they portray themselves. Furthermore, after engaging in Kristin’s self-story, I found a variety of similarities; one being that we each voice our interest for going against a gender normative and finding a passion for what most consider to be a male sport: her finding an interest in playing catch, and myself partaking in hunting. We also explain in our stories how an interaction with someone occurs, where the individual looks at us negatively because we are not performing our ‘normal’ role. These two similarities resonate with me because I understand what Kristin experienced and how she felt during such a belittling situation. However, I admire Kristin for standing up for herself and encourage others to do so as well! But, due to the gender stereotype described in mine and Kristin’s stories (boys and girls should not be allowed to play the same games/sports/activities), it has resulted in many children doing what is ‘right’ rather than ending the stigma. However, this can be supported by ‘A feminist glossary because we didn’t all major in gender studies’, as the article describes what feminism is: a “Belief in and desire for equality between the sexes”. I think this is a similarity that Kristin and I share within our stories as we both stand up for what we believe in and have an urge to break the gender normative.
Similar to Kristin, Madi’s self-story explains, that from a young age, the normative narrative of girls and boys being categorized into two distinct groups when it comes to hobbies, interests, and activities is seen more frequently than some may realize. As she discusses her interest in playing with dolls, applying makeup, and dressing in “flowing Disney princess gowns”, I can see the common traits that most individuals view as a typical young girl’s playtime routine. In addition, I agree that a majority of girls grew up partaking in similar games as my cousins along with a few of my friends enjoyed these activities as well. However, although I agree that makeup, styling hair, and playing with barbies are common to most young girl’s lives, I found very few similarities between mine and Madi’s self-stories. Yes, I grew up understanding that girls and boys found interests in different activities, but from as young as I can remember, I always leaned towards what is considered a male hobby in comparison to Madi choosing a female hobby. I state in my self-story “some girls play with dolls”, whereas Madi states, “With the boy, even though we were the same age we had very different interests”. Her quote strongly stood out to me in comparison to mine, as although many girls would agree with her statement, I cannot relate to this allegation. However, understanding that there is a difference between gender interests is something I can relate to after reading Madi’s self-story. When Madi mentions, “I began to pick up on the difference between girls and boys”, I firmly support her as at a young age, I was able to notice this diversity as well. This is something that resonates with me as I noticed the difference, however, I was part of the ‘wrong’ group in regard to what is classified as a gender normative. The reason why the difference between gender interests stands out to me in the way it does, is because I am proud to gloat that I am unique to my gender and take pride in performing a role that does not usually holler a ‘girly’ portrayal. To summarize, Madi and I both know that normative narratives have created what is considered traditional to one’s gender, even though one might not always fall in their designated category.
Brooklyn, Madi, and I shared our own personal stories and what we consider to be normative narratives in regard to gender. Therefore, after viewing my fellow classmates posts, I noticed connections to my own self story and ways that support the stereotypes that have been created based on one’s gender. Madi and I shared an observation that boys and girls are often categorized into two distinct groups, while Brooklyn and I found that we, as girls, can too participate in male sports and go against what is considered normal; however, Brooklyn and I each experienced judgement when doing so. I think it is important that although gender normatives have been around for centuries, as far back as Indigenous peoples settling in Canada (described in this article), it is time to embrace feminism and create a future for the next generations to be accepted for who they want to be, and not how society has illustrated them to be.
ii)Creating Counter-Stories: Disrupting Normative Narratives
Keanna’s self-story goes against the gender normatives described above and enforces feminism to be accepted. I can personally relate to her story in regard to our passion for competing and engaging in what society has allotted as a masculine sport: hunting. However, although our stories counteract a gender normative, they instead support the disruption of categorizing one’s interest into a male or female classification. Keanna and I describe our love for hunting and the challenges we have faced by participating in the opposite sex sport. But this encourages the right to disrupt the gender normative of girls not be accepted and allowed to partake in male activities. Keanna and I prove this normative wrong as males are usually the hunters and outdoorsmen, but instead we each harvest trophy bucks, showing males that we can hunt just as well as them.
Keanna’s story differs from Madi and Brooklyn’s as she embraces her diversity as being a tomboy and even though she knows about gender roles, it does not stop her. While Keanna discusses what makes her a tomboy, she states, “I enjoyed being the person I am”. However, Madi’s story never mentions any emotions as she follows the role that society has created for her by playing with dolls and dressing up. Personally, I believe it is more important for one to be happy and go against what is considered ‘normal’, rather than be accepted and miserable. I think Keanna’s story helps put into perspective that although you may encounter challenges and obstacles by going against the ‘norm’, doing what you think is best for you and what makes you happy is the best result at the end of the day. People are always so quick to judge when something out of the ordinary is done, but why should we continue to stay in the roles we are in, just because gender stereotypes that were created centuries ago tells us we should? Differently from Madi and Brooklyn, Keanna steps out of the ‘norm’, and not only finds a new hobby, but encourages feminism and gender-neutral roles for future generations!
An article, ‘People Have Invented More Than 200 Gender-Neutral Pronouns. Here’s Why ‘They’ Is Here to Stay’, supports the disruption of gender normatives and Keanna’s story as the authors of the article describe the importance of being able to categorize males and females into one group. Authors say, “They has long been proposed as the answer: It’s a familiar word that happens to leave gender out of the frame”. This quote strikes my attention more vigorously each time I read it as, for once, everyone is looked at as equal. In addition, this article, along with Keanna’s passion to participate in the role she wants, contradicts that man and woman are different as there are times that we cannot say he or she, and rather they must be used. Although the promotion of such a small word is being encouraged, it speaks widely that two groups is not always the case and being grouped as one is necessary. Hopefully at some point, the gender normatives will subside and we will learn that males and females do not need to be categorized the way they are. Or girls can do anything a guy can do. But perhaps a gender normative is not the issue here, but rather society continuing to support the stereotypes and not accept individuals, like Keanna and myself, for taking the necessary step out of the ‘norms’ we have grown to accept.
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