Unwanted Fate for Females

Unwanted Fate For Females

February, 8. 2010

Hyorim Kim

FD#1


First of all, according to human history, it is said to believe through sets of few scientific data, human beings existed 200,000 years ago during the Paleolithic society commonly known as the “old stone age.” The evidence scientists acquired to examine the primitive era; they based their analysis of the artifacts and architects they have discovered. Surprisingly, it became generally accepted enough to be written in our history books that the first human society have been practicing hunting and gathering. In modern comedy films such as “Year One”, the media portrayed the earliest human beings hunting and gathering. Even then, gender roles between men and women were distinctive. During the Paleolithic age, men exploited the forest searching and hunting wild animals for food as women stayed near the hut to look out for their children and gather editable plants and fruits. Naturally, human beings are bound to genetically mutate and develop human capabilities, regardless of gender role but the society limits is such as the Michelle Wie’s incident as she failed to qualify for the men’s U.S. Open. [THESIS] Therefore, females experience trauma during their adolescence and menopause as they adjust to their gender roles during their adolescent period because they are affected by the visible and invisible variables of the stereotypes influenced since the primitive era, the media, and the family traditions that affects female gender roles.[THESIS]


Adolescence is a transitional stage between preadolescence and adulthood during the human development just how children prepare themselves to think and behave like adults. The transitional period is an important phrase for both genders to establish their gender role identities to so forth eligibly organize their values. As for females, they experience gender role trauma during their adolescence period. Often time in our modern society it is commonly stereotyped for men to usually go out to work whereas women are expected to become housewives doing house chores and preparing food. Mary Pipher, psychologist and family therapist, theorized thorough research and case studies, “Adolescent girls experience a conflict between their autonomous selves and their need to be females.”(428) Dr. Pipher mentions states many girls are having problem with gender role trauma throughout her cases. The adolescence transitional stage for females is chaotic with their gender roles that they did not notice during their preadolescence.


Historically, society did not allow much freedom to women and required women to be submissive; therefore, women were merely a great possession of their husband. However, ever since the feminine movements such as civil right act and the declaration of sentiments started from 1960 to present day gave women to have the same rights as men have in the society. As of result, contemporary woman’s roles now vary. Female’s gender role in contemporary society have been extensive for women to do freely what they want to do and what they want to be. Dr. Pipher mentions preadolescent girls are interested in everything and do not distinguish things intentionally. In other words, preadolescent girls do not consider their gender roles. Dr. Pipher said, “They can be androgynous, having the ability to act adaptively in any situation regardless of gender role constraints.”(426)


As for myself, during my preadolescent and adolescent period, I was a tomboy who enjoyed sports and competing with the boys. As a result, I had many male friends than female friends. During my adolescence in middle school, I was very confused about myself. My interest and passion at the time for sports solely came to an end when I won a tennis tournament at school expecting compliments from my father yet ironically my father scolded me. I was shocked and even more confused as he threw away the trophy and said that “Women are not supposed be athletic and such trophy is useless for you because you are not a boy.” Through this incident, I encountered my first gender role awareness. I had a hard time adjusting because what I truly believed was right for me was not the best for me. Therefore, I started to change myself to behave more like a girl by doing more feminine things such as wearing pink and keeping myself quite. Therefore, I disciplined myself to change during high school to impress my parents and to behave more like a girl. This was my gender role trauma during my adolescence.


Dr. Pipher concluded three reasons that cause the factors for female gender role trauma during the adolescence in her book. First, adolescent girls undergo various changes with their body shapes due to hormones. This influences their way of thinking as they contemplate with their identity. Second, culture, stereotypes, and media make women sensitive and vulnerable toward roles and appearances as a female. Third, girls do not communicate so often with their family as they are bond to stick with their friends who share common concerns for support. (429) Through personal experiences, I agree with Dr. Pipher’s second reason as to culture, stereotypes, and media affects gender role trauma as I also agree with Ivan Leong how solutions must be from the inside of the society. More importantly, I believe good parenting with positive reinforcement can nurture gender role and its traumatic affects.


Works Cited

Hill, Jemele. “Wie Deserves Our Applause, Not Those Jeers.” 6 June 2006. MercuryNews.com. 8 June 2006 [http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/14756706.htm].

Leong, Ivan. "Causes and Solutions for Gender Role Trauma. "Online posting. 29 January 2010 Laulima discussion. 31 January 2010 [https://laulima.hawaii.edu/portal/site/KAP.33517.201030].

Pipher, Mary. "Saplings in the Storm." Dialogues: An Argument Rhetoric and Reader. 6th edition, Eds. Gary Goshgarian and Kathleen Krueger, New York: Pearsin-Longman, 2009. 425-432

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