Junot Diaz's Short Story 'How To Date A Browngirl, Blackgirl'

Growing up, we were taught to look at the world in juxtaposition. This outlook forces us to order things such as race, sex, and socioeconomic status in categorical or hierarchical terms. In order to be on top, someone has to be beneath you, so those who are oppressors focus on maintaining their positions while still keeping the oppressed under their thumb. In the reading, Lorde speaking more on feminism but I feel like this is inclusive of men as well, but to me, this passage gives a sense of connectivity between various issues and how none of them can truly be addressed without acknowledging the others. This quote shows how oppression is largely universal while demonstrating how uncomfortable topics should not be avoided for fear of said discomfort.

Lorber suggests, “Bodies differ in many ways physiologically, but they are completely transformed by social practices to fit into the salient categories of a society, the most pervasive of which are ‘female’ and ‘male’” (728). Lorber supports that women are socially constructed into being fragile, thin and needy. Therefore they are attracted to the opposite group, men who are big and protective. This theory sheds light on Petrocelli’s report that recreational steroid users felt that “being ripped increased their confidence and love life” (759). After reading Lorber’s article, one may believe that men have a desire to be big and strong because society tells them that is what a man should look like, particularly in order to be desired by a

The article, “Gender Roles and Expectations” by Susana A. Eisenchlas, discusses how stereotypes are so rooted into a person that it affects the way they act. For example, men are supposed to be agentic; they are told to speak for themselves and act in a way that increases their power. On the other hand, women are supposed to communal; they are told to be assisting to the desires and well being of others. These expectations were displayed in the play, “A Streetcar Named Desire”, by Tennessee Williams. Two of the main characters, Stanley and Stella perfectly represent the characteristics mentioned in the article.

Willy Russell’s 1980’s audience comprised of both male and female audiences, thus, his advocating of views were adapted such that they suited both, genders. This entailed that he would rather criticize the men’s outlook on the education of women subconsciously rather than out rightly; due to the fact that he would lose their reception if they thought of him to be a criticizer of their attitudes towards women. And also, he would suit his message to allow women an insight to the advantages an educated life entails. At one point, operating Rita as his mouth piece, relays to the women of that generation to the idea that to educate oneself is to empower oneself. It provides one with choice rather that allowing men to decide your fate.

In a similar fashion, attempting to go against the socially expected behaviors for one’s gender is uncomfortable to the point of avoidance. Schmitt explains, “whatever the differences in men's and women's psyches—empathy, jealousy, cognitive abilities, mate preferences—many theories in psychology assume that they result primarily from direct gender socialization by parents, media, and societal institutions” (92). The way society expects the different genders to appropriate to current cultural standards and norms truly affects how people handle the stress in their lives. It is no secret that women are expected to act a certain way, especially when handling stress. Country singer

She provides details and logic that back up her statements. She gives relatable examples and alarming possible outcomes. One of Wollstonecraft’s point is that, women are dependent on men because of the way society views marriage. Women from before based their survival on the approval on men, instead of furthering on their educational needs (Poonacha 427). Wollstonecraft, in order to convince her readers for change, gather up what women lack and blames it all back to their lack of education, thus proving her point more.

While this book is about feminism and a woman’s right to establish her own authentic identity, it is actually about something more—something that concerns both women and men. The Awakening is about breaking free from the pre-determined labels society puts on you. It is about finding the daring to be you. The Awakening asks you to forget about that little box you live in—the one in which you wear certain clothes, only hang out with certain people, and define yourself according to the certain rules of a clique.

Term gender role is described as a set of social norms of what types of behaviors are generally considered acceptable, appropriate or desirable for a person based on their sex ussualy centered around opposing conceptions of femininity and masculinity. Gender roles traditionally were often divided into distinct feminine and masculine gender roles, until especially the twentieth century when these roles diversified into many different acceptable male or female roles in modernized countries throughout the world. Gender roles are closely linked with gender stereotypes. Stereotypes are overgeneralized beliefs about people based on their membership in one of many social categories. For example traditionally, men have been seen as financial providers, whereas women have been viewed as caretakers.

Sociologically speaking, gender is a social construct that we are so accustomed to that we rarely speak up about the injustices women face. Throughout the drama, gender plays a key role in the development of the story. Lorraine Hansberry purposefully incorporated empowered men and women both fighting to be heard and understood, while maintaining their masculinity or femininity. This was done to create the dynamic that gender does make a significant impact on lives and how we choose to live. Hansberry explores the issues relevant in the early 60’s such as abortion, the importance of marriage and the altering of gender roles.

The name itself gives an idea of what the character is like or the reason for being written about. It’s more than just that the name reflects the importance of the character. These names correspond to how Cleo feels that women are treated in society. At first, she is sad because she thinks that women are meant only to exist for men, and Dolores and Soledad reflect this belief. However, towards the end of the story, there is another character that is named Felice which translate to “happiness” in English.