According to Merriam-Webster, stereotypes are standardized mental images that individuals within a specific group share. They represent simplified and biased perspectives or non-analytical judgments. In terms of gender, men are often depicted as strong, independent, brave, and tough, while women are portrayed as submissive, sensitive, talkative, and maternal.
Gender roles and their impact on men and women are subject to multiple stereotypes. While biology determines an individual's sex, societal norms dictate predetermined roles that people learn. There are various biological differences between males and females, with gender being a social status that affects cognitive development. In Pearlstein's "Gender roles and gender role conflicts," it is argued that these roles can evolve over time, similar to the development of societies' mentality. Society encounters these stereotypes regularly, as young children observe and absorb t
...he behavior of their parents and other influential figures.
Gender roles in Claire Vaye Watkins' short stories, "The Last Thing We Need" and "Wish You Were Here", are depicted by characters who do not meet society's expectations for their genders. In "Wish You Were Here", the protagonist Marin and her husband initially have a happy life. However, when they move to a new town described as trying too hard, their satisfaction diminishes. The story continues as Marin becomes pregnant, highlighting the presence of traditional gender roles.
The story highlights how the growing child in Marin's body leads to increasing arguments and tension within the couple. As the story states, "Before the child is anything, it is a catalyst for fights" (102). According to Pearlstein's research, the birth of a child often results in more defined gender roles within married couples, with women assuming primary responsibility for childcar
and housework. However, Watkins' story challenges this norm. Although Marin exhibits some maternal instincts, she does not prioritize healthy eating, exercise, or compromising on choices that will impact the child. On the other hand, Marin's husband, Carter, takes on a highly involved role and becomes the primary caregiver for their child referred to as "It" (107). Carter actively seeks details about Marin's daily actions and any potential influences on their child. He becomes a hands-on father who actively wants to be part of their child's life and all the day-to-day factors that affect him.
The story uses Carter's strong interest in his child to challenge traditional gender roles, where the father is expected to provide for the family and the mother assumes the responsibility of childcare. Similarly, Marin defies the stereotype of a mother, as described by Pearlstein, who typically takes on maternal duties. The story continues to explore the concept of gender roles by portraying Marin drinking beer and smoking a joint, behaviors that deviate from the traditional image of a mother in the kitchen with neat hair and a coordinated outfit, cooking or caring for her children. This demonstrates how societal expectations of gendered roles influence perceptions of appropriate behavior for both men and women. In Watkins' short story "The Last Thing We Need" in Battleborn, the male protagonist struggles with losing his innocence prematurely and being forced to become a masculine figure before his time, as seen with Thomas Grey.
The text demonstrates the uncertain mental state of Grey, as the story consists of letters he has written to the owner of a specific car, a "Chevy Chevelle, a ‘66" (26). When Grey discovers
this vehicle in a wrecked and abandoned condition, he finds pictures and letters inside that provide him with a deeper understanding of the owner's life. Through these contents, Grey catches a glimpse of his own past - his late childhood and high school years. Specifically, he recalls a night shift at a gas station in a small town, where a boy driving a Chevy Chevelle '66 arrives with a gun and demands money by saying, "The fucking money, Frankie said" (35). At this moment, Grey seizes the gun from beneath the counter and, as he fires the trigger, his innocence vanishes along with the swift bullet leaving the barrel.
Thomas Grey constantly hears that he made the right decision, but he still carries a sense of guilt for his actions. This moment in his life stays with him throughout college, meeting his wife, and secretly keeping the consequences to himself. He writes letters to a man he has never met, without knowing if the man is still alive or if he even receives the letters. The only connection provided is that this man owns the car that triggers the traumatic event in the narrator's life. This moment causes Grey to lie, escape, and become a coward in regards to his past. In the article "The Burden of Being a Man in a Patriarchal Society," the author states that "strength was found to be a key masculine stereotype" and this is what society expects from men. However, Grey's weary letters to a unknown man and his obsession with a car make him deviate from this expectation. His wife even remarks, "That man, the one who knows a
'66 when he sees one, that's not the man she married" (37). The article explains how men's behaviors and relationships are constantly influenced by societal expectations of masculinity. Thomas Grey has become a man burdened by this traumatic event, which affects his daily roles as a father, husband, and man.
Conforming to societal gender roles is the way in which genders learn what society considers appropriate for themselves. From a young age, individuals develop their gender identities by observing and absorbing signals from the sociocultural environments they are in. By observing and emulating socially acceptable behaviors associated with being male or female, children learn what it means to be a boy or girl in their society (Csinos). Gender-specific teaching starts right from infancy and continues as the child grows. For example, mothers and fathers tend to engage in rough play more often with boys than with girls.
As children grow, gender expectations become evident. Boys are typically expected to assume more responsibilities and run errands at an earlier age than girls. Additionally, boys are often taught to suppress their emotions and display traditionally masculine traits, while girls are encouraged to freely accept and express their emotions. These societal gender roles influence children to conform to society's ideas of masculinity and femininity from a young age. However, exceptions like Marin, Carter, and Thomas Grey defy these norms. Despite society enforcing these norms by defining what is considered masculine or feminine, individuals ultimately have the choice in how they navigate and adapt within these boundaries. They can either comply with societal expectations or challenge them by taking on paternal roles as fathers or embracing vulnerability that some may see
as weakness or mental instability.
The option for individuals to either conform to traditional gender roles or establish their own unique gender roles is available.
Works Cited
- Adil, Farah, et al. “The Burden of Being a Man in a Patriarchal Society.” Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, vol. 4, no. 2, Dec. 2017, pp. 57–70. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.selu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true;db=a9h;AN=128207430.
- Csinos, David M. “Will Boys Be Boys and Girls Be Girls? Correcting Gender Stereotypes Through Ministry with Children.” Priscilla Papers, vol. 31,
4, Oct. 2017, pp. 21–26. EBSCOhost, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true;db=rlh;AN=126124237.
Pearlstein, Elyssa. “Gender Roles and Gender Role Conflicts.” Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health, 2013.
The text below provides information on EBSCOhost and a webpage link. The link can be accessed through ezproxy.selu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true;db=ers;AN=93871992.
