Strawn 1 Deanna Strawn Professor Warwick English 155 November 27, 2006 …Because you’re a Girl “Call me.” “But you’re going to be out with your friends.” ”So, why does that matter?” “It’s different for you.” “Why?” “Because you’re a girl.” Sound familiar? Well, this is a typical conversation between many males and females throughout the world. No matter the language or lifestyle, there has been and always will be a separation of gender. Whether it occurred in the 1950’s, or in the 21st century, many can plainly see a conflict sandwiched between the tough, muscular and aggressive male, verses the weak, dependent and hysterical female. As shown in various types of media, such as movies, and even our daily routines, the dividing lines among these two different species of human is pinpointed, advertised, and abused, making our world a place of separation and unfortunate organization. Definition of a Woman: “a female Human being.” This classification, given by dictionary.com, indeed shows the meaning of a “Woman.” But if the definition of a woman is broken down, one runs into a deeper meaning that is rooted to our past, and that is “stereotype.” Women, like men, are stereotyped to the point where many do not know who they truly are anymore. In the movie Pleasantville, created in 1998, it introduces people to the perfect life, set aside from the “trouble-plagued real world” (MovieWeb). It shows women being “swell and perky” (MovieWeb), which is how women should be and should act. Like Pleasantville, there are many other movies and television shows created to enhance the role of society’s perfect woman compiled of all the qualities suitable for the male figure. These qualities include beingStrawn 2 weak, emotional, dependable, dainty and soft. Such words as these perfectly describe the female essence, right? No doubt, these words give any room for anybody to question otherwise, because that is what women are. We are these words, placed right smack dab in front of our faces. Or at least that is what our stereotype leads us to believe. So let us try this definition one more time. Woman: a Wife (Dictionary).Sadly, this definition is too given by the same trusted dictionary source as the one noted above. In this world that we live in, it is inevitable to be stereotyped and we cannot run from these bits of terminology known boldly as our characteristics. Weak. Emotional. Dependable. Dainty. Soft. These words are solely characteristics of the common women, placed without means of alteration. Now, unlike the woman, being as weak and soft as she is made out to be, the male is a figure of masculinity and independence. Throughout life as we know it, the male has been known to take care of business and become a strong authority figure. Examples of strength and power can not only be portrayed by a group of men, but on occasion, this sense of power has prevailed through the eyes of solely a single man. For example, during World War II, a man named Adolph Hitler rose in power and presented himself as a leader who would guide his fellow believers in victory against the Jews, homosexuals, gypsies and mentally disabled. This man, being one of the great leaders of the past, was not only able to gain millions of followers, but he was also able to “exterminate” millions of innocent people. Some may call this murder, but others call it power. Men have the power to do things and not have a righteous reason for it. They are stereotyped a certain way, which gives them this preconceived untouchable power. Men also have certain expectations to live up to that make them feel the need to struggle for this perfection. In an interview with a fellow school mate named Danny, he stated that in this world, “you have to be a bad-ass.” He said that “society wants guys to be macho.” Like many guys outStrawn 3 there, this student feels that they have the need to be strong, not weak, in order to be considered a man. But, what is a man exactly? Any simple definition would tell us that a Man is a male human being. Something so simple seems to be so much more complex then it is made out to be. Why? Because that is what society wants and strives for. Society, which includes its people, media, and even fashion, want not only women, but men to feel the need to struggle to be the best. This struggle involves buying the best clothes, looking a certain way and falling into a certain category. For many, it is a constant struggle, but for others, they have the luxury of knowing they have the best clothes, they look great, and they belong to the correct social class. Now that we have an idea of what the male/female stereotype consists of, let us take a look at how this dividing line affects both our world and our lives. Gender separation is noticeable in the workplace as well as at home. According to BBC News, the Scottish Borders Council Committee has been asked to investigate “why the authority has so few women in senior management positions” (BBC News). This claim stated that the six highest paying positions were all given to men. Was this because of a potential case of discrimination? Or was it merely that of chance? An investigation is under way to solve this issue. This is an example of the concerns that can arise due to gender segregation and discrimination. Gender may not always be the case in certain situations, but it can be a major factor in others. Now easing out of gender issues in the world, we are brought to gender issues in the home life. In an interview with my mother Laurie, I have come to an understanding about the differences between gender issues being forced upon someone, verses being a normal way of life. As I spoke with her she stated that as she grew up it was normal to have her dad go to work and her mom stay at home. So as she entered adulthood, she felt this was normal and lived the same lifestyle as did her parents. The only regret she feels about living according to the “norm” was that she “could not leave the house whenever sheStrawn 4 pleased.” (Laurie) This example shows gender roles and gender stereotypes as being a normal aspect in many peoples’ lives. For many others, they come into contact with gender discrimination when they least expect it. As stated previously, BBC gave a story about gender separation in the work place. These women did not anticipate being segregated against the men. It was forced on them