Human Diversity: Treatment Of Women Who Break Gender Norms

Katherine Hyrkas

5/19/23

Sue Wilson

Human Diversity

Treatment of women who break gender norms Judith Butler once said, “Masculine and feminine roles are not biologically fixed but socially constructed” (Butler). This quote brings nature versus nurture into play by stating that we are not born to think about gender norms but are raised how to view certain roles played in life. When gender norms are broken, certain genders also view these roles differently. There are different types of reactions to gender norms and their effects on them being broken. Women who break gender norms demonstrate the power of individuality and the importance of self-expression.

Nature versus Nurture is how you are born and your biological makeup versus how you

Meradith is expected to be put into an arranged marriage, have a male win her hand, be very feminine and how to be a princess, and she is expected to have no weapons since she is a female. When Meredith is waiting for the men to do an archery contest to win for her hand, she gets upset and goes out to compete for her own hand. She shot better than all of the men causing her to get in trouble for embarrassing the men. When meredith goes against these feminine gender roles that she is supposed to uphold, her parents get upset with her and think that she will not be a suitable female and wife. Throughout the movie other characters are portraying these gender norms during that period of time. For example, all of the women working in the castle are maids, kitchen help, tending to the kids, whereas the men are hunting, soldiers, and are providing for the family. None of the women are doing any of the “mele roles” and stick to their traditional “female roles”.Whereas Meredith is going against the traditional feminine roles set in place for women during that time period. In the story, “Everyday Use,” Dee goes against her traditional roles that her Mama and little sister Maggie are still stuck in. Mama is upset with Dee because Dee is going against what Mama thinks is right. Mama does not think what Dee is doing is right, like in The Yellow Wallpaper, John does not believe

In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Jane has postpartum depression and her husband, John, thinks she is just being hysterical, over-dramatic and will not listen to her concerns about her mental health. This is found in today's society in mental health illnesses. When women have mental health illnesses they are faced with men telling them that they are being dramatic and all of these problems are just “created in their own head”. Men like to over dramatic size and be more hostile towards women when the women go against what the men want them to do. In the short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” The protagonist Connie felt like she had to listen to the man if she did not obey his