Gender Roles In American Society

In class yesterday, we started our discussion on gender. We divided into three groups that would discuss social and biological pros and cons for each gender identity (male, female, and third space/gender binary). Although each group discussed their own social and biological pros and cons, all of the groups indicated that there is social stigma. Woman mostly receive social stigma through appearance. In other words, women are often told to look a certain way. In American society, desirable women are tall and skinny. Men mostly receive social stigma for emotions. In other words, men are supposed to be strong and not emotional. In American Society, desirable men do not show weak emotions. Third space/gender binary people mostly receive social stigma for not conforming to the rigidity of gender identity. Third space/gender binary people do not identify as biologically male or female which makes most people with in the American
Gender is fluid. Gender can be fluid as a population. We can have people in a society who identify as extremely male, male with female characteristics, female with male characteristics, extremely female, etc. Gender can also be fluid for an individual. For instance, a person can identify as male one day and then he/she can identify as female the next day. Gender should be whatever is comfortable for the individual. The idea of gender fluidity has been recently becoming more popular; especially with actress, model, performer Ruby Rose as a gender fluid icon. She recently has starred in the newest season of Orange is the New Black and has been promoting the idea of gender fluidity. She has stated that “I am very gender fluid and feel more like I wake up every day sort of gender neutral”. With more awareness of the idea that gender is on a spectrum, the more likely social stigma involving gender identity will