Saplings In The Storm

Stereotypes are a widely accepted belief on groups characteristics based on their gender, age, ethnicity and so forth. Unfortunately, this belief has affected our society for countless generations. Though there are numerous examples of stereotypes, a common one would be that men fiddling with a perplexing device while women belonging in the kitchen. In the articles, “Saplings in the Storm” and “Be the He for She,” both authors demonstrate that stereotypes play a unusually large role in determining behavior, hobbies, and personality on individuals especially the females. They realized that due to the restrictions of our society, there will never be gender equality. To provide a freedom of individuality and gender equality for those who face
As the sapling grows, it takes form of multiple powerful roots before expanding into various shapes and forms. Some have exquisitely unique leafs while others blossoms in a variety of colors. However, a storm with its tremendous strength, is able to leave a wake of destruction. Leafs would be falling, branches would be broken, surely a sapling would not be the same after a storm. This analogy applies to everyone, as a individual grows up, they are unique and strong. However, as they experience society, they are rejected simply because they are different. This brings negative change, which leads to similarity between everyone. “She danced, did cartwheels and splits, played football, basketball and baseball with the neighborhood boys, wrestled with my brothers, biked, climbed trees, and rode horses,” Pipher displays that like the roots of saplings, females create a foundation of hobbies before actually expanding upon them to create their distinctive personalities (Pipher, 343). However, “she tried to keep up her old ways, but she was called a tomboy and chided for not acting more ladylike. She was excluded by her boy pals and by the girls, who were moving into makeup and romances,” like a storm, the influences of society can easily destroy your foundations and implement a predetermined set of beliefs for that individual or group (Pipher, 343). These beliefs are known as stereotypes. In this situation, due to rejection, the female was forced to demolish their personality and develop a set of submissive traits like her peers. Which basically makes her a doll like every other female in our current society. Females are not the only ones limited by our society, men too are also being affected by stereotypes. Though unlike the harsh reality women are forced to face, men face simply a mere