Textual Analysis: Doing Gender

"Doing Gender"

At dinner: I was out at dinner one night and I took sometime to start observing the different ways men and women "do gender". As men and women came into the restaurant I began to notice how different we walk, the women seem to walk with their legs much closer together with a dainty tippy-toe gait the men however walk with the legs further apart and much more of a slow dragging stroll. Watching the different groups of both sexes eating there were many similarities, the women have a better posture sitting up straight with legs crossed or legs closed together with knees touching. The men sit as if their shoulders are heavy with much of a slouch, feet apart and elbows on both sides of the table. As food was being served, I was
Looking at some of these women was hard to identify as what we would in general call a woman. Watching the men at the bar ordering drinks was very different then watching the women, the men order mixed drinks and while waiting to be noticed by the bartender many of them were caressing each other. As the night progressed the number of men increased more intoxicated then earlier, the men appeared to be more flirtatious with each other kissing and holding one another more freely then the women. A good half of the guys walked around with their shirts off many of them very muscular as if they live at the gym. When talking about sexuality and gender here I noticed that there were guys who portray a much more masculine man and some more feminine then most. Same with the women very few of them seemed what we would call feminine women yet more masculine then "normal". So is seems to me that "doing gender" here plays both sides and roles. In contrast to this experience, going to a non-gay club/bar the men didn't showcase their bodies yet it was the women exposing more of themselves plus there was way more women then men. But in both situations men seem to be the dominant gender as in taking the initiative to peruse the other person in something social and
After realizing this I thought of myself and how I do gender, and like it was said it's without knowing I think it the back of our minds we do what we think we're supposed to do, what we think is safe, speaking in a deeper voice because I a man, playing sports because that's what men do, getting married having kids and taking care of the family because that's what the men are supposed to do, but according to who…? Society. I think in some sense we're all pre-programmed in doing gender according to our sex, many of us may even hold back on doing things that might be more comfortable because our gender doesn't allow or accept it. I'm not much of a sports player, and that activity is mainly associated with being male so when put into the category of not being man enough it puts a doubt and imperfection in my back of my mind on who I am and they way people view me. Disposition along with demeanor plays such a big role in social acceptance that if I don't "do gender" accordingly that I'll never be accepted by