GENDER ROLES:
Traditional gender roles should not be followed. Gender roles of men and women was an enormous theme in the Harlem Renaissance texts that we studied this unit. Many texts addressed this theme and within those texts, it was addressed in different manners. We saw how women of that time period were treated by men and the roles that they were each “assigned” to.
The main piece of literature that came to mind when talking about gender roles was The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Throughout this novel, it shows how the gender roles slowly disintegrated and turned into whatever the individual enjoyed and was successful at. At the beginning, the main character Celie was married to a man that didn’t care for her and beat her. When asked by his son Harpo why he beat her, Mr. ___ simply said, “Cause she my wife.” He strongly believed that women were made to take care of the children and household.
As the book went on, the first sign of a man doing something outside of his stereotypical roles was when Harpo changed his child’s diaper. From that point on in the book, there were many more examples of switched up roles such as Celie making pants for her living all leading up to Celie and Mr.___ sewing and smoking cigars out on the porch; sewing, a woman’s job, and smoking cigars, a more stereotypical male action. I think Alice Walker, the author, was trying to get across that men and women should do what they enjoy and what they are good at instead of worrying about what role they are trying to fill.
We also see gender roles in the movie “The Great Debaters.” Samantha was the first woman to be a part of the Wiley College debate team. Not only was she a member, but she also made an impact. In one of her debates, she said that waiting for freedom and equality is foolish and that day needs to be today or no day at all. She was also determined to do anything that a man on the team could and she was a very successful debater debating the top schools in the nation.
Lastly, I think that Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” writing had a section that briefly described a woman doing many jobs of a man and being proud of it. This woman described herself as, “..a large, big boned woman with rough, man working hands.” She goes on to list the many jobs that she does that are stereotypical male jobs such as killing and cleaning a hog, making food over fires, and working outside all day long.
Over the course of these pieces of literature, we find that gender roles slowly diminish and become just what needs to be done gets done. We see that in The Color Purple, “The Great Debaters,” and “Everyday Use.” These authors had a point when they put women in situations that were not natural for them and it was for us all to notice that gender doesn’t matter as long as you can get the job done or enjoy doing it.
The main piece of literature that came to mind when talking about gender roles was The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Throughout this novel, it shows how the gender roles slowly disintegrated and turned into whatever the individual enjoyed and was successful at. At the beginning, the main character Celie was married to a man that didn’t care for her and beat her. When asked by his son Harpo why he beat her, Mr. ___ simply said, “Cause she my wife.” He strongly believed that women were made to take care of the children and household.
As the book went on, the first sign of a man doing something outside of his stereotypical roles was when Harpo changed his child’s diaper. From that point on in the book, there were many more examples of switched up roles such as Celie making pants for her living all leading up to Celie and Mr.___ sewing and smoking cigars out on the porch; sewing, a woman’s job, and smoking cigars, a more stereotypical male action. I think Alice Walker, the author, was trying to get across that men and women should do what they enjoy and what they are good at instead of worrying about what role they are trying to fill.
We also see gender roles in the movie “The Great Debaters.” Samantha was the first woman to be a part of the Wiley College debate team. Not only was she a member, but she also made an impact. In one of her debates, she said that waiting for freedom and equality is foolish and that day needs to be today or no day at all. She was also determined to do anything that a man on the team could and she was a very successful debater debating the top schools in the nation.
Lastly, I think that Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” writing had a section that briefly described a woman doing many jobs of a man and being proud of it. This woman described herself as, “..a large, big boned woman with rough, man working hands.” She goes on to list the many jobs that she does that are stereotypical male jobs such as killing and cleaning a hog, making food over fires, and working outside all day long.
Over the course of these pieces of literature, we find that gender roles slowly diminish and become just what needs to be done gets done. We see that in The Color Purple, “The Great Debaters,” and “Everyday Use.” These authors had a point when they put women in situations that were not natural for them and it was for us all to notice that gender doesn’t matter as long as you can get the job done or enjoy doing it.