It is known that expectations play important role in the field of formation of our thoughts, opinions, and positions towards certain things and phenomena. Consequently, there is a need for analysis how it looks on practice. In this paper it will be have to answer three main questions so as to better understand the role of expectations. At first, we should deal with two terms, which are used interchangeably, though they have different nature and meaning, namely gender and sex. It has to be highlighted that the former is a biological category, which is defined by two main elements: reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. The second category (gender) often denotes the same as sex, as the majority identify themselves in accordance with biological features they possess.
However, there are exceptions, when people are transgender, gender-nonconforming etc (Prince, 2005). To my mind, nowadays if a person denies the sex as a discriminative category and proclaims the equality despite one’s sex (thus, the gender is not equal to sex), the following expectations from the society will appear: if it is a woman, she will be expected to be a supporter of feminism; a man will be thought to be homosexual or, as a result of the previous expectation, not to be able to play football or to join colleagues in bar. The only thing I would like to change in the opposite sex is the establishment of the real principle of equality without hypocrisy. If we declare that we are equal, thus, we have to do be equal in all the aspects without any exceptions. This has to be understood, as I suppose, by lots of feminists.
How are certain expectations created and made? This question is answered by Mickey Mouse Monopoly article, particularly in its part ‘Gender Representations’. It is mentioned that in Disney movies, despite the change in the sphere of gender and sex correlation and distinction, you still have the same highly sexualized female body with the big breasts, the tiny waist, the fluttering eyelashes, the coy expressions, and the seductress (Sun, 2001).
Among the dangerous messages media could send to the audience certain ‘obligations’ of a girl/woman is mentioned. Particularly, that you have to ‘to kiss that prince and bring it out, or to kiss that beast and bring the prince out (p. 9). Analyzing the comments of the children, who express their emotions after the discussion of certain Disney movie, we can come to the conclusion that certain gender-sex stereotypes could be the products of media, which ‘are being sold’.
Drawbridge exercise is another way to find out how gender-sex expectations and stereotypes function within our society. As we see from the novel the Baroness, who decides to, despite the warning of the Baron, go to her lover so as to spend some time with him, however, she is not able to return to the castle that will probably result in her death from the hand of the Baron, who warned not to leave it. The exercise consists in the ability to interchange the roles, when the Baron is threatened by the Baroness, reflecting, in fact, the nowadays state of affairs, when lots of men are also victims of domestic violence. However, personally I do not find such story to be believable from the perspective of the story per se, since fairytales from our birth create the stereotypes, in which we believe during the whole life. In this case we know that such figures as Baron and Baroness have to play certain roles, which we cannot change. In order to make people believe and know that such problem of violence towards men exists other way of persuading has to be implemented, in particular social videos could be effective. How in this aspect should people change? Perhaps, women have to avoid additional criticism towards their husbands, help deal with financial side of the family, and pay much attention to the problems, which husbands could have.
The last thesis is following: gender expectations could hurt both males and females. We have to agree that sexual or gender discrimination exists. And this often arises in the sphere of employment or any other career road. In the movie ‘G.I. Jane’ we have seen how a person, who does not admit to classical sexual stereotypes tries to become successful in the military service, though lots of people do not believe she will reach her goal. Another example supporting male’s discrimination is certain legal provisions. For instance, men receive custody of children in only about 10 percent of divorce cases in the United States; divorce men can face burdensome alimony payments even in situations where their ex-wives are capable of working and earning a substantial income (Berlatsky, 2013). Hence, here we see how certain expectation, namely that that men have to be always the source of finance and welfare in family, defines the way of the application of law by courts.
References
1. Berlatsky, N. (2013, May 29). When Men Experience Sexism. The Atlantic. Retrieved from:
http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/05/when-men-experience-sexism/276355/
2. Sun, C. (2001). Mickey Mouse Monopoly: Disney, Childhood & Corporate Power. Media Education Foundation.
