Gender Roles in "The Last Time I Wore a Dress" by Daphne Scholinski
Richard N
Introduction to Sociology
2:00 TR
Gender; a term that many would assume refers to an individual’s sex as either male or female. While this is true, what many are unaware of is that it is typically used with reference to social and cultural differences as opposed to biological ones. In The Last Time I Wore a Dress, author Daphne Scholinski offers the reader many personal experiences in which she met due to the sociological misconception of how gender is really defined in American society; a misconception that once clarified, I believe, could alleviate much senseless prejudice. The poster children for masculinity and femininity in American culture that come to my mind are in the classic images of both Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. James, the “rebel without a cause” that every girl swooned over, and Marilyn, the pin-up beauty that every guy fantasized about having on his arm. During this time in American culture, these popular figures were ideally what outlined gender at the time, and surprisingly still holds some value today. In my sociology class, my peers and I participated in an activity where we were asked to give adjectives that we thought best described what it means to be both masculine and feminine. Ultimately, the consensus was that men are the tough and bold breadwinners while the women are the soft and delicate homemakers. This gender role dynamic has held value since America was founded, including in the period in which Scholinski’s novel takes place; around thirty years ago. I now suppose the question at hand would be why is it viewed as such a faux-pas when an individual fits into either the opposite role or neither role at all, even in the new millennium? Growing up, it was evident that Daphne wasn’t your average girl. She didn’t wear makeup or style her hair, her wardrobe primarily consisted of worn-out band tees and hole-ridden jeans, and the majority of her close friends were boys. Her school days were filled with the taunts
Introduction to Sociology
2:00 TR
Gender; a term that many would assume refers to an individual’s sex as either male or female. While this is true, what many are unaware of is that it is typically used with reference to social and cultural differences as opposed to biological ones. In The Last Time I Wore a Dress, author Daphne Scholinski offers the reader many personal experiences in which she met due to the sociological misconception of how gender is really defined in American society; a misconception that once clarified, I believe, could alleviate much senseless prejudice. The poster children for masculinity and femininity in American culture that come to my mind are in the classic images of both Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. James, the “rebel without a cause” that every girl swooned over, and Marilyn, the pin-up beauty that every guy fantasized about having on his arm. During this time in American culture, these popular figures were ideally what outlined gender at the time, and surprisingly still holds some value today. In my sociology class, my peers and I participated in an activity where we were asked to give adjectives that we thought best described what it means to be both masculine and feminine. Ultimately, the consensus was that men are the tough and bold breadwinners while the women are the soft and delicate homemakers. This gender role dynamic has held value since America was founded, including in the period in which Scholinski’s novel takes place; around thirty years ago. I now suppose the question at hand would be why is it viewed as such a faux-pas when an individual fits into either the opposite role or neither role at all, even in the new millennium? Growing up, it was evident that Daphne wasn’t your average girl. She didn’t wear makeup or style her hair, her wardrobe primarily consisted of worn-out band tees and hole-ridden jeans, and the majority of her close friends were boys. Her school days were filled with the taunts