Western Gender Roles

In western societies, men and women are expected to display certain characteristics and behaviors depending on their gender. Gender refers to the psychological, social, cultural, and behavioral characteristics associated with being female or male. People adapt and learn to modify their thoughts, behaviors and attitudes according to the requirements of their culture and society, these modifications are known as socialization. Gender roles are developed and learned during socialization, which heavily impacts how people think and act. Louise Erdrich’s novel, “The Last Report of the Miracles at Little No Horse”, follows the complex life of Father Damien Modeste, who is biologically a woman, during early western society. According to traditional
For example, in several Native American cultures, showing attributes of the opposite sex is not considered unnatural; many Native American cultures actually celebrate it. Various Native American cultures have two-spirit people who adopt the behavior and appearance of another sex. The difference between gender identity and sexual orientation is not recognized by western society, which is why there is a tendency to stereotype gender characteristics. Erdrich unearths contrasting ideas about gender characteristics. Nearly all the Native American characters in “The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse” challenge preconceived western gender ideologies. If a woman portrays masculine qualities, she is not shunned, but rather valued for having an important set of skills. For instance, Margaret Kapshaw often portrays behaviors of the opposite sex. Margaret’s masculine features and powerful presence is threatening to men, yet entices them. “She could chop wood, haul water, drop a wild goose from the sky by clipping off its head with one shot. Nobody bested her and nothing intimidated Margaret. She was a challenge that Nanapush could not resist” (Erdrich, 103). . Hunting and chopping wood are classified as masculine tasks, but Margaret’s masculine features are what make her successful as an Ojibwe woman. She enthralls Nanapush, her husband figure, and is often in control in their relationship. Margaret is also one of many wives who play
European and western cultures were based on a patriarchal system where women were considered property with no say in their fate. Gender roles were socially constructed, not biologically determined. In an androcentric western culture, women were taught to exhibit the virtues of piety, purity, submissiveness and domesticity. On the contrary, men were taught to provide economic security, protect the family and be in control. During this time, women were becoming more literate while being tied to domestic roles. For instance, when Father Damien helps LuLu, he encourages her to attend a government boarding school where she learns skills that western society believes she should have. Some of these skills include knitting and beading, selling eggs and bartering chickens. This was the norm for women. While Agnes DeWitt was living with Brendt Vogel, they immediately established roles. “Each morning she lighted the stove and cooked, then heated water in a big tank for laundry and swept the cool wooden floors. Monday she sewed. She baked all day Tuesday. On Wednesdays she churned and scrubbed” (Erdrich, 18). Agnes preformed all the tasks of a western domestic housewife. Furthermore, during Agnes’ transition to Father Damien, she writes a set of rules to assist in her transition. Agnes was conditioned to believe that in order to pass for a