We Know Who We Are

This first article is titled On Becoming Male: Reflectinos of a Sociologist on Childhood and Early Socialization by James M. Henslin After reading this article numerous memories came to mind from my childhood that I could easily relate to. I remember sitting on the swings and hoping that I could go and play kickball with the boys. I knew that if I was to walk over and ask to play they would all stare at me with mouths wide open. Playing sports on the playground wasn't something girls did, well not unless you count jump rope-lame I know. This article discusses how parents obsess over our sex and force upon us things that are associated with being a boy or a girl. Blue balloons outside the house for a newborn boy and Pink of course for a girl. Early on we were told how to act and that is what influences us into becoming masculine or feminine. Boys were told to be rough and tough with their toys where as girls would sit inside and brush their dolls hair. Girls should be dainty and strive to be pretty. Boys would be allowed more privileges and they would thank god they weren't born a girl.

All of the things in this article are very stereotypical although I can't say that there not true. In a way it does seem like boys have it easier. There is always the double standard, especially staying out late. I know that my brother would come home late into the night and my parents wouldn't say a word, but then when I ask to go out with a boy they would say, "no."

The other article is called On Becoming Female: Lessons Learned in School by Donna Eder.

"Girls are sent a strong message that what they do and who they are is less important then how they look." This article talks about a particular middle school where the popular girls are typically cheerleaders. To be honest I'm not surprised because when I was in middle school it was the same. Reading some of these conversations between the girls aren't foreign to me. They sound like typical conversations. Theres something about putting down someone else that makes you feel better. We all do it, maybe not face to face, but we most certainly talk behind other peoples backs. Its sad to think that us girls can't be proud of who we are and that we are constantly trying to change, but for what? Is it the attention from boys that we want? Or do we want other girls to become jealous of us? I believe it is a little bit of both. Girls are sent such strong messages through the media to look a certain way. Many of these images that we see are edited. Nobody is perfect, yet we strive to be just that.