Gender

Just like many of the other things that we have talked about like race and class, gender plays just as big a role in our society. Men and Women are expected to play certain roles and act certain ways. Men as adults and teenagers are supposed to be strong and aggressive. They can be passionate, but not to the point that their emotions take over their personality. Little boys are expected to play with toy cars and guns. Women as adults and teens are expected to be emotional and caring. They are expected to wear make-up and love to shop. Girls when they are little are expected to play with barbies and dolls. When something is out of the ordinary people wonder, judge and want to ask questions. A good example of a boy not fulfilling the so called "normal" role for a boy, was when a boy had some kind of anxiety attack, which physically disabled him while playing basketball. Later in the episode he told the doctor that it was because he hates basketball and he wants to take dance class. Eventually the mother asked her son what he really wanted to do and he was overjoyed. The mother was in denial about her son because she thought that something was wrong with him. Nothing was wrong, he just has different interests from other boys his age. There is nothing wrong with wanting to do something that in our society is designed for the opposite race. There are tons of girls who play competitive sports and tons of guys who take art and dace classes. Our society has put such a huge strain on the division of the sexes and gender roles that its hard for people who are gay, trans-gender, trans-sexual or hermaphroditic. In the end these are normal people who either were born with a physical problem or just have different views of themselves. there is nothing wrong with the way they are, but our society for some reason has not been willing to accept them.