Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Writing Cultured Bodies


How should men present themselves according to what American society genderly prescribes to them? For the most part American Men are expected to walk with a moderately long stride, look strong, appear confident, and remain loose and relaxed in their posture and mannerisms (pgs 34-36). American Women on the contrast are generally expected to walk more straight-postured and with a short stride, cross their legs while sitting down, and remain elegant and respectable (pg 33) Where did all this come from? It is certainly not natural as we so often advertise. It is culturally learned. However for this assignment’s sake, I’m not particularly interested in men or women who ‘follow all the rules.’ I went out and observed people who challenged the traditional gender models to see how myself and others react to their uncustomary behavior.
            Construct this imagine in you mind: baggy pants, baggy shirts, clean cut buzzed hair, fitted straight-billed ball caps, and shiny new basketball shoes  (all color coordinated), ‘swagger’ filled walking stride, and an open relaxed sitting posture. Most people might have thought of this person as a young African-American male from a highly urban area. Some might also even attach on the pretense of this person being a lazy, uninterested student. This person I just described is one of the most hard working, studious, kind-hearted, African-American females I know. In every class I’ve had with her she sits on the front row rigorously taking notes and constantly asking and answering questions. Her choice of avatar may largely differ from most females, but that doesn’t stop her from gaining much respect and love from her peers (male and female alike).
            Here is another image: short spiked hair, sunglasses, iPod ear buds in the ears, loose fitted jeans, loose fitted sports t-shirt, tennis shoes, walking stride proportionate to their body size, and a quite, easy going approach to most things.  Did you think of an adolescent Caucasian male? If you read the last paragraph hopefully you’ve learned your lesson. This individual is one of the top female leaders on campus- being a third year Community Advisor for University Housing and maintaining a strictly organized studious academic approach. Although her outward appearance may seem a bit masculine and relaxed by our culture’s standards, her conversational mannerisms  give reason to believe that she is still culturally feminine. This female is another good example of someone who crosses the boundaries of gender roles, yet still maintains a respectable lifestyle.
            Here is one more example: very fashionable, clean cut, straight posture, short stride, good cook,  and good with kids.  This individual is a republican, highly-religious, heterosexual, white male.  Only being a freshman in college, this young man already has a great number of tools to be a successful business man. He remains confident in his personality, has the skill set to be a great marketer,  and already has excellent money managing skills. Are you surprised?
            In the three examples listed I wanted to make a statement- that gender roles and expectations may exist, but they don’t necessarily prohibit one from being a successful and respectable individual. This is evidence that modern urban-American society is slowly making it more acceptable for a person to cross gender rules and also be considered a respectable individual. The habitus of each of these individuals is very much so influenced by their cultural background, their family, and their individual cultural involvements,  (pg. 34-37) even though their may consider their culture as improper or wrong. Through the sociological lense, it appears that no person’s cultured behavior, beliefs, and physical appearance are inherently natural, but in-fact learned over the course of their life.

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