WGST 1F90 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Road Rage, Heteronormativity, Tomboy

• School: Brock University
• Department: Women's and Gender Studies
• Course: WGST 1F90
• Professor: Leslie Nichols

Document Summary

Gender performance: we do our gender gender is a performance, we too evaluate others" gender performance, scripts of gender are provided to us by, we do have agency: do not have to accept all the images/ideals about gender. Binary: we have divided masculinity and femininity into two unequal categories in the west, culturally, we value these differently; traits, qualities, behaviours associated with femininity and masculinity are not valued the same, allotted these qualities to gender. Generally the traits connected to masculinity (strength, independence) are more highly desired. Men are naturally more aggressive, women are naturally more nurturing. Making boys into men: western masculinities are based upon notions from ancient codes and mythologies, masculinity, or manhood, is symbolized by the astrological symbol which represents mars, the ancient god of war. Women"s symbol is venus (goddess of love, sex and fertility): the essence" of masculine ideal: the warrior" image the ultimate in manliness.