I have always hated the idea that women and men from birth are categorized into so many different thing. For example, the term “like a girl” has become a description for doing something bad and weak. While the term “like a man” exemplifies dominance and strength. The brand “Always” created an add campaign called “like a girl” which showed that sadly this is a reality, but then argues how wrong it is.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs) From the moment we are born we are wrapped in rather a pink blanket, or a blue one. We are born into these stereotypical thoughts of gender, and this is something that has always bothered me. Sadly, women have been stuck in more negative stereotypes as men. The article “Oppression” by Marilyn Frye brings up many topics of how women are treated differently and all about these separating roles, that i just love oh so much (hope you could tell thats sarcasm).
For example the article says “If [women] are found insensitive, we may fear we have no redeeming traits at all and perhaps are not real women”. The fact that women are known to be sensitive and are seen differently if they are not should not exist. I think its truly sad that women have to be viewed like this.
Another thing that I disagree with that was brought up in this article was that when men open the door for women it is considered a “dominant act” or a “form of mockery”. We are now living in the 21st century and I hold open the door for people on the daily without putting thought into it. With no intention of belittling them, just doing it as an act of kindness and respect.
Overall I just think this idea that gender has to determine who you are and why you do certain acts should be expelled. Target agrees with me and recently has made their kids toys section gender neutral. While looking for an article or video that positively talks about Targets great change, most articles bashed it! Fox news seems to not like the idea and says things like “they're going gender neutral, whatever that means”. Hopefully one day gender will only be seen as the sex and organs you are born with, or choose to identify with, without certain words and ideas attached.