Everyone should be able to wear pink socks
I decided to switch it up and try to rhetorically analyze a new article.
Here is the article: Back off, Masculinity Patrol
The article is examining the new positive trend of gender revolution for boys. American girls have more flexibility when it comes to exploring their gender at young ages. It is socially acceptable for little girls to play with trucks and act like tomboys, whereas if little boys want to wear dresses and paint their nails pink- everyone starts to jump to conclusions about their sexuality.
E.J Gaff believes that there is starting to be a new trend of accepting feminine male gender presentations at young ages. More and more, parents are starting to let their young sons explore their gender- whichever way their sons want to.
Gaff presents ethos, credibility; by drawing in an acclaimed newspaper that has already written about letting “pink boys” explore their gender at young ages. She quotes the New York Times throughout her article, which presents the reader with the notion that if she and the New York Times are talking about this subject, this must be a pretty big deal. Gaff is also a credible source. She is a social justice and human rights writer, particularly writing about discrimination against women, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
Gaff shows logos, forcefulness of a well thought out position, by asking rhetorical questions within the article. When she writes, “If you think there's nothing wrong with the possibility that your boy might be gay, if you believe that being a man includes being an involved father and an active partner in taking care of the house and family, why worry about whether a boy is a little feminine?” (Gaff, 2012), the ending thought, “why worry about whether a boy is a little feminine,” really drives home the argument of the article. She asks a logical question, that really makes the audience critically examine their own thoughts and values.
Pathos is demonstrated when she compares the easiness of little girls to bend their genders and the difficulty little boys face if they wish to engage in feminine behavior at young ages. She states, “Their behavior is overseen by a masculinity patrol. Veer even slightly into the feminine-pink socks! Barbie dolls!- and boys are punished with ridicule,”(Gaff, 2012). This sentence provokes an emotion of empathy for young boys who want to engage in feminine behaviors. Why ridicule or bully someone for wanting to be happy?
