2008 Woodie Awards
Sex stereotypes blurred and erased
Sarah Zeeck
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Opinion
Home Ec: a class that brings up nostalgic sentiments of the 1950s or '60s. A year ago, Pawnee School District in Pawnee, Ill., brought the retro, "Leave it to Beaver"-esque class back to its curriculum.
Home ec is, in fact, making a comeback as an elective course in schools across the nation. The State Journal-Register in Springfield reported that many boys were opting to take this course.
Another example of home economics' return can be seen in the widely popular movie "Superbad," in which several of the male characters, including the protagonist, choose to participate in their school's home ec program.
And when people watched those boys in that movie, they didn't bat an eyelash. Moreover, if a girl decided to take a class in shop or auto mechanics, it would probably be normal and widely accepted. The girl would probably not be considered strange (unless she lived in a reclusive town, laden with archaic principles).
Gender roles may have been an issue in the past, especially with shows like "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Brady Bunch" reinforcing the already prevalent stereotypes in the system. Even though the Brady Bunch chose to incorporate an episode with Marsha attempting to join "the Scouts" as an effort to break gender-based stereotypes, such an effort was undermined when she didn't follow through to stay with the Scouts.
Gender stereotypes become far less overt in America. There will still be the naysayers that will have contemptuous comments and snide remarks toward women running for President or men becoming florists, but the majority of Americans are past the ancient philosophy that "woman is homemaker, man is breadwinner."
In all honesty, we as a society have made tremendous progress since pre-19th Amendment times. There will always be disdainful people who think women should be on a lower pay scale or, worse yet, shouldn't work at all. Some will think a man's place is not in the kitchen, or that a man shouldn't mend clothes, plant flowers or be interior designers.
Times have changed, and now men can be manicurists, florists and interior designers. There have been women who have gone to the moon and held political office. A woman can be an auto mechanic without receiving grief from society. Though some may complain society has not come far in gender equality, the lines have finally blurred until they're almost invisible. Anyone can finally be whoever they want to be.
Home ec is, in fact, making a comeback as an elective course in schools across the nation. The State Journal-Register in Springfield reported that many boys were opting to take this course.
Another example of home economics' return can be seen in the widely popular movie "Superbad," in which several of the male characters, including the protagonist, choose to participate in their school's home ec program.
And when people watched those boys in that movie, they didn't bat an eyelash. Moreover, if a girl decided to take a class in shop or auto mechanics, it would probably be normal and widely accepted. The girl would probably not be considered strange (unless she lived in a reclusive town, laden with archaic principles).
Gender roles may have been an issue in the past, especially with shows like "Leave it to Beaver" and "The Brady Bunch" reinforcing the already prevalent stereotypes in the system. Even though the Brady Bunch chose to incorporate an episode with Marsha attempting to join "the Scouts" as an effort to break gender-based stereotypes, such an effort was undermined when she didn't follow through to stay with the Scouts.
Gender stereotypes become far less overt in America. There will still be the naysayers that will have contemptuous comments and snide remarks toward women running for President or men becoming florists, but the majority of Americans are past the ancient philosophy that "woman is homemaker, man is breadwinner."
In all honesty, we as a society have made tremendous progress since pre-19th Amendment times. There will always be disdainful people who think women should be on a lower pay scale or, worse yet, shouldn't work at all. Some will think a man's place is not in the kitchen, or that a man shouldn't mend clothes, plant flowers or be interior designers.
Times have changed, and now men can be manicurists, florists and interior designers. There have been women who have gone to the moon and held political office. A woman can be an auto mechanic without receiving grief from society. Though some may complain society has not come far in gender equality, the lines have finally blurred until they're almost invisible. Anyone can finally be whoever they want to be.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Terri
posted 5/02/08 @ 9:56 PM CST
The simple fact that in our society we still feel a need to make "contemptuous comments and snide remarks" towards women who hold positions traditionally held by men is a very real indication of the lack of enforcement of our right to be treated equally. (Continued…)
Marjorie Zaranto
posted 5/02/08 @ 10:32 PM CST
Some, like Sarah Zeeck--a writer for the Western Courier--believe that boys taking home economics classes and girls taking auto shop classes is a huge leap forward in our society since ". (Continued…)
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