Complexities of Gender

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Some behaviors have been termed as gender appropriate and gender inappropriate. Using video clips from the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes this document will explore the behaviors that can be termed appropriate and inappropriate according to gender norms. At one time Ruth needed to be rescued and Idgie who is a female comes in and rescues her as her knight in shining armor, I would term what Idgie did as gender appropriate. I believe it is gender inappropriate when Evelyn Couch’s husband expects that the work of his wife is to fetch him beer when he is watching game, to cook him dinner before he gets home and offer him sex on demand. It is also gender inappropriate for him to threaten her.

At one point Ruth had a black eye and we can see her husband carrying her over his shoulder and pushing her down the stairs, It is my believe that Frank’s behavior was gender inappropriate. It is also in appropriate for the two women to take Evelyn’s parking space in the grocery store. Idgie wore a dress accompanied by a bow in her hair and she is ridiculed by her sister, later dress her in a cute yellow and gold short suit and I believe it was gender appropriate. I argue that it was appropriate of her to do so despite the fact this goes against the gender norms of a little girl who should be dresses in cute dresses. I believe appropriate distinctions are important in the construction of two genders and gender appropriate behaviors. The mother and sister had already identified that she was a tomboy and they made her comfortable with it. Girls tend to be more delicate and restricting her attire would have caused stereotypic behavior.

I believe it was inappropriate for the ladies in the VW Bug to take Evelyn’s space simply because they were older than her. I believe it is inappropriate despite it being against norms that expect the young to always respect those older than them. I believe everyone should be treated as an equal despite their age or sex. In this context of equality I believe it is inappropriate for Evelyn’s husband to want her to be the wife who plays the dutiful role and tends to all his needs no matter how small they are and him being capable to do so himself, the behaviors of Frank and Evelyn’s husband are inappropriate and against gender norms where the men are expected to be protecting their wives. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e62uLLsvUzI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx0z9FjxPedusson.comY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRcPXtqdKjE