The Role of Gender in Everyday Life
by I am proud to be a woman! I continue to fight for the power to establish and create my own individual beauty ideal.
My Plan of Action
I honestly wish that my future daughters could develop and mature in a society free from demanding beauty and gender ideals. I hope for a world in which individuals can be proud of their different personalities and body figures. Such a world will only be established when individuals make an effort to trust that “developing [our] identity is more important than pleasing other people… We must create our own beauty standards rather than follow those dictated by corporations” (Richards, 2004, p. 221). Only when individuals begin to refuse and resist the beauty and gender ideals will the model disappear.
After examining events that occurred in my life, I feel a new sense of security and confidence in my gender. I am proud to be a woman. I discovered a greater insight on reasons my teenage years were so difficult and filled with so many various obstacles. I allowed the beauty ideal to dictate my happiness. I allowed other men to make me feel subordinated by tolerating improper treatment. I failed to seize control of my gender and individual identity. I plan to continue fighting for the power to establish and create my own individual beauty ideal.
References
Cook, Joan Littlefield & Cook Greg (2005). Child Development. Boston, MA. Pearson Education Inc. 12, 13, 339
Gilbert, Susan. (2000) A Field Guide to Boys and Girls. NY HarperCollins Publishing 4, 93, 96
Pruitt, David B. M.D. (1998) Your Child: What every Parent Needs to Know about Childhood Development from Birth to Preadolescence. NY. HarperCollins Publishing. 105
Matlin, Margret W. (2004) The Psychology of Women. Belmont, CA. Wadsworth/Thomson Publishing. 4
Sinclair, Amy. “Body Image Third Wave Feminism’s Issue?” Women’s Voices and Feminists Vision. Ed. Susan Shaw and Janet Lee. NY. McGraw Hill 2004. 221 Stewart, Julie. Personal Communication, June 28, 2005.
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