Throughout history, men and women have always shared many similar character traits. However, over time, society has developed ‘gender roles’ that confine us into a box, limiting us and what we’re capable of. In the reading, it is mentioned that men are often associated with verbs like dominance and competitiveness, while women are linked with words such as warmth and friendliness. This leads to the assumption that men are weak if they show any emotion and women aren’t strong enough to be leaders. Recognizing and challenging these stereotypes is crucial for fostering equality and understanding the diversity of individual characteristics. Typically I try to challenge or stray away from stereotypes, because they are opinions that have been reinforced into generations. When speaking about a gender I do not associate specific words to them like “strong” or “weak” because when we do so, we uphold those roles. Over the last year and a half I’ve been working on connecting to both my masculine and feminine sides. In working on this connection to both sides of myself, I decided to shave my head. I believe that societal norms are evolving slowly. Last April was when I cut off all my hair and it was a shock to everyone. I went from fitting in your typical stereotypes to sparking assumptions about my sexuality and gender identity; all because of a haircut. It may seem small, but shaving my head has given me tons of power and confidence and I believe in the act of doing so I help to create and foster a more accepting baseline for society to follow. The impact of appearances on perception is taught and the more we escape from what we’ve always been taught, the more acceptance we can show others.
You are Exactly Where You Need To Be 