Disrupting Gender Norm Activity
15 points possible
The goal of this activity is for you to experience for yourself how strong gender norms are in our society.For this activity, you will be “performing” outside your gender in some way. Find a behavior (activity, body language, speech pattern, dress) that is clearly marked as not something that someone of your gender should be doing, and do it! You want to violate a gender norm. Assess how you felt while performing outside of your gender. Observe the responses you get from others around you. Do not tell the people you’ll be observing that this is a class project until after the project is over. The purpose of this assignment is to better understand how strong gender norms are in our society.Once you have completed your gender norm violation,write a paper that is 3 pages in length. It should include:
- A brief description of the gender norm violation you committed and the context in which it occurred(dining hall, classroom, etc.) as well as a description of the reactions of others to the violation. Don’tforget to include your observations.
- A careful examination of the possible reasons for the existence of this particular gender norm. Whydoes it exist? What, if any, function does it serve? Did it serve a function historically?
- A careful and honest examination of how you felt while you were committing the gender normviolation. Were there self-imposed, internal social controls created by your socialization (e.g., insideyou felt awkward, silly, embarrassed, etc.)? That is, for this particular norm violation, does societycontrol you primarily as a result of your socialization as a male/female or a result of external sanctions,or both?
- What theories could you use to understand your gender norm violation? How do thesetheories help or contradict your experiences? (I need to see a strong theoretical analysis in your paperthat establishes your understanding of class materials.)
Below is a list of possible activities from which you may choose, or you may come up with your ownviolations.
Suggestions:
Women:
- Insist on paying for a date
- Offer to carry grocery bags for a male
- Pull a chair out at the table for a guy
- Suggest going to a “testosterone” movie
- Suggest watching ESPN or “The Man Show”
- Offer to give your seat up to a healthy male
Men:
- Wear female jewelry
- Go to bathroom together
- Carry a purse
- Wear a skirt
- Suggest going to see a “chick flick”
- Cry in public
- Knit or do needlework in public
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