Boys and Girls: Gender Roles

A detailed Summary of Boys and Girls: Gender Roles


One work by Alice Munro that I read was Boys and Girls. This story, as told through the point of view of an adolescent girl, addresses roles that society imposes upon each gender. It highlights the different ways that males and females act and the varying ways that they are perceived. For example, women were confined to the home and duties that included cleaning, taking caring of the children, and cooking. This type of work was considered unimportant, but men's work outside of the home was regarded with greater respect. Men were expected to do the hunting and make the food out of the butchered animals.

In addition, a key passage in this story analyzes the connotations associated with the words, women and girls as opposed to men and boys. The story points out that girls are seen as a disappointment and subject to certain restrictions. For example, the girl's gr


The story also includes an element of fantasy as the narrator daydreams of rescuing people from a bombed building. This dreaming allowed her to reach a place that allowed greater freedoms and opportunities for independence. She was the heroic individual in this fictitious escape from reality. However, in her life these possibilities did not exist. She was bound to an environment that had clear, detailed gender role prescriptions and both males and females were expected to strictly adhere to them.

Within this story, the narrator identifies strongly with Flora, one of the horses about to be shot. Just as the girl feels the forces of confinement, the horse feels the need to challenge her role of just an old driver or old sorrel mare (Munro 106). The horse's running and disappearance from the barn reflects a determination and courage to challenge barriers.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Boys Girls, Alice Munro's, Alice Munro, adolescent girl, determination courage, escape reality, males females,

Approximate Word count = 597
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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