Gender by Circumstance

A detailed Summary of Gender by Circumstance

Devor claims that our gender is chosen, something that we show with our behavior in social situations. However, after close observation, it becomes apparent that in some circumstances, the gender line is blurred, and in others it is not. So why the difference? What makes people feel as though they must act one way in one situation, and another in a different one? Could someone's gender role be determined by something as minute as circumstance or subculture?

In the first situation, a school setting, males and females tended to adhere to the traditional gender roles. Body posture is the most noticeable difference between the two genders. The males in the room make themselves very comfortable-one sprawls on the couch, and another twirls the cord of the mini-blind, creating a "bubble" around him that no one can occupy, unless they want to get beaten to death. The males sit with their legs apart, most of them looking very comfortable, and looking around the room in a way that says "I own this space." Their belongings take up a lot of the table space, expressing ownership in another way. One sole male sits off to himself, with his hands held close to his body, but his legs crossed in a "masculine" way. Another male stomps about the r

In speech, they are much the same. Most "goth" males do not seem to have the need to yell in order to be heard, nor do they dominate the conversation. In fact, they tend

However, in considering the goth culture, they seem to be completely untrue. Male and female goths act almost entirely the same. This does NOT directly support Devor's ideas that status inequalities cause male and female behavior. Goth males and females mainly consider themselves equals-to goths, gender doesn't matter. However, because of this belief, it also becomes evident that, perhaps, status inequalities ARE the reasons the goths act the way they do. Goths use androgyny and gender-bending to speak

"Goth" girls speak just as much as males do. They also gesture with their hands, and tell jokes, but they do not seem to be speaking in a way designed to appease the males. They act just the same, laughing, smiling, and all, and seem to consider themselves as equals with their male companions. They do not tilt their heads-instead, they look straight ahead, or maintain eye contact with the person they are talking to, continuing the pattern seen in the "Goth" community.

The females dress in the same attire as the males, with the exception of one girl dressed in a skirt and boots. Their body posture, still, is the same as the males in that they mostly sit or stand with their legs apart and arms close to their body. One girl actually leads the group that she is with while the males in the group take their cues from her-a direct role-reversal of the groups of so-called "normal" people enjoying a night in Southside. In speech, the same thing happens.

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Gothic Quickly, male female, status inequalities, legs apart, goth community, male female behavior, body posture, eye contact, males females, gender roles, female behavior, close body, dominate conversation tend, eye contact person, goth males females,

Approximate Word count = 1585
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous