February 2021

“For men the question is still powerful” : we have worked so hard to be sure women have what they want that we have almost forgotten that men have some unreasonable standards too

“He is so gay” : the realization that we connect sexuality to this idea is even harder to hear for a guy because it is drilled into their heads this is wrong, women are allowed to be strong today but men are not allowed to show emotion still

“Other guys are constantly watching us” : While girls are catty it is easy to get over rumors, it is harder to get over something people have observed and judged you on as if you have done something wrong

“The testing starts early” : Men are taught from a very young age that to be a man when they grow up they must act a certain way

I think the piece “Shrinking Women” is relating how the gender norms determined by society shape who you identify with as an individual. When Myers speaks about how the family has a traditional mindset on gender roles, she is slowly expressing herself as an individual every time she states her feelings or response to the situations she brings up. I can relate to this piece because many times when I say I would like to be a surgeon I have had many people with traditional beliefs ask why I would not like to be a mom or hold a less time consuming job in order to “fulfill my role as a woman or mother”. I feel this shapes my identity every time someone asks me. It makes me believe in what I am doing even more and strive to be even better than their husbands who leave them home with their kids. I think this piece should only be spoken. I feel the effect of a matter of fact voice with the emotion behind the writing is important. I feel as women we aren’t heard as often if a piece is viewed as too dramatic or too emotional.