Coming from a Hispanic background, this is something I hope many individuals from my culture learn to adapt- to be able to live without gender roles and stereotyping to get in the way. In our culture, it is common ground for women to tend to every one of their husband’s needs. These needs are simple things that men don’t need the assistance of a woman to do but is seen as normal such as serving them a plate of food, laying out and washing their husband’s clothing, and depending on the men to provide financially while they take care of the kids at home. I am glad to see this change, at least in mainstream America because it signifies how far we have come from the classic gender roles and stereotyping many of us are still accustomed to. The excerpt from “Feminist Politics: Where We Stand” by Bell Hooks takes a stand to demonstrate how male domination in society victimizes, exploits, and oppresses women in every way shape and form.

This would be an example of how women are gaining more sovereignty over their lives as the woman in the picture now doesn’t have to cook and doesn’t have a man looming over her pressuring her to fit into the gender stereotype. The article states that women were bound to work service jobs or be housewives or otherwise be discriminated against in the workplace, a way of thinking I see that my culture has yet to let go of. Although women are being more recognized for their strength and power, their sovereignty remains in danger as they allow for the men to be the sole providers of the house while they stay at home and tend to their husband’s every need to make them happy. Relationships in general should be equal and a two-way road for respect and treating women as if they are objects goes against that and turns it into a one way street.

“Sex and gender 101” by Kyl Myers states that, as a society, because we view the difference of one chromosome to be so important that we even raise the different genders to act and behave differently as well. Myers states that “… boys are taught and expected to be tough, risk-taking, rowdy, athletic, strong, aggressive…uninterested in domestic chores and care-taking, unromantic…” while girls are taught to be “…soft, submissive, cautious, delicate, graceful, prissy, pretty, interested in domestic chores and care-taking, romantic…” when these are qualities that shouldn’t be assigned in the first place. Everyone grows up differently and are interested in different things and to assign someone to act a certain way is to strip them of their free will and sovereignty. As a society, we should strive to be like this poster, straying away from the classic gender roles and stereotypes and allowing women to be freer with their choices without limiting them to certain duties or occupations. Living in a society where the patriarchy has all the power is toxic and unhealthy because it does not allow for everyone to live the way they please, only in the way that pleases the men in power, and I believe that is something that should be changed moving forward.