This chapter was about femininity and how it’s ties to appearance. Even at a young age girls are taught that appearance is what’s important. They are looked upon by boys and other girls; adding social pressure. If a young girl does not have the right clothes or a naturally pretty face they get bullied. Guys will judge the girl, even going as far as announce their opinion about said girl. The schools help push this feminine standard on it’s young female students. A school called Woodview wanted all the cheerleaders be very attractive all the time. Cheerleading is a very gymnastic sport that can put a lot of physical strain on a person. When the school was hosting tryouts they informed the girls about the scoring. The students had to keep a smile at all times, not be fat, and keep their hair neat while doing the cheerleader performance. The school did allow some fat students on the team, but told them that they had to go on a diet to stay on the team. The school was perpetrating sexist stereotypes that made females seem as objects. This type of message would stay with them, making them very anxious about their appearance. This kind of treatment only prepares them for the time when men will view them as sex objects. For me, I had a friend who didn’t care about femininity. She was a tomboy, and her parents showed no concern for it. She also seems fine social wise at school; or it was hidden well.
4/19/2019
Sociology Blog 