My, oh my, where do I even start about these gender norms in the Southern culture? It’s like a pot of grits that’s been simmering on the stove for way too long, thick and hard to stir. Folks down here, they got these ideas about how men and women should be, and Lord, it’s like trying to separate a two-headed calf sometimes.
Man’s Job and Woman’s Job
First off, you got your man’s job and your woman’s job. Men, they’re supposed to be all tough and strong, like an old oak tree. Bringin’ home the bacon, they say. They work outside, get all dirty, fix things that are broke. Women, on the other hand, well, they’re supposed to keep the house clean, cook the meals, and raise the young’uns. Like a hen tending to her chicks. It ain’t necessarily bad, but it’s as expected as the sun coming up in the east.
Men are Strong, Women are Polite
And don’t even get me started on how men are supposed to act. Strong, silent types, most of ’em. Don’t show their feelings, ‘less it’s anger. Women? They gotta be polite, accommodating, like a sweet tea on a hot summer day. Always smilin’, never causin’ a fuss. That’s what they say, anyway. These Southern culture gender roles, they’re drilled into you from when you’re knee-high to a grasshopper.
- Men are tough.
- Men don’t cry.
- Women are gentle.
- Women should be seen and not heard.
Girls Dress Like Girls, Boys Don’t
Then you got the way folks dress. Girls in dresses, all pink and frilly, like a prize-winning rose at the county fair. Boys in their overalls and boots, ready to get muddy. Now, there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that, but what if a girl wants to wear overalls? Or a boy likes the color pink? Well, that’s where the trouble starts. Folks start to talk, like a bunch of crows in a cornfield. Breaking cultural norms, it ain’t easy. Not everyone get it, this raising awareness is hard.
It Is What It Is
I reckon these gender norms, they ain’t all bad. They give folks a sense of who they are, like a fence around a property. But sometimes, that fence can feel like a cage. Especially if you don’t fit in the little boxes folks want to put you in. Like if you are into Southern female rappers, you might feel a little different.
Changin’ Times
Things are changin’, though. Slowly, like molasses in January. More and more folks are startin’ to question these old ways. They’re seein’ that men can be gentle, and women can be strong. That it’s okay for boys to cry and girls to get dirty. It’s like plantin’ a new kind of seed, one that doesn’t care about the old rules, shift gender norms, they say. And that’s a good thing, I reckon. Sexism, misogyny, those are big words, but all they mean is treatin’ folks badly cause of who they are. And that ain’t right, no sir.
It’s about Bein’ Yourself
In the end, I think it’s all about bein’ yourself. Whether you’re a man or a woman, or somethin’ in between. Whether you like to wear dresses or overalls, or both. It’s about being who you are, and not lettin’ anyone tell you different. Like a wildflower growin’ by the side of the road, just bein’ itself, no matter what. No need to break expectations, just be yourself.
Still Got a Ways to Go
We still got a ways to go, though. These old ideas, they’re like weeds in a garden. You gotta keep pullin’ ’em out, over and over again. But I’m hopeful. I see the young folks, and they’re different. They don’t care so much about these old rules. They’re like a breath of fresh air, blowin’ away the dust. And that’s somethin’ to be grateful for, I reckon.
It’s a hard thing, changin’ the way folks think. But it ain’t impossible. Like trainin’ a mule, it takes time and patience. But eventually, you can get that mule to go where you want it to. And I believe we can do the same with these gender norms. We can get folks to see that there’s more than one way to be a man, and more than one way to be a woman. That we’re all just people, tryin’ to make our way in this world. And that’s all that really matters, ain’t it?
