Considering the role of gender in the story “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid where we see a short story where a mother is telling her daughter the way of life. For example “cook pumpkin fritters in very hot sweet oil; soak your little cloths right after you take them off”. When we look into the way of how society views gender roles it common for women to be labeled as the cooks and the cleaners. Main duty is to take care of the house and look good while doing it.

Knowing that the gender roles for men and what they are expected to do in society this story would be completely different. This new composed story would consist of rules on how to be a man. It would target being strong, powerful, a provider, a protector and independent. I feel like the story would go as written: Tuck in your shirt,drink your milk so you get big and tall, go to school come home right after because we have work to do, know ever tool in the toolbox because one day your wife’s car might need fixing, you fail keep going failure is not welcome, you fall suck them tears up I’m not raising a whimp,find a good paying job so you don’t rely on a soul, no woman wants a broke man, Don’t be scared of nothing because you are going to look like a big scaredy cat, make sure no man can laugh at you because if they can you are not at the top yet. Once you are rich don’t forget the bills neither your wife or kids ( don’t let her touch the check). Don’t pick up a pot nor a pan those won’t look good in your hands. Sweeping and mopping is not your duty go out into the yard and mow the lawn. Leave the house stuff for your wife and don’t forget to repeat these steps to your son.

The similarity in the advice for men and women is there is a set of rules that must be followed in order to fit into the expectations of society. The difference are very noticeable versus the two starting with emotions, woman are open to express their feelings freely without being judged for it. It seems that crying is normalized for women but for men if they cry it is seen as weakness which is why men are more likely to bottle up their emotions. Another is house responsibilities women were set to be the ones to cook meals and clean up such as wash dishes and do the laundry. As well as stay home and take care of the kids. While on the other hand men must go out there and do what is considered the hard labor such as working and bring home the money so they can be known as providers. Another thing is the view of strength, men are automatically categorized as stronger than women so a man must keep his character where he won’t be look to as weak.