Baker 1 Writers Letter After reading ​
Luna​
, I concluded that one of the most predominant themes of the novel was dealing with traditional gender roles and norms in modern society. Not only does this theme manifest itself in Luna, but is also a continued exploration for Regan. Regan is witness to the deconstruction of traditional gender norms almost daily due to her relationship with Liam. Regan represents a more progressive standpoint on the abolishment of gender roles, often voicing her disgust with Mr. Baruch and her Father. The novel also provided insight into some of the more traditional viewpoints on gender roles in the character of Mr. O’Neil. Through analysis, I was hoping to explore these characters reactions to various gender stereotypes and understand through Peters narrative how society views gender roles. When writing this analysis, I tried to target and appeal to individuals who are interested in understanding how thought on gender and its construction has progressed throughout the decades. One of the most interesting ideas that I came across when researching for this topic was the idea that gender is a socially constructed idea. I had never really given much thought to this, but find it fascinating, especially since we are socialized from a very young age regarding gender and gender roles. From my zero draft, to my rough draft and on to my final draft, my essay and thought process underwent a lot of changes, which provided many difficulties in itself. I decided to change my topic entirely and shift towards what I felt was a more relevant topic in modern day society; a concept I was hoping to tie in with the book’s main themes. With a new topic, I was able to make connections into the past and reveal the trends of modern society in terms of gender roles. Baker 2 Rachel Baker ENG 112 Jones Inquiry #2 4/3/14 Challenging gender roles in ​
Luna Oxford dictionary refers to the word “Gender” as the state of being male or female. This definition serves as an umbrella term and excludes various identities that exist beyond the confines of gender. What this dictionary definition does not account for is the notion that the term “gender” is an out­dated and traditional view of societal and cultural norms bestowed upon an individual at birth.s In her novel ​
Luna​
, Julie Anne Peters seeks to recognize the difficulties of associating with a concrete idea of gender and works to dispel these traditional gender norms. It is evident that Peters uses a plethora of examples in her novel that demonstrate how individuals and society view traditional gender norms. Through analysis of outside sources and Peters’s writings, I explore how gender roles have been shaped over time and use the personal examples of characters in Peter’s novel to explore present day opinions on gender norms and how they have been challenged. Traditional gender roles have existed since the beginning of time. Women have traditionally been viewed as the caregivers and more emotionally vulnerable. Men, on the other hand, are expected to be both stronger physically and emotionally, and are to be the sole providers for the family. Women were often expected to demonstrate complete and total Baker 3 obedience to their husbands and were subjected to strict laws that essentially deemed them property of their husbands (Filene). Not until the 1960’s and 70’s did there begin to be a social revolution that sought to reverse traditional gender roles. Sexual liberation came with identity liberation, and only recently has there been open discussion. Scholars and scientists alike debate question of whether gender characteristics and roles are biological and inherent or if they are socially constructed. Scientists have always recognized that there were distinct biological differences between men and women, but it is only recently that there has become an understanding that personality traits and character are not confined by the constructs of gender. This idea of overlapping gender roles has lead to a recent challenging of traditional classified gender norms. Before delving into the prominent examples of gender norms in Peter’s novel, it is essential to obtain a background on the subject of gender roles. Even before a child is born, the process of gender socialization has already begun (Zosuls 826). Parents begin to prepare for the presence of a baby girl with pink, dolls, and princesses or the arrival of a baby boy with blue, racecars and dinosaurs. Rather than allowing for the child to freely associate with an identity, they are thrust into a society where they are forced to be subject to a singular sex and its inherited societal roles .There is new evidence that as early as preschool, children begin to constitute their own norms, allowing an escape from the efforts of schools and parents to shape and individualize them by creating their own normative molds (Alder 170). This evidence is highlighted in the way that Liam was able to find his own inner identity as a female, but was able to conceal it from his parents, using his own mold to shape what gender meant to him. Baker 4 On the individual level, Peters illustrates modern frustration with traditional gender roles in the characters of Liam and Regan. Regan comes in contact with individuals who seek to perpetuate traditional views on gender such as her father and teacher, Mr. Bruchac. On the contrary, she also supports her brother Liam who is seeking a new identity outside of common gender roles and characteristics. We first witness Regan’s resentment towards gender norms when she is told by her father that she is to cook dinner instead of her brother who is eager to do it. Regan retaliates by stating ; “‘Why is it my job?” I flared. Forget what I said about him not being sexist. “I hate to cook. Let Liam do it if he wants to. He’s better’” (Peters, 10). Regan does not understand the relevance of gender role expectations and questions why people cannot just accept one and other. Regan detests the stereotype that the womans place is in the home, and is always challenging her father’s traditional views on gender by defying him and proving that she will not be defined by outdated norms. Regan represents a modern take on traditional roles, commonly voicing her disgust for these standardized norms. On the contrast, the character of Regan and Liam’s father, Mr. O’Neil, harkens back to the firm belief in traditional gender norms, and expresses the view of the older generation. The father wishes for Liam to pursue “masculine” interests, such as trying out for the baseball team (Peters, 8). Regan’s father wishes to conform to societal rules and expectation of gender roles that he has been socialized to follow his entire life. One of the most prevalent examples of his belief in constructed gender roles is when he is laid off from his job at the home depot. After the loss of his job, the father must accept a minimal pay job, now earning less than his successful entrepreneur wife. This frustrates the father who believes that it is the man’s job to be the breadwinner of the family. Regan observes this frustration in the quote; “​
He wasn't crazy about Baker 5 Mom's job. Specifically, her elevating her own status from Wife and Mother to More Significant Other. Not that he was sexist or anything, just boring and conventional” (Peters 7). This quotation also brings into question if it possible to separate sexism from adherence to traditional gender roles. After being socialized in a period when men were viewed as the sole breadwinners and providers for the household, it is easy to see why this female status elevation would not be supported by Mr. O’Neil. The scholar Ruth Weinclaw explains the source of why modern gender roles prevent couples from complete equality stating that “​
This situation originated due to biological considerations such as the need for women to nurse a child and men being physiologically more suited to face the dangers of the outside world” (Weinclaw).​
In modern society, gender income inequality still largely remains an issue correlated to gender norms of the past. ​
​
According to some scholars, men resist female empowerment on many levels, and have a highly ingrained sense of patriarchy (Fetterolf). While modern opinion on female achievement is becoming more moderate, it is clear in the character of Mr. O’Neil that some hostilities still exist to the challenging of traditional gender roles. The community in which the O’Neils live also serves as study on transformation of traditional gender roles. Regan recognizes the communities inability to cope with change within gender roles when she states “The gender scales didn’t extend equidistant in both directions. For example, if you were a girl you could be off­the­scale feminine and that’d be fine, but if you acted of felt just a little too masculine, you were a dyke.” (Peters 51). This passage illustrates the way that the community and society see gender as an identification. Teenagers must worry if they fit inside gender norms enough to keep dominant society happy. This example resonates with the character of Liam, he conceals his true identity in order to prevent harassment and to Baker 6 essentially “trick” himself into fitting in. Each choice and measure of masculinity and femininity is under the scrutiny of the people of the community. Liam is constantly tormented by the school bully for being too “feminine”, an arbitrary standard that was no doubt imposed by the community. Gender norms vary from community to community, depending on how progressive they are. It is clear that the O’Neil’s community is still adjusting to modern gender roles and gender identification by the way that they react to Liam’s transition. When attempting to go out as his true persona of Luna for the second time, Liam is oblivious to the stares he receives from the other townspeople in the mall and at the restaurant. It is evident that in order to reconcile his inner identity, Liam must ignore the social constructs of traditional gender roles and find his true identity. While it may seem as though the entire community is close­minded towards challenging traditional gender stereotypes, the Matera family does just this. Regan babysits for the Matera’s, an progressive family that encourages their children to explore their identities. Both of the parents refuse to acknowledge traditional gender roles and allow their children to play with both “boy” and “girl” toys. The example of the Matera family is more representative of the accepting attitude that has been adopted by modern society, allowing young children and even adults to challenge traditional gender barriers and confines in order to create a more understanding and secure community. In conclusion, it is clear that certain traditional gender roles are in existence today. It is hard to tell if we as a society will ever completely rid ourselves from these traditional views, but it is evident from research and examples in ​
Luna​
that society and individuals are becoming more open to disposing of the socially constructed idea of gender. It is apparent that men and women Baker 7 have vast biological differences, but it is even more indisputable that there is no way to distinguish strictly feminine or masculine traits or character aspects. What makes us more apt to identify as male or female is what we are socialized to prefer. Baker 8 Works Cited Adler, Patricia A. "Socialization to Gender Roles: Popularity among Elementary School Boys and Girls." ​
Sociology of Education​
65.3 (1992): 169­87. ​
JSTOR​
. Web. 03 Apr. 2015. Fetterolf, Janell C. "Gender and Sexual Economics Do Women View Sex as a Female Commodity?" ​
Psychological Science​
(2014): n. pag. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. Filene, Peter G. ​
Him/Her/Self: Sex Roles In Modern America​
. n.p.: 1986. ​
Gender Studies Database​
. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. Peters, Julie Anne. ​
Luna: A Novel​
. New York: Little, Brown, 2004. Print. Wienclaw, Ruth. Gender Roles. N.p.: Research Starters Sociology, 2009. Online Edition. Zosuls, Kristina, et al. "Gender Development Research In Sex Roles: Historical Trends And Future Directions." ​
Sex Roles ​
64.11/12 (2011): 826­842. ​
Gender Studies Database​
. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. Baker 9 Inquiry #2 Rubric 1.
Organization/Structure: ​
Does your analysis have an engaging and logical organization and structure? Do you have an interesting introduction that sets up your argument and a conclusion that addresses larger contextual issues? <­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­x­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­> Below Expectations
Meets Expectations
Exceeds Expectations 2.
Voice/Style: ​
Are your ideas articulated using academic language without compromising your personal ethos? Is your expository writing style overwhelmed by typographical errors that hinder the reading experience? <­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­x­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­> Below Expectations
Meets Expectations
Exceeds Expectations 3.
Link to Cultural/Historical Context: ​
Do you have close readings of passages in conjunction with scholarly and/or popular sources to create a connection between the text and a cultural or historical phenomenon? <­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­x­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­> Below Expectations
Meets Expectations
Exceeds Expectations 4.
Argument: ​
Do you have a clear argument that goes beyond simply “this text is more complex than it appears to be?” Do you backup your stance using specific literary examples and scholarly evidence? <­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­x­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­> Below Expectations
Meets Expectations
Exceeds Expectations 5.
Format Adherence: ​
Does the paper follow the standard MLA formatting guidelines? Have you also made sure to cite ALL of your sources in the correct formatting (including the text itself)? Have you met the word count? <­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­x­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­> Below Expectations
Meets Expectations
Exceeds Expectations Great paper, Rachel! I think the contextualization you provide with the social revolution works really well in conjunction with the novel. You also have a really good base of research that you weave seamlessly with literary examples. And your intro was flawless. Excellent! (PS you should consider submitting this for publication in next year’s CCM!) 97/100 (+3)