Gender Stereotypes And Gender Roles

Gender ideologies have played a crucial role in shaping contemporary society. These ideologies are still present and continue to mould the attitudes and roles of both men and women. Gender ideologies may be referred to the expected roles that both men and women must accomplish. This reference may illustrate that men must be working and be the head of the family while women must stay at home and look after her children. The novel, Brick Lane and the collection of stories, Interpreter of Maladies both constitute of the influence of the homeland in the diasporic experiences.

Primarily, Brick Lane illustrates the life story and growth of two sisters, Nazneen and Hasina from Bangladesh. Hasina then elopes and marries the man she was in love with and Nazneen shortly after moved to London to start her arranged marriage life with Chanu. The setting therefore takes place in both Bangladesh, mostly Dhaka, and Brick Lane, a street in East London, England. Both characters Nazneen and Chanu are explored are explored in relation to their influence of gender ideologies.

Additionally, the reader first meets Nazneen as the story commences as Nazneen’s mother gives birth to her. The sight is clearly explained but also remarkable, as the midwife, declares that the baby is dead. However, when the newborn baby makes little cry, the three women there suggest that there is hope for the baby’s survival, although she is very weak. Rupban is left to decide whether she should send her weak baby to the hospital or just see what Fate will do. In spite of her sister-in-law’s wish, Rupban declared that they must not obstruct Fate. This prospect therefore becomes very significant for Nazneen’s view on her life.

Nazneen, at the age of eighteen is arranged to...

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...her ways to move away from a traditional Hindu conception of wifehood. Although it is through Westernization, Twinkle can therefore be seen as a unique individual while conforming to the gender ideologies of women in the West.

In closing, gender ideologies are present in both societies within the novel and short story. It helped in accentuating the message across to the readers but most importantly, the readers saw the different ways of thinking from both societies. However, it can be said that not all men are supposed to be bread winners and head of the home, women can do the same but it is seen as the norm for her to stay at home and cook, clean, wash and look after children but clearly these two contradicting arguments may represent both the West and the East. Thus, it can be said that both gender ideologies may be valid but they are useful in their each ways.