Society's View

After the reading on gender and sexuality along with the in class viewing of Ma Vie En Rose, I began to agree more on the idea of how gender and sexuality are socially constructed. Everyone "do gender" and society only sees being straight as the only "right" way. I can see where the society gets this idea from; based on religions (Christianity) and the fact that this is how it has always been.

Although one may have different opinions and point of views on gay, transsexual, bi-sexual, etc., we certainly do not have the right to judge someone based on their sexuality. However society as a whole seems to gather up stereotypes about them and construct a notion on how women and men are suppose to act. We growing up, learn about doing gender differently based on one's biological sex (born male or female). Relating these ideas to the film and our class discussion, Ludovic, the youngest boy was able to see both his sister and brother grow up acting differently. Ludovic seemed to be more interested in girl stuff instead of boys, and acted as if he was a girl; by wearing dresses and make up. The more and more he did girl stuff, he began to feel that his conscious was actually a girl that is trapped in a boys body, and that it was God's mistake. Also his parents and the whole neighborhood did not approve of his behavior because it was not how boy was suppose to act.

Ludovic's parents did not approve because they were brought up following of the socially constructed sexuality, gender. But for someone in young age that doesn't fully understand the concept of sexuality and how to "do gender" in this case Ludovic, he felt that he could act as a girl and become a girl. For example, he though getting a stomachache called period meant becoming a real women.

Lorber says that "It is not the result of sex, procreation, physiology, anatomy, hormones, or genetic predispositions. It is produced and maintained by identifiable social process and built into the general social structure..." Even though these are true when looking at our society, who really has the right to set the rules on how it is suppose to be? Majority of the population agrees with straight being the right way, it still don't feel that it doesn't necessarily make it right.

In the film, Ludovic's grandma seemed to understand Ludovic because she herself did not want to follow the stereotypical "grandma" and had her own fantasy of still being young, similar to what Ludovic was going through. Like i mentioned, I feel that most minorities(gay, bisexual, etc.)are afraid to speak up because of the consequence of getting disapproved by the society.

Hoon Song