It's Opposite Day in the Land of the Patriarchy

Picture this: Your mom comes home from work in her suit and tie. She kicks off her shoes, sits on the couch, watches TV, drinks a giant can of soda, and belches loud enough that the neighbors can hear. Meanwhile, your dad is in the kitchen cooking dinner, after having spent the whole day mopping, cleaning, washing, and going out to get groceries. He prepares dinner, sets up the table, and calls everyone to eat. Your mom gets off the couch, sits at the dinner table, and begins to talk about her day at work, and how her new coworker, Dylan, is not fit for the job. After all, he was a stay-at-home dad for 10 years, and he's a little rusty in the workplace after coming back.

Stereo (short film up above), written and directed by Ella Fields, demonstrates a world where gender stereotypes are different: They are opposite from the reality in our world today.

In this video, girls and boys are put into categories, and generally follow what is expected of them. But it is the the opposite of what usual expectations are for girls and boys.

As I watched this short film, I could not help but to think about how even in a different world where stereotypes are reversed, everyone is still put into molds, categories, or general expectations of how they are supposed to live. It is quite fascinating how as humans we must always find a way to live "comfortably," and that includes setting up a framework for how others and ourselves should be seen, like with gender stereotypes or roles.

This makes me think back to the beginning and how we were all started. The common story goes as: God made humans. God created Adam. Then He created Eve. Adam, a man, came first. Eve, a women, came second. Was this all set up from the start without even knowing it? Now I know we cannot assume this, as one had to be created first. But what if Eve was first? Would we be living a life similar to the short film Stereo up above?

This module is a truly a mind captivating one. Would the world ever be 100% equal in its treatment to women and men? It is possible that it could. But what is wise to note about hegemonic norms is that there will always be hegemonic norms. Which means that there will always be a dominant ideology being portrayed out there in the world. What is interesting about the world is that there might be amazing steps for humanity achieved, but there is always more work to be done. Women might end up being treated equally to men (second-wave feminism), but are women of color being treated the same as other women (third-wave feminism)? This might be fixed centuries from now, but are women with disabilities being treated the same when that times comes? All of these topics will always be competing again a hegemonic norm.  

It would be interesting to see a world where systems of business, media, and roles are outright rejected or transformed with the woman in mind (in relation to Marxist and radical feminism). I wonder if human nature would transform itself to where men are put into different roles or binaries, even in a more "equal" or women-led world. Would we still find a way to create oppression? As Walsh et al. mentioned when referring to gender role portrayals in sitcoms:

Many scholars argue that even when it appears that women have become more powerful characters on television, hegemonic narrative devices are often used to maintain patriarchal ideology. (2008, p. 125)

Even in a world where women are now starting to be put first (according to Walsh et al., 2008), there are still ways of oppression finding its way in. Humans are made to put things over the other. 

Maybe when it is opposite day in another dimension, women might be on top, and men are trying to fight the matriarchy, as hegemonic norms will always come first no matter what society it is. 

How would you see the world if it were opposite? Would there be oppression to or from women, even in this alternate universe? Could we ever have a truly equal world?