Modernwomenareimmersedinsocietysstereotypes

whichprojectprehistorictendenciesaswellasbeing

influencedbyinaccuratemediadepictions.

CarolynStonehill,Moderndating,Prehistoricstyle

Leadin:Todaymanywomenarejudgedbythestereotypesthatrevolvearoundtheirdatingtendencies.
Howeverthereasoningbehindthematerialisticidealsandgolddiggerterminologiesthathavebeen
associatedwithwomeninthedatingfieldhavebeentracedbehindprehistorichabitsthatweallhave
exertedinthepast.
Says:Stonehillexertsinherexplanatoryarticlethatsuchthesetendencieshavenotbeendevelopedfrom
characteristicsthatdefineswhatkindofpersontheyarebutratherfromnaturalinstinct,Drivenbythe
needtoreproduceandpropagatethespecies,theseancestorsofoursformedpatternsofmateselectionso
effectiveinprovidingfortheirneedsandthoseoftheiroffspringthataremimickedintodayssociety,
(Stonehill1).
Means:Thequotefromtheauthorfurtherexemplifiesthatdrivenwomenseekoutforqualitiesthat
indicatesuccessintheirmate,towhichwouldensurethehigherpossibilityforreproductionorevenfulfilling
needsthatthewomenmighthave.Intodayssocietythesearchfortheaspectspertainingtosuccessinmen
bywomen,aredeemedasinsensitiveornegativelyputastoomaterialistic,whichputswomeninasituation
ofbeingconstantlyjudgedintheeyesofsociety.
Matters:Theauthorrefutesthesetypicalthoughtsbystandingbehindthetendenciesofwomenand
specificallythechoiceswomenmakeinchoosingarightfulpartner.Toooftendoessocietyputdownwomen
whoseekbeneficialqualitiesinsteadofacceptingthatournaturalinstinctsleadustocertainattributes
thatwillgiveamoredefinitepromisetosurvivalorinthiscase,aprogressivelife.Howeverthisisntsaying
thatloveorgenuinityisnolongerrelativebutrathertheinitialattractioncouldbeconnectedtoattributes
likewealthandambitiouscharacter,thingsthatareassociatedwithsuccess.Reprimandingsomeonefor
wantingtobesuccessfulisalmostcounterintuitive,andsuchbehaviorinsocietyshouldrevertfrom
shamingwomentoembracingtheplainfactthateveryonewantshappinessandsuccessinlife.














CarolynStonehill,Moderndating,Prehistoricstyle
Leadin:Thedifferencesinselectionprocessesbetweenmenandwomenareveryslim,puttinglotsof
emphasisinphysicaltraitsintheattractionoftheoppositesex.Yetthereactiontotheseappealsvary
greatlyaswomenareoftenplacedbehindderogatorytermsfortheseattractions.Mediaaswellas
prehistorichabitualactionshaveinfluencedbothsexesinhowtoselectamate,howeversocietystillchooses
toplacethenegativityonfemalesratherthanmaleswhoareessentiallyactingthesameway.Says;Stonehill
includesthestatement,Present-dayattractivenessratingsarebasedsignificantlyonthisprimitive
standardstandardsofbeautyreflectanevolvedpreferenceforphysicaltraitsthataregenerally
associatedwithyouth,smoothskin,goodmuscletone,andshinyhairAdvertisementsandpopularmedia
havelongshownAmericanswhatconstitutesaphysicallyidealmate,(Stonehill2-3).
Means:Theinfluencesofmediaandhabitualactsareseenclearlyastheauthordescribesthatmale
selectionprocessesalsoviewsphysicalattractionasahugecontributor.Thedepictionoftheidealfemale
bodyhasplayedahugeroleinadvertisingwhattheidealbodyshouldlookliketomen,allthewhiletheidea
offindingafitmateforreproductiongivesofftheimplicationsofhowthefemaleshouldbe,orevenmore
frightful,howawoman'sbodyneedstobe.
Matters:Theissuethattheauthorisemphasizingisthestereotypethatawomenshouldtakecareof
herselfandfitintothesemoldsthatmediaandamanhasmadeinordertofitinortofindapartner.
Destructivebodyimagesthatleadswomenthatdon'tfallintothecategoriesofslimorproportionateget
identifiedasunwantedorgetsblamedbybeingneglectfulofthemselves.Datingtendenciesfromwoman
thatleantowardssuccessfulfactorsfromamanaregivenwithmuchcriticismwhileamanthatjudgestheir
potentialmatesorattractionlevelsbasedontheirphysicalappearanceandhowitfitsintothestandardsof
anyonebutthewomenthemselves,aredeemedasjustifiable.Thesestereotypesofthetypicalwomenin
mediaaswellastheidealsthathavebeenintegratedintosocietyaboutwomenandimagehavefully
drownedoutthefactthatnothingaboutimagesaretypicalandmenshouldn'tbeexpectedaperfectlyslim,
smoothskin,curvywomenallthetime.Evenmoreso,byadvocatingandspreadingtheseimages,womenare
immersedintheirstereotypesmorethaneverevenplayingintoitsstandardsinordertobedeemedas
suitableforsociety.

MindyKaling,TypesofWomeninRomanticComediesWhoAreNotReal
Leadin:Womenthatareshowninmediasuchasfilmsandsuchhavealwayssetthetoneforthetypesof
womenthereareinreallife.Kalingtakesastepandstatesotherwise,thatthesewomenthatpeopleseein
themoviesarenotrealisticandthuslyshouldnotbesettingthestandardsforwomenoractasidealtypes
formen.
Says:Theauthoradds,SoitmakessensethatinthisworldtherearemanyspecimensofwomenwhoIdo
notthinkexistinreallife,likevulcansorUFOpeopleorwhatever,(Kaling2).
Means:Theauthorfurtheraccentuatesthefactthatthesewomenthatareportrayedinfilmsareas
realisticasfictionalcharactersare.
Matters:Thefactthatsocietyrevolveshowwomenareseenorshouldactlikerestrictsthewomenbyplacing
invalidstandardsthattheyarecompliedtofollow.Thestereotypesoftheperfectwomenortheidealtype
ofmostmeninmoviesconsistsofcharacterssuchastheklutzortheetherealweirdoaskalingdescribed,
displaywomenastwodimensionalandnotallowingtheroomforwomentobethemselveshavingdifferent
qualitiesthatconstituteswhotheyreallyareratherthanonetypeofwoman.Thesemoviesultimatelyhave
affectedsocietyinawaythathaveclassifiedwomenintotheirowntermswithoutevenrealizingthatitisa
fictionalcharacterandnotarealistictype.

MindyKaling,TypesofWomeninRomanticComediesWhoAreNotReal
Leadin;Insocietytoday,thedemographicofacareerwomanishigherthanever,provingthattheimageofa
womenischanging.Howeverthedepictionsofacareerwomaninmedianowadaysputsthemwith
stereotypesthatarenotexactlypositive.
Says:Kalingreinforcesthisideabystating,Iamslightlyoffendedbythewaybusyworkingwomenmyage
arepresentedinfilmIdidntcompletelyforgethowtobeniceorfemininebecauseIhaveacareer,(Kaling
3).
Means:Theimagethatmediaandthefilmindustrydepicttheworkingwomanchangestheirimageand
describesthemasuptight,withoutanyfemininequalities.
Matters:Thewholeideaofwomenworkinginjobsthatwereoncemadeonlyexclusivelyformen,isforthem
tobeintegratedintosocietyasequallyasamale.However,bythesedepictionsofthestereotypicalcareer
women,itstilldepictsthemasaman-likewomen,withnowomen-likequalities.Womenworkinginour
societiesdonotsacrificetheirfemininityfortheirjob,andacceptingtherealitythatworkingwomenarestill
distinctivelywomenismoreimportantthanever.Thesestereotypesbreaksawayattheempowermentfor
women,thatawomenneedstobethisuptightfigureinorderforsocietytotakeherseriously.Society
shouldinsteadembracethequalitiesofwomenwhetherworkingornot,ratherthanreplacetheirimagewith
onethatismoreprofessionalasthefilmindustryhasdisplayedit.WomentodaysuchasHillaryClinton,
playssuchahugeroleinpolitics,yetsheisstillawifeandmotherandthatcaring/femininesideisnot
omittedbecauseofheroccupation.Inourworldtoday,acceptingtheseimagesofwomenwiththeirown
characteristicsinourworkingforcesratherthanreplacingitwithonethatmimicsmalesinmedia.


JudyBrady,IWantaWife
 Womensinceprehistorictimeshavebeenviewedasthecaregiverinchargeofhouseholdactivities
aswellasmaintaininganinferiorrolewithinthehouse.Womenwereexpectedtosubmissivebeingswhose
purposewastocomplytotheirhusbandsdemandsandnothaveanimportantroleinthecontributionto
society.
Says:Essentially,thewordwifewasalabelthatjustifiedtheunjustmannertohowwomenweretreatedas
awifesdutiesconsistedofarrang[ing]tolosetimeatworkwhilemaking]sure[the]childreneatproperly
andkeptcleanaccordingtoJudyBradyinheressay,IWantaWife(Brady).
Means:Regardlessifwomenadvancedsociallybybeinggiventheopportunitytoworkinthebusiness
industry,theyarestilldeemedasinferiorsincesocialpressuresexpectwomentoequallybalancethelifeof
amother,wifeandemployee.
Matters:Womenareexpectedtobeaperfectmotherwhoemotionallyandphysicallyinvesttheirtimein
theirchildrenwhileavoidingtotaketimeoffofwork.Ifwomenprioritizeworkovertheirchildren,theyare
viewedasignorantindividualswhoweresupposetosuccumbtotheirmaternalinstinct,butifwomenutilize
theirworkhourstocarefortheirchildren,theyareviewedasirresponsiblebeingswhoarenotcapableof
preservingtheirjob.Essentially,awoman'spurposeaccordingtosocietalexpectationsistocontribute
withinthehouseholdbycaringfortheirchildrenandsupportingtheirhusbandbyprovidingthema
comfortableenvironmentinwhichtheycanrelaxafterworkingfortheirfamily.

JudyBrady,IWantaWife
Thetermwiferepresentsamodernmeaningforamaidwhocanexcelintheirdutiesbycomplying
totheirhusbandsdemandsandnotwishingforanythinginreturn.Throughouthistorictimes,womenhave
beendeprivedoftheirsocialrightswhichwasjustifiedbyassumingthatthemostqualifiedplacethatwould
allowawomantoprosperisintheirownhome.
Says:Specifically,awomanwouldbeabletoreachtheirfullpotentialiftheybecamethewifeofasuccessful
businessman;thereforethewifewouldbeexpectedtotakecareof[herhusbands]physicalneedsby
keepinghisclothesclean,ironed,[and]mendedbutnotbother[him]withramblingcomplaintsabouta
wifesdutiesashehasthelibertytoreplace[his]presentwifewithanotherone(Brady).
Means:ThesatiricalessayreflectsBradysresentmentofbeinganunappreciatedwifeherselfasshevents
outherfrustrationsbydescribingtheendlesslistofdutiesthatshemustcomplete.Wivesareviewedas
inferiorbeingsnomorethanobjectsthatcanbedictatedonwhathouseholdchoresmustbecompletedyet
cannotvoiceouttheiropinionstotheirownhusband.
Matters:Wivescaneasilybereplacedbytheirhusbandsyetarenotentitledtohavemorethanonepartner
sinceshewouldconsideredfloozy.Societyacceptsthefactthatmencanhavemultiplepartnerssinceit
portraystheirmasculinityyetwomenarelookeddownuponwhentheyhaverelationswithmorethanone
individualandwouldbeviewedaspromiscuous.Womenhavebeendeprivedoftheirsocialrightsastheyare
entitledtocontributetosocietyasamotherorwifewhoinveststheirtimecompletinghouseholddutiesyet
arepressuredandlookeddownuponiftheydecidetoachievetheirsuccessotherthanthetraditional
femininepathway.

DeborahTannenButWhatDoYouMean?
 Amanandawomanworkinginthesamerestaurantgivetwooftheirclients(bothofwhomaremen)
thesamerecommendation,forthetwohavethesametasteinfood.Themansclientimmediatelyordersthe
foodgiven,andwhenitcomes,heenjoysit,thankstheman,andgiveshimalargetip.Thewomansclient
continuesaskingthesamequestion,hesitantlyordersthefood,callsforthemanagerwhenthefoodcomes,
eatssilentlyandangrily,andleaveswithoutasingletipforthewoman.Onemaywonder,howonearthdid
thisenduphappening?Didnttheysaythesamething?Yes,theydid,butTannenexplainsthatitismore
thanwhattheysaid,andhowthetwopeopleheldthemselves.
Says:Sheexplainsthatmenandwomenareraisedtospeakwithdifferentconnotations,resultingin

differenttypesofresponses.Thesedifferentconnotationsofspeecheasilychangehowothersmayviewa

manorawoman.

womenareoutinaposition where they feel they must apologize, even if the other party is
at fault (tannen 2). This explains the sexism incloved in For example, Tannen explains
that women are told they apologize too much because it is considered an example of
putting oneself down. However, she goes on to explain the mentality of a woman in
comparison of a man, and Tannen goes in depth about how an apology is the first step
in a two step ritual where each party will take half the blame (Tannen 1).
Means: Deborah Tannen is trying to show her readers the mindset behind the words a
woman says with the example of an apology. To do so, she had to reveal the dirty truth
behind why women say certain things by telling readers prior to this example that men
are raised to speak while being the superior while women are raised to speak as the
inferior. Therefore, the apologies women are blamed for giving out too much are not
necessarily apologies, but reassurance that the result was not the intention.
Matters: By doing so, Tannen brings her readers to a deeper understanding about the
connotations of everyday speech used in todays society. This is significant for it allows
readers to, in a sense, wake up and smell the roses, for the constant unconscious
apologies given by women are the very things that make women appear small.
However, readers also realize that a woman who does not apologize in a situation
where she must apologize is often judged for being overconfident and cocky. This is the
result of societys views on men and women, and it shows readers how much society
implemented the idea that men are and will always be superior to women.
 Deborah Tannen But What Do You Mean?
Tannenlatergoesontoexplaintheconspiraciesindifferenttypesofpolitenessandetiquette
amongthedifferentconnotationsofspeech.Shetouchesonasubjectthatnotmanypeopleputalot
thoughtinto-thankyou's.
Says:Tannenexplainstoherreadersthatwomenusethanksasanautomaticconversationstarterand
closer,evenwhentheresliterallynothingtosaythankyoufor(Tannen3).
Means:DeborahTannenexplainstheoverabundanceofthankyousgivenbywomenwhilemendonotthank
othersformanythings.Shegoesontoelaborateonthistogetherreaderstounderstandthestyleof
upbringingwomenareforcedtoexperience,andhowdifferentitistomens.
Matters:Thisbringsherfemalereaderstocometherealizationthatthankyouissaidatleasttentimesby
themeveryday,evenwhentheydonthaveto.Notonlythat,butwomenfeelobligedtosaythankyoufor
thingswhereathankyouisnotnecessary,likeattendingameeting,sendingpaperstoedit,etc.Thereare
thingswomensaytofeelliketheyareproperandapprovedofintodayssociety,andsayingthankyoulikea
brokenrobotis,unfortunately,oneofthem.Furthermore,awomanwhodoesnotthanksomeonefor
somethingshedidnothavetosaythankyoufor,sheissuddenlyseenasrudeandinsensitive,likemanymen
whoneversaythankyoutowomen.

Table of Contents
1. Deborah Tannen, But What Do You Mean?
2. Judy Brady, I Want a Wife
3. Mindy Kaling, Types of Women in Romantic Comedies Who Are Not Real
4. Carolyn Stonehill, Modern dating, Prehistoric style