The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

Valentine’s Day for them

Valentines Day for them
Valentine’s Day. A stereotypical day where males shower their partners with chocolate, flowers, and love. However, some students are countering the stereotypical male-lead nature of the holiday and are encouraging a balance of gender roles. Four MVHS students and staff members share their opinions on Valentine’s day gender roles and its possible shift.

Screen Shot 2016-02-04 at 1.50.45 PMPersonally, [my views] don’t have anything with me being agender, or a female, but it was just the person I am. I feel that once people become more comfortable in coming out with their sexual orientation and gender identity [other people] will be more accepting of gender roles [in Valentine’s Day].Screen Shot 2016-02-04 at 1.59.36 PM
Society has accepted more of a male-dominance role [in Valentine’s Day], so if we wanted to switch that, that would be to have people of different sexualities or people of different gender identities to step up to the dominant role.

Screen Shot 2016-02-04 at 1.50.53 PMIn my experience, my boyfriend doesn’t care about the need to buy me chocolate or anything else because it’s not about that for us. It’s about being with your loved one and celebrating your relationship. On the last Valentine’s Day we both decided what do. It was just a day to spend together and there weren’t specific gender roles. However, on social media there are still people posting that “I don’t have a boyfriend” and “Valentine’s Day is not for me” that encourage stereotypical gender roles.

Screen Shot 2016-02-04 at 1.51.00 PM[Valentine’s Day] is more male-dominant because it is expected that the guy gives the girl chocolates and flowers, and the women just waits for him to provide that. I feel like there should be a shift because if you are [in a relationship], you expect the guy to do all of this romantic stuff, and if he doesn’t, then you are ashamed or disappointed in him. When in reality, it should shift in both ways. The woman should do something for the guy and the guy should do something for the woman. Try shifting it around. Maybe let the girl plan out the activity and the guy plan out the location so that way it is more even spread. For example, in mini-golf, the guy has to teach the girl to play, but in dancing, a female can take the lead more.

Screen Shot 2016-02-04 at 1.51.09 PMI’m not into traditional roles. Don’t always buy into the cultural consumer dominant views on “this is a box of candy and I give it to my sweetheart”. I think it would be much better if it was fluid and more open and isn’t defined by biological [aspects]. I would really like it to be more on the human level. Our gender roles are learned but are also confining. A lot of it is about the male giving things to the female. To go against that, females would have to take a more dominant role. It’s about having the courage. Don’t let [others] define who you are, you define who you are.

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