Evolving Tigers & Tigresses
Labor Gender Norms This school newspaper in 1960 depicts help wanted jobs to students. Eventhough jobs for both Boys and Girls are shown, there is a clear distinction between the types of jobs ofgered to each gender. Boys are ofgered jobs that seem masculine(window washer) and require manual labor while girls are ofgered jobs relating to being a mother or the home which was a typical place for women in the 60s.
Male exclusive activities South Plainfield High School created new electronic and engineering courses because the boys of the school had greater interest towards specialized industrial fields. As depicted in the picture there are no girls present or more so allowed in this course because women during the 60s were not expected to be involved in these types of activities because they were seen as masculine and women were expected to involve themselves in activities that were seen as feminine.
Changing Gender Norms In Sports As seen in the image in 1990s the gender norms were changing and previously masculine activities were no longer only meant for boys. Girls were also partaking in sports and making great strides. Sports such as basketball were now meant for both boys and girls.
Homemaking Club & Domestic Expectations Circa 1960 ● Homogeneous mass culture from post war U.S. ○ Women expected to be the house keepers while men retained title of the whole household. ● Heavy emphasis on cooking and cleaning New technology of the decade: ○ hostess trolley, electric vacuum cleaner.
Social Norms Among Young Girls Circa 1960 ● Social atmosphere: official school newspaper, conversations about relationships. ○ Unlikely content today Introduction of “the pill” ● ○ Young women were searching to find marriage, societal expectation. ● Dating culture made easy Mass entertainment: drive-ins, tellvisoon, ○ radio, film, sport venues.
Sexual Harassment Policy & Code of Conduct Circa 2003 ● Today sexaul assualt is a critical issue. More women are now coming forward and societies view has shifted. ● Unfortunately, laws remain mundane, basic, and out of tune. ○ 2003 Code of Conduct is identical with 2019 Code of Conduct. ○ Struggle continues today. Current events example: Women’s ○ liberty at risk with abortion crackdowns across southern states.
Lack of Women Representation Ironically, the school play was aimed towards the portrayal of fair sex yet did not have girls playing female roles. Instead, males played the female roles and the cast consisted solely of males. On the contrast, females helped behind the scenes with design of the play and the characters. Just as it is inappropriate for whites to play Asian roles in modern movies ➢ (Ghost in the Shell with Scarlett Johansson), it is also wrong for men to play male female parts, especially when females are readily capable in participating as a cast member. The Drama Club now, both cast and crew, is rather diverse in terms of sex and ➢ ethnicities. ➢ Furthermore, both male roles and female roles are played by their righteous actors. ➢ If a play cannot be administered because of difficulties along the way, it is often revised to fit our needs and concerns
Separate Gym Classes From 1963, this article mentions how girls gym classes were to learn and execute a choreography to assess what they learned in the “rhythmic activity programs.” On top of that, the girls were filmed whilst performing which is to be shown to the Parent Teacher Association and at a conference among schools. Furthermore, they were also learning a tap routine, but in sneakers. Although the area above the girls locker room is acknowledged as ➢ the girls upper gym, there was a period where gym classes consisted of either only girls or boys. ➢ Based upon this information, it is inferred that the disparate gym classes held different curriculums and objectives as described and shown.
Dress Code South Plainfield High School administration eliminated the dress code in 1970 where girls were no longer required to wear skirts to school, but instead wore slacks. A poll was taken where faculty members were asked if the dress code - or lack thereof - contribute to the (mis)behavior of the student body and their personal outlook of girls not wearing skirts. One teacher mentioned how the change doesn’t affect the behavior ➢ yet believes girls lose their femininity when they dress masculine Another believes that despite Women’s Liberation, the aspects of ➢ male-female relationships are more significant and the “fun” in it will be ruined because of how the girls are dressed Alongside, a different teacher voices her opinion on how she desires ➢ girls to continue wearing skirts for school, then to further her outlook, she adds on how they do not “sit properly” in slacks
Girls Contests & Activities As mentioned before the Homemaking Club ● emphasized the domestic expectations of women & outlined the belief in the ‘cult of domesticity’ during much of the 1950s and earlier ● Featured a heading that reads ‘Girls Homemaking Club Entertains Boys and Faculty’ Such headings would be perceived with ○ negative backlash today ● Women were taught proper categories of dishes and silverware as well as which method of table setting is appropriate for different occasions
Boys Cooking Class ● A decade after the Girls Homemaking Club, the Boys Cooking Class was created in the 60s Exhibits the changing norm of only women ○ involved in domestic activities ● Boys now served food for faculty as well, cooking a typical turkey dinner Boys also set the table at this event, ○ mirroring the table setting contest for women ● It is evident that gender expectations were slowly being changed as boys and girls now participated in similar activities ● The influence of such classes in a high school promotes a more educated generation of young people who are less likely to believe in sexist stereotypes
Discussion of Consent Emphasizes the prevalence of rape, and the ● importance of consent for not just women but also men This breaks the misconception that ○ rapes only happen to women ○ “Rape does not always occur with a guy taking advantage of a girl. It could also be that a girl takes advantage of a guy, but some guys are afraid to admit it.” ● High schoolers, both male and female alike, are being taught of their legal rights with consent. ● Such movements concerning the significance of consent are still in the spotlight today
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