

Gender Stereotypes at Little Red Cap and The Grandmother Essay

Assignment id 1004214
Discipline Writing
Assignment type Essay
Words 3494
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The folk tale of "Little Red Riding Hood" has many different variations and interpretations depending on what listed version is being read or examined. "Little Red Cap," by the Grimm Brothers, and "The Grandmother," as gathered by Achille Millien, are distinct in a lot of ways: the depth of this story structure, characters involved, length -- yet, the lesson is mostly unchanged between the 2 versions. One of the more glaring differences between the two versions is the way in which the narrator and the actions of these characters are utilized to describe the young girl, female, as well as the wolf, male. Being either female or male are things of biological makeup. The characteristics of femininity and masculinity which are connected with being male or female, however, are socially and culturally defined. How do these various descriptions inform gender structure, and more specifically, how can sex constructions help to naturalize stereotypes inside the collective conscience of society? The Grimm Brother's version of this story begins with the sentence, "Once upon a time there was a sweet little girl" (Grimm). From the beginning of the narrative the reader understands that the focal point of the story will be on a female character. The female is described as being "sweet" The following sentence of the story starts with the phrase, "Everybody who saw her enjoyed her ...]" (Grimm). It's safe for the reader to conclude the reason why everyone likes her is because she is considered "sweet" The implication of this construct is being "sweet," and its supposed manifestations - the act of politeness, agreeability, well-mannered, etc. - is a highly recognized and socially defined female quality that leads to societal acceptance, which can be...

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