In Felix beyond the closet, Yolanda argues how Chicano writers have been influenced by the Anglo American Writers. These influences cause stereotypes to rise. Yolanda does not want to challenge he practice of reading, rather she seeks to remain equally attentive to other representational strategies. Yolanda argues that Islas writing expresses masculinity in such a way that can make someone question their identity. As in the case of Felix where he suffers from a number of insecurities that the novel delicately suggests become entangled with this sexual expressions. As seen in his novel The Rain God where the stereotype of Chicano’s. In the novel the theme of masculinity is brought up. Chicano boys were not allowed to play with dolls, because the father (Miguel Grande) did not want his son to be brought up like a girl. This novel establishes the hierarchy of power in the household where the father was in charge and everyone else did what he ordered. The characters in this novel portray a specific character, a character that is supposed to fit the Chicano stereotype.
I have family members, coworkers and friends who believe a boy shouldn’t be playing with dolls, because this would turn him gay. I, in the other hand believe that this is ridiculous.
Where do you believe this idea comes from?
Is it because men are constantly told to suppress their emotions that they find it difficult to openly express their feelings?
I think that boys playing with dolls being “gay”, comes from the idea of boys acting or playing with “girl” things, it’s just an idea (a bad one). It might also have something to do with boys being told to not show emotions because their “man”. Society creates stigmas on young boys that they can’t play with dolls, and they can’t cry because it means your gay or you’re not a man. Emotions are not gendered based, and dolls and cars are just plastic. Machismo is connected with this idea of dolls and emotions are for girls, and it’s not true. I would also like to point out if a young girl plays with cars, or dresses like a boy she is considered a tomboy. But a girl will not normally be accused of being “gay” or mainly. So I think there is a double standard, that boys are told never to be like or act like a girl, unless their gay. And a girl who likes cars and shows “boy” qualities, is never scrutinize for it.
I agree with what you have said that it is absolutely ridiculous for people to have the mentality that a boy playing with “girl” toys will make the child either gay or act like a girl. I feel that this belief is just something someone has seen where the adult saw a boy playing with the “girl” toy and later in life became gay when in reality it was already destined that he would be gay he just really wanted to play with the “girl” toy. Children should be able to play with any toy they please and not have to worry about if playing with girl toys or playing with girls will make them less of a boy ESPECIALLY because they do not even know what that means but because we expose them to this kind of environment they grow into it as well causing the cycle to continue.
I believe these ideas come from our typical ‘machismo’ household upbringing with the influence of social norms that are thrown daily through the media, music, and society as a whole. The American society has reinforced those ideas by applying the stereotypical ‘norms’ heavily influenced throughout mass media outlets. The breakage of that those false values could be seen when one obtains a higher education and studies the different gender norms that we ‘should’ adhere to. These ideas could be dismantled, for example in my household both of my grandparents alternated between cooking and cleaning. That subtle example laid the foundation for us grandchildren to seek relationships that contain balance and teamwork. Society does insinuate men to be strong and not display emotions and that displaying any emotion can be viewed as weak or gay. Yet in my personal life, my older brother has had deep personal conversations and has exhibited emotion by crying in front of me. I did not think he was sensitive or less of a man, instead, I admired his vulnerability and openness with me.