Gender Stereotypes in The USA

Introduction

Gender stereotypes arise because the psychological characteristics corresponding to behaviors are generalized to the sex typically performing them, and these characteristics are viewed as stable, intrinsic attributes of each sex. Specifically, to the extent that women are concentrated in domestic work and communally demanding employment, people believe that they are warm, caring, and socially skilled (Williams & Best, 1990). To the extent that men are concentrated in strength-intensive roles and in high-status roles, people believe that they are assertive, forceful, and dominant (Ridgeway, 2011; Williams & Best, 1990).

Gender Stereotypes in The USA

The film ‘Cake’ is set in present-day Karachi, where the film revolves around a dysfunctional family of five: Zareen (Aamina Sheik), the middle child who has sacrificed her dreams to manage her parents, their farmlands, and essentially everything else around the house; Zara (Sanam Saeed), the youngest one who has been living in the UK for a long time; and the oldest, Zain (Faris Khalid), who lives in New York with his spouse, child, and their parents (Mohammad Ahmed and Beo Rana Zafar). The family reunites after the parents' health begins to deteriorate. Following their reunion, circumstances arise that force the family to confront each other and manage their grievances, regrets, resentments, secrets, joys, and everything else in between. The film balances humor and wit with the perfect measure of tragedy. At its core, "Cake" is a film about the passage of time seen through the eyes of one family, offering a sincere look at the realities of life, past and present, choices, and consequences.

Intersectionality and Gender Roles

In Patricia Hill Collins' (1999) book ‘Black Feminist Thought’, she discusses the Mammy image, which typically portrayed Black women as obedient, faithful domestic servants, essentially suggesting that they were only suitable for housework and childcare. This image continues to affect Black women, as society still views women as dedicated individuals who primarily focus on the household and children. Another controlling image Collins explains is the Matriarch, portraying Black women as assuming the man's role within the household rather than being nurturing, as society expects them to be. This relates to the intersectional forms of oppression that Black women continue to endure because they often have to play both mother and father to their children, with many fathers absent from their children's lives. Black women are more likely to have successful careers that enable them to be the main providers for the family instead of the Black man.

In the film, Zareen, the eldest daughter, embodies both the ‘Mammy’ and the ‘Matriarch’ roles since she takes care of her parents and their home domestically, as well as managing their lands from which they earn their living. Zareen assumes both roles of a son and a daughter, as a caretaker of the home and their work. This dual responsibility highlights the intersectional struggle faced by women who must navigate multiple societal expectations.

Breaking Stereotypes

As for Zara, she is portrayed as the educated Black woman, as explained by Patricia Hill Collins, who has prioritized her career over family life. Zara lives in the UK and works, spending minimal time in Pakistan with her family. Little is known about her love life, but she lies to her parents about it, claiming she still lives with her supposed partner, who does not exist.

Both Zara and Zareen are created as controlling images so the audience would know how to view or treat them. Zara is perceived as a workaholic who struggles with relationships, leading men to avoid her. Meanwhile, Zareen, being the ‘Matriarch’ and ‘Mammy’, has an assertive personality, working on their lands and assuming a fatherly role alongside her domestic responsibilities. In one scene where Zara takes Zareen to a New Year's party, Zareen feels uncomfortable and wants to return home even though she is with her peers, as she prefers to be with her parents. This illustrates how accustomed she is to her domestic role as a ‘Mammy’. "Cake" breaks these stereotypes by showing Zareen working in her father's Sindhi lands while Zara is independent in the UK.

Challenging Traditional Gender Roles

People with rigid gender role views are more likely to hold traditional traits than those more adaptable to changing gender roles. Traditional gender roles consist of women as ‘Caretakers’ and men as ‘Breadwinners’ due to the reliance on stereotypes to categorize and interpret social information. "Cake" challenges the stereotype of men as breadwinners by having Romeo, a male character, take care of Zara and Zareen’s parents and perform household chores while Zara and Zareen work, thus breaking the gender role of women as solely domestic caretakers.

Zara and Zareen’s brother, Zain, is married to a woman named Sana. Contrary to male gender stereotypes, he listens to his wife and adheres to her wishes. This dynamic may be due to emotional vulnerability being particularly important in romantic relationships, as people want to maintain the relationship, have their needs met, and avoid being hurt by their partners.

Conclusion

Gender roles arise from societal expectations and preconceived notions, where a male is dominant and orders around his female counterpart, who is submissive and takes care of the children and household. In the case of ‘Cake’, Zain does not dominate his female counterpart; instead, she often directs him. Meanwhile, Romeo embodies a more domestic role, opposing traditional patriarchal values, as he takes care of the parents, cooks, cleans, and is generally around the house. His personality is humble, meek, and down-to-earth, contrasting with the stereotype of an arrogant, dominant man. "Cake" effectively challenges and breaks down traditional gender stereotypes, offering a fresh perspective on gender roles in modern society.

References:

• Collins, P. H. (1999). Black Feminist Thought. Routledge.
• Ridgeway, C. L. (2011). Framed by Gender: How Gender Inequality Persists in the Modern World. Oxford University Press.
• Williams, J. E., & Best, D. L. (1990). Measuring Sex Stereotypes: A Multinational Study. Sage Publications.