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Assignment 06

The student’s idea or understanding of gender and sexuality in River High is shaped much around the environment they were in. The kids there were clearly shown how they should act based of their respective genders, certain action and traits were seen as masculine and some were seen as feminine. CJ really highlights how the school played a huge role in influencing the kids when she brings up Mr.Cougar competition; performances were own shown that really display the qualities a male should have. In one performance, a group of boys loses  their girlfriends to another group of guys and they have to change themselves to get back their girlfriends. The boys that lost their girlfriends in the show were the typical nerdy kid, being skinny, weak, and dorky. A man was suppose to strong, courageous, and able to defend the women in their lives. These kids started to transition and gain the qualities of what the school considers to be fitting for a boy. They grew stronger both physically and mentally eventually winning back their girlfriends. In a sense the play can be viewed as propaganda the school was using to promote their ideas and view on gender role and sexuality. The teachers themselves also play a role in defining gender roles and sexuality in River High, when condoms were being handed out by an third party organization promoting safe sex, the teachers naturally assumed that only the boys were getting the condoms and that engaging in sexual intercourse with the other students. This instant assumption of the boys reveals how the administration sees boys  as they are. The students are simply learning about safe sex and the consequences irresponsible sexual actions could lead to; the staff sees the boys being sexually driven and conducting sexual activities in an unsafe manner. All in all both students and the staff play a significant role in shaping and contributing to the meaning of gender and sexuality.