Peeing, Hair, and Gender, Oh My!

            As the semester comes to an end it is amazing to realize the impact that this class has had on my viewpoints of all things media.  I was already a critical consumer, however, after completing the course packet and throughout the semester, I have noticed that my viewpoint has become even more critical.  Although my critical viewpoint continues to grow, it has also become more thoughtful, and more hopeful for change.

            Throughout the semester we have read several articles, including Sloop’s book, Disciplining Gender, in which one of the main topics of discussion in terms of gender is what haircut the person has and which restroom they use.  Do they stand up to pee or do they sit down, that is the ultimate question.  It is interesting to see how transfixed our society is on simple things that we claim distinguish if a person is man or woman.  Until we completed all of the readings, I had never realized how important these factors are to our society.

            One of the most popular and award winning shows on television right now, Game of Thrones, only reiterated how gender is distinguished through hair and peeing.  In the second episode of the second season, one of the main characters, Ayra, is performing as a boy in order to stay alive.  In the opening scene of the episode, Ayra is shown squatting in a stream urinating.  Later on in the episode she is conversing with one of the other men in her group and he claims to know that she is a girl.  Outraged, she says that she is not, which then leads to him telling her to pee in front of him to prove that she is a male.  She refuses which proves her friends point, that she is female because she will not whip out male genitalia and pee in front of him.

            Not only to Ayra need to pee like a boy, but in order to “fit in” with the Knight’s Watch, the commander cuts her hair so that she will be less distinguishable.  While he is only looking out for her welfare, there are several male characters in the series that have longer hair. It is arguable that she is a younger character, therefore her gender needs to be reinforced by these established norms, however, there are several other boy’s in the series that have longer hair.  The actress who plays Ayra does not have any stereotypical distinguishing feminine qualities.  It is interesting that even in this fictional place in a medieval time period, hair is a determining factor of gender.

            I love this show.  It has strong female characters who challenge the normal gender roles.  They are powerful, they are in control, and a lot of times they do not need a man to help them.  They are conquering kingdoms and vying for the crown that so many of the lead male characters lust after.  However, despite all of these progressive traits for the female characters, I still find it disturbing that the young girl Ayra is confined to the gender stereotype of short hair equals boy and long hair equals girl.

If Ayra was a person existing in our society today, her hair would most likely be a large topic of discussion in the media, especially once it was discovered that she is a girl posing as a boy.  I am sure that there would be discussion and interviews of her peers, much like the discussion surrounding Brandon Teena, about whether or not they saw her pee with them, which obviously distinguishes her gender.  However, unlike Brandon Teena, I do not think that Ayra would be villainized in our media, solely because she is a young girl trying to stay alive.  Her deception has purpose outside of her “selfish” gains to find love.

After this class, I know that I will never consume media in the same way.  I see gender norms and am frustrated by it in every television show, every movie, every media outlet that I enjoy.  There is no going back, and I think that is a good thing.