n traditional society, men and women have two very specific roles in the community. Men are very masculine and tough, and women are caretakers and rely upon men for support. Yet as time has progressed, lines between genders have become increasingly blurred. Many individuals have become more open about their gender, and the fashions and mannerisms of each gender have begun to merge together. In The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz explores the idea of how gender roles affect an individual's life in a traditional society.
Oscar Wao is not the typical Dominican male. The book states that he “Had none of the Higher Powers of your typical Dominican male, couldn't have pulled a girl if his life depended on it. Couldn't play sports for shit, or dominoes, was beyond uncoordinated, threw a ball like a …show more content…
Because of Oscar's inability to make connections with women, he is shunned for not fitting the stereotype of the optimal Dominican man. His sister knows the depth of this problem, stating that “You're going to die a virgin unless you start changing” (Diaz 25). Everyone, including Oscar's sister, expects him to fulfill the Dominican male stereotype. Oscar's largest fear throughout the book is that he will die a virgin. His sister, supposedly one of his biggest supporters, has given up being optimistic and chosen instead to be very upfront about his need to change in order to not die a virgin, which, according to the book, has never happened to a Dominican male. Even Oscar's roommate, Yunior, tries to make him fit the male stereotype. Oscar and Yunior start running together, and Oscar quits mid run. Oscar claims that “I've decided to run no more” (Diaz 178). These words are a reference to Chief Joseph's famous speech in which he states “I shall fight no more forever,” which furthers the idea of how much Oscar does not fit the male stereotype, like
Oscar Wao is not the typical Dominican male. The book states that he “Had none of the Higher Powers of your typical Dominican male, couldn't have pulled a girl if his life depended on it. Couldn't play sports for shit, or dominoes, was beyond uncoordinated, threw a ball like a …show more content…
Because of Oscar's inability to make connections with women, he is shunned for not fitting the stereotype of the optimal Dominican man. His sister knows the depth of this problem, stating that “You're going to die a virgin unless you start changing” (Diaz 25). Everyone, including Oscar's sister, expects him to fulfill the Dominican male stereotype. Oscar's largest fear throughout the book is that he will die a virgin. His sister, supposedly one of his biggest supporters, has given up being optimistic and chosen instead to be very upfront about his need to change in order to not die a virgin, which, according to the book, has never happened to a Dominican male. Even Oscar's roommate, Yunior, tries to make him fit the male stereotype. Oscar and Yunior start running together, and Oscar quits mid run. Oscar claims that “I've decided to run no more” (Diaz 178). These words are a reference to Chief Joseph's famous speech in which he states “I shall fight no more forever,” which furthers the idea of how much Oscar does not fit the male stereotype, like