The earliest interaction that I can remember with my parents where gender expectations were communicated, was when I was about 5 years old. I was learning how to ride my bike, I was doing some extreme riding, and of course, I took a nasty spill. I do not really remember being in pain, but I most certainly remember thinking I was in the worst pain anyone could ever experience. So I did what any other 5 year old would do, cry his little eyes out. My father came over to me, I thought he would come over and comfort me; maybe tell me something like, "oh that wasn't your fault, it's not too bad, everything will be just fine". But instead, he came over and told me that men do not cry, and until I stop crying he will treat me like a child. This was my first gender expectation experience I can remember. My father communicated to me that the male gender is suppose to be tuff guys, who do not cry, and apparently do not feel physical pain. To this day, I still find that to be relatively true, but on the other hand, I think that if a guy cries that does not make him any less of a man.
The most recent interaction that I have had where gender expectations were communicated was today while I was watching television. I believe that the host on the show communicated gender expectations. They communicated their gender expectations by their clothes, their body language, and their responses to certain statements. Replying with statements like, "so you maned up and hit the jump", implies that the male gender is suppose to be risk-takers with a sense of fearlessness. His body language communicated that he was a gender male, and males are able to slouch around and be relaxed; which may be seen as predominantly true, women tend to have more focus on their posture. His clothing implied that the male gender typically wears lose clothing, and is not too fashion oriented; which is not always the case. Gender expectations are communicated everywhere, on television, in commercials; each individual person around the world communicates their gender expectations everyday. When a person gets dressed, or drives a car, or replies to statements or actions, is all essentially based on their expectations of what their given gender should do. For example, if a person drives fast, that is fine. But if they believe that all men drive fast, and they drive fast because they are a man, then their everyday action of driving expresses one of their gender expectations.
