Gender Stereotypes In Kurt Vonnegut's Harrison Bergeron

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There are many gender stereotypes in this world and how women are treated less than men. Women are shown as weak, dumb, and helpless while men are shown as strong, smart, and leaders. People try to be in an equal society but are not truly equal. Through the portrayal of gender equality shown in Kurt Vonnegut’s short story, “Harrison Bergeron,” the leader create an unequal gender society. Where people are unable to be who they are and losing their voice, resulting in a society where equality rules. Vonnegut’s short story suggests that people strive for equality and diversity is a necessity. People want to be in a society where they can be free to express their emotions and their personality.
In a society where people are being controlled by …show more content…

And George, while his intelligence was was above normal, he had a little mental handicap radio in his ear. He was required by law to wear it at all times” (1). This means that women are just average and the men are more intelligent. The author uses the word “intelligent” implies how smart people are. Also, by the author using “required by the law” suggests that the government is forcing the intelligent people to wear the handicap radio and separating people into categories. This quote shows that women’s intelligence is treated as a lower denominator, but how society is holding them back from being free and making everyone equal to each other. Therefore society makes the people hide who they are and lose their voice.Vonnegut also shows this where the ballerinas are on the TV dancing. “They were burdened with sashweights and bags of birdshot, and their faces were masked, so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face” (1). This quote means that the beautiful ballerinas could not show their beauty to the world. By using the saying “so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face” …show more content…

In Vonnegut’s short story he shows Harrison Bergeron broke free from society. “Harrison tore the straps of his handicap harness like wet tissue paper, tore straps guaranteed to support five thousands pounds. Harrison’s scrap-iron handicaps crashed to the floor” (2). Harrison breaks free from his chains that the government has on him. This shows that people strive to be free. By the author using the word “tore” shows that he broke free. Harrison frees one of the ballerinas. “Last of all he removed her mask. She was blindingly beautiful. ‘Now-’ said Harrison, taking her hand, ‘shall we show the people the meaning of the word dance?”’ he dances with her with graceful gestures. By saying “she was blindingly beautiful” show that the mask is just a cover up and that the government is making people feel

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