Gender Roles and Expectations Who Says You Can’t Wear the Pants?

Gender roles is society’s very own instruction manual for “How to Behave Properly.” Except, it’s not written in any clear language, and half the time, it feels like it was composed by a committee of people who’ve never met an actual human being. “Men are strong and unemotional. Women are delicate and nurturing”. Enter Millicent Boarder from Ridiculous, who takes one look at society’s rulebook and tosses it straight out the window.

In her world, women are expected to stay in their place quiet, obedient, and dependent. Men, on the other hand, get to call the shots, live freely, and walk around without the burden of a corset. Naturally, she looks at this arrangement and thinks, “Why can’t I wear the pants for a change?” And so, she does. She becomes Mr. North, a man who, simply by existing, gets the power and respect that was denied to Millicent as a woman.

It’s not just a clever disguise; it’s a brilliant critique of how society treats men and women differently. As Millicent transitions into her role as Mr. North, she discovers the perks of masculinity and wow, are they good perks. Suddenly, people listen when she speaks. She has control over her own destiny. And the best part? She doesn’t have to play nice or ask for permission. It’s almost like men and women are treated unequally. Shocking, I know.

The funny thing is how easily she slips into this new role. With a change of clothes and a slightly deeper voice, Millicent is magically transformed from a nobody into someone who matters. It’s satire at its finest a sharp, humorous commentary on the absurdity of gender roles. How can something as simple as clothing dictate who gets to hold power?

Fast forward to today, and while we’ve made some progress, gender roles are still very much a thing. Whether it’s the expectation that men should be the “breadwinners” or the assumption that women should be nurturing and selfless, these roles still shape our lives in ways we don’t always notice. Think about it: how many times have you heard someone say, “Boys don’t cry” or “Girls should be ladylike”? It’s 2024, and we’re still dealing with the same tired script.

Her story is a reminder that these roles are nothing more than a social construct a bad one at that. Just like her, we can challenge these norms. You don’t have to be boxed into what society says you should do. Wear the pants. Don’t wear the pants. Be emotional. Be stoic. Do whatever feels authentic to you. Because at the end of the day, gender roles are just a bad plotline that we can all choose to rewrite.

In Ridiculous, Millicent proves that when we break free from these outdated roles, we can find real freedom. It’s not just about defying expectations; it’s about claiming your own power, your own voice. So, next time someone tries to tell you what you “should” do based on your gender, channel your inner Millicent. Laugh in the face of their expectations and do what makes sense for you. After all, who says you can’t wear the pants?