Girls can wear jeans and cut their hair short and wear shirts and boots because it's okay to be a boy; for girls it's like promotion. But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading, according to you, because secretly you believe that being a girl is degrading.
In Ian McEwan's "The Cement Garden," the author explores the societal norms surrounding gender expression, highlighting the unequal standards placed on boys and girls. The quote reflects the idea that girls are often given more freedom to adopt masculine traits without facing the same stigma, suggesting a sort of societal endorsement when they embrace traditionally male styles. In contrast, the notion that boys should not adopt feminine qualities reveals an underlying belief that femininity is inferior. This discrepancy emphasizes a significant bias in how gender roles are perceived, indicating an ingrained view that equates being a girl with a lower status. Therefore, the text critiques these societal norms, suggesting they restrict individual identity and perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
