We have yet to study a text similar to Sissy written by George Kellogg (who is actually a female herself.) In this story, the idea and the separation of gender roles are completely broken. Sissy enjoyed doing girly things like sweeping, knitting, and these things make him happy.
When we think of Sissy living in the 21st century, we view little William as a very strange character. In the story, both girls and boys accepted him. If he grew up going to my high school, he would be made fun of and more than likely beat up by all the guys.
Why he is accepted? I don’t really know the clear answer but have a few suggestions. Is it because the boys used him for doing things they were not taught to do? Such as bake, sew, and knit? Or was it because they were children and didn’t really know better at the time? The answer only Kellogg knows. Whatever it may be, Kellogg created this text for a reason and showed Sissy as of value to both boys and girls. No one bothered him about the way he dressed or the activities he did, they accepted him regardless of these decisions.
Another thing that came to mind when reading this text was the fact that it was in the time period of the women’s rights movement. Was Kellogg trying to show the people of the 19th century that women can do a mans job and that a man should be able to do the things that women were automatically supposed to do (e.g. sweep, clean, knit, cook).
I agree with you...I don't think Sissy would've been well received in my high school! I don't think he would've been beat up, I just don't think people would know how to handle him! I think he was accepted because he had this nurturing aspect to him that was comforting to people!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that now-a-days he would be viewed as quite an odd character. I don't think Sissy would have survived my high school either. I think he was accepted because everyone could relate to him since he was a boy-girl. I do not think people payed much attention to the rest of his personality merely because he was so nice to everyone.
ReplyDeleteI think he was excepted because the other kids could get things out of him. He was valuable to them. I think kids like Tom Sawyer would have been nice to him and "accepted" him just to get things out of him.
ReplyDeleteI like the questions you posed as to why Sissy was accepted.I hadn't really thought about why all the other children accepted him exactly as he was. I think that children are usually inclined to accept and befriend things that are unusual without thinking as deeply about it as adults. Very interesting concepts!!
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