Analysis Lesley Parrys Character In Wingman - Essay Example

Analysis Lesley Parry’s Character In WingmanIn Lesley Parry’s Wingman, the main character unwittingly explores and challenges gender stereotypes. In the first part of the story, the men (the lead character’s father and his friend, Mr. McCurdy) were discussing the executions in “Chop Chop Square” with not a hint of sadness while his mother was shown to be horrified at what she was hearing (Parry, p. 59). This is a typical example of stereotyping. Women are weaker than the men, physically and emotionally.

Also, the story describes her as a typical housewife and mother, who does the house chores and takes care of her son and other activities that women usually do on their free time as what was narrated in the story like haggling over jewelry, fabric, etc. and watching television on Friday afternoons (p. 59). This had been challenged is the story since it ended when he asked his mother about the execution. Her admission of watching the execution and her opinion of it which was not being bad for she has seen enough dead people in Vietnam, showed that women can be as tough as the men.

This was further proven with the spatter of blood on her cheek, rubbing it away as if it was just a mosquito (p. 71) which means she was even in front of the crowd when she watched it. Another example of gender stereotype in the story unwittingly challenged was about the Cabbage Patch Kids doll. It is commonly believed that “boys do not play with dolls” as Mimi has told him in the story (p.62) but the lead character wanted it so much he begged his mother to buy him one, finding nothing wrong with playing with a doll even if he is a boy.

Girls typically want female doll so they can dress them, brush their hair and other things that girls do to make their dolls more beautiful. The fact that Mimi has a male doll is another example of gender stereotype being challenged in the story.Work CitedParry, Leslie. “Wingman.” Indiana Review Vol. 33 Issue 1, (Summer 2011): 59-71. Print.