Gender expectations are not laws set forth in government, but “laws” that society has created and expects everyone to follow in depending on their sex. They determine how men and women should think, speak, dress, and interact with others. The expectation of gender begins at birth when parents use the colors pink or blue to label us as female or male. When we see a baby dressed in blue, we automatically assume that it is a boy and when we dress in pink, we assume that a baby is a girl. Cross-cultural studies reveal that children are aware of gender roles by the age of two or three, and that by four or five years of age, most children are firmly entrenched in culturally appropriate gender roles (Kane 1996). . Gender roles established during childhood normally continue into adulthood. As adults, things like our peers, family, religion, and media give us the false impression that we are acting naturally. Not only do gender roles shape individual behavior, they penalize those who do not fit these norms. It's especially difficult for those who don't identify as male or female. When people deviate from their gender roles in obvious ways, they are likely to face negative repercussions. At the time of Alice Walker's The Color Purple, gender expectations played a large role in how people lived their daily lives. Characters such as Harpo, Sofia, and Shug all cross gender boundaries, causing tension throughout the text. Masculine roles are generally associated with strength, aggression and dominance. Masculinity begins at a young age, when it is acceptable for boys to be aggressive and then justified by the saying “boys will be boys.” This phrase suggests that such behavior is unchangeable and is something...... middle of paper ...... the term ends with "Glorify God in your body." Shug failed to do so. As a result, she was frowned upon. At that time, women were rather conservative. When Celie did a simple gesture like looking at a guy, she was beaten so she didn't dare to dress flashy. On the other hand, “dress to kill”. She put on a red woolen dress and a chest full of black pearls. A shiny black hat with what looks like a chinkinhawk feather… It looks so elegant it looks like the trees all around the house are standing tall for a striking look.” In the Bible, 1 Timothy 2:9 says, “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, without elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or costly garments.” Shug was the complete opposite of what the Bible described as a woman. Shug attracted a lot of men, but most women didn't like him too much..