Both males and females have standards based on their biological sex. Their gender role, or how they live a male or female role, determines their behavior, attitude, values, and beliefs. History plays a big part in a person's understanding and acceptance of gender roles. As the editors point out, "History shows us how completely our gender derives from cultural myths about what is proper for men and women to think, enjoy, and do- (Colombo, Cullen, and Lisle 403). How a person fits that role to his or her personal identity is often the result of cultural beliefs. Our culture causes boys to be socialized into a position of dominance and causes girls to be more concerned about appearance. History's effect on our gender roles is why women are often in the more backstage, supportive roles "the roles supportive of the more dominant roles men play. This can be seen in Faludi's essay, "Girls Have All The Power."".
In Rereading America, the editors argue over how "cultural myths of gender influence human development and personal identity- (404). The myth of gender says that manhood equals power and dominance. These days, there is a lot of pressure to be more masculine. The Spur Posse played their game of having sex for points. They seemed to have participated in the game for fame rather than for the enjoyment of "being- with a woman. This can be seen when the "Lost Boy- tells Faludi, "We don't want to waste time romancing- (517). They had the idea set in their head that points equals popularity, and popularity equals masculinity. Masculinity is the beginning of a world of power and dominance because the more masculine roles tend to be stronger and more controlling, as the myths of gender states. For instance, they manipulated the girls that they had sex with so they "can have any girl [they] want- (513). The Spur Posse wanted control against what they thought to be women's power. The boys feared that the women would have too much control so they felt they had to let the women know who's superior.
