“Gender Bias” base on article written by Mark Moris and Ann Daly

Time is always precious and will be the most valuable thing nowdays especially when I came to New York City few month ago. My observation towards people bodies, thinking, gender, gaze, different perspection, the way they think and the way they seeing are really different from my comfort shoes and 4 eyes. this write up all about how gender manipulated other gender to make them as the main row especially after reading session in Jamie Jewett Classes towards Gender in the Dances_ Mark Moris, The Balanchine Woman of Hummingbirds and Channed Swimmer by Ann Daly really cough my attention to write about my own perspective towards gender bias and gender performativity. My brain really strong and full of discrimination to lead my fingers and write base on Ann Daly article. Sometimes I agreed with what she wrote and sometimes I disagree, it has pro and cons because first, verbal fact is very hard to make it happen and make people satisfied what they saw in real life, what Balachine said about the beauty of female dancer (ballerina) will always have tremendous argument among so call scholars, dance critic, or other choreographers especially in ballet classical form. Indeed, Balanchine personal life was really miserable when he married with almost 6 from his own dancers, and always named them as baby ballerina but it is really does not necessarily to proof the male dancers manipulating the vulnerable female dancers.

“The manipulated ballerina looks less like a dominant dynamo than a submissive instrument, both literally and figuratively”_ Ann Daly.”

Gender bias is a tremendously popular subject amongst the dance critics in validating the scientific writing which was published for the purpose of understanding and approach towards various different angles of perspective especially for the Generation “Y” who will possibly make it as an example in the near future. Nevertheless, what is being seen through Gender Bias clearly shows that many amongst the choreographers as well as the normal community belong in this circle of Gender Bias. It clearly shows that men look at women as a different subject as opposed to women looking at men . Men are probably more inclined or maybe towards sex, or which man that gets the woman would be the best. It is different with women whereby women think more rationally for instance they have to be cared for, dignity, future, life and children. However, it is possible that while the roles are taken by female completely then the male dancer will appear as wasted. The perception towards female dancers being manipulated by the male dancers remain silence except for those who trying to make it as important agenda in arts scene. There has plenty of article assumed that this is really one of the major problem in ballet form, however in my opinion both are equal for instance we can see in ballet structure itself shows the separation of characteristic between male and female e.g. slave variation for male, paquita for female and so forth.

Gender bias have been stated that until gender bias is confronted, there can be no sustainable development. The dimensions of gender bias are considered, and assumptions in conventional arts form thinking that are influenced by gender differences are discussed. It is demonstrated in political example have limited women's access in parliament. This is because the highest chair is a men, therefore they have to protect in way to sustain their power towards others. Another one more good example is in Islamic fundamental, there have a common and important rules that women have certain limits towards men and men can married 4 women in the same time. As the access of women to resources continues to dwindle in subsistence economic especially when they less uses, their responsibilities usually toward family as well as their self.

Back to ballet, if we look back during 19^th and 20^th centuries girls have always been a part of the dance world, it was common for a ballerina to begin her training when still a child. The gender discrimination from ballet was most blatantly shown through the feminine nature of dance-related products, such as apparel and decorations, as well as through the representational significance of ballet for females and society’s popular beliefs and stereotypes placed on male ballet dancers. However I cannot denied that gender bias are still exist since that period of time until now, being manipulated by male dancers maybe is not suitable to perform in various article and research perhaps it could written or mention as gender equalization especially in ballet. As mentioned in Ann Daily article that Balanchine had said:

“it’s very masculine thing to hold a door for a women or to take her elbow to help across the street. The male dancers does the same kind of thing..”.

As I mentioned before verbal fact are very vulnerable unless there is a proof to make it as valuable subject. After all my comments and my write up is just an humble opinion with my less knowledge and perspective yet it will remain as what I though by seeing, feel, observation and reading. People might disagree or agree, but all is just so call once in a blue moon. A diachronic analysis is probably imposible to conduct and we will still be left with a host of contentious issues and unanswered questions such as the role of female dancers in classical ballet. 

References,

- Joseph Gonzales Phd, Malaysian Dancescapes (2013) : The Gender Construct in the Contemporary Performance of Mak Yong. ASWARA, Malaysia

- Judith Butler, Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity (Routledge Classics)