Title: I.

The Subversion of Male and Female Societal Roles in Loreto Paras-Sulits Short Stories In 1920s Philippine society, men and women are expected to play specific roles. A. The man is expected to have a family as well as be the head and breadwinner of this family. B. The woman is expected to become a wife and a housekeeper, and is also expected to be subservient to her husband. C. One of the reasons for this expectation is the patriarchal nature of the society and the notion that men are more rational than women while women are more emotional than men; that woman is Nature while man is Society. D. Loreto Paras-Sulit lived in a time where men and women are left with little to no choice but to play these roles.

II.

Through her stories, Loreto Paras-Sulit attempts to question these stereotypes of men and women during the 1920s Philippines. A. The Bolo questions the definition of rationality by offering the reader two rational options: the rationality of upholding a tradition (represented by the bolo and the foreigner, which also represent patriarchy) and the rationality of satisfying ones basic needs (represented by Sitas desire to satisfy her hunger). B. In The Call, there is a power reversal as Manuel becomes gravely ill and confesses his love for another woman while Anastacia, because of her hatred toward her husband and her jealousy toward her husbands true love, keeps the letter of her husbands lover from him and becomes the more dominant character by the end of the story. C. Harvest presents two contrasting male characters: Fabian, the older, more masculine sibling, the upholder of tradition, and Vidal, the graceful, more feminine sibling, the one who dreams and rebels against tradition. D. In The Last Dance, the representation of man is a ferocious tiger, an animal that challenges Marianas courage and determination in fulfilling her dream of becoming admired and recognized by the people around her. E. By His Own Way shows a contrast between father and son: a father who upholds tradition and legacy no matter what the cost and a son who goes against tradition by following his desires.

III.

The fates of these characters show us how Paras-Sulit challenges these stereotypes and offers us a way of understanding the consequences of subverting the traditional concept regarding man and woman. A. All the characters who attempt to go against tradition experience different kinds of downfall in the stories.

B. This downfall shows us how people are stifled by patriarchal society during Paras-Sulits time; it shows us that although a person may attempt to subvert the norm, there will still be a way for the society to subdue him/her. Conclusion: Paras-Sulits subversion of the traditional concept of man and woman lies in the portrayal of characters that cannot break free from the shackles of these stereotypical notions; the subversion lies in making the reader question the validity of these stereotypes and in showing how these stereotypes functioned as personal prisons and traps during the 1920s.