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This discourse aims to critically analyze three stories from the Louise Bennett anthology through a gendered perspective, examine the extent to which patriarchy is reflected, how language beliefs helps to shape masculinity and femininity in the Caribbean and how is manhood and womanhood portrayed in any of the text.

Masculinity and Femininity in the Caribbean
Masculinity refers to the qualities, characteristics or roles considered typical of a boy or man in a society or social context, the context of masculinity may vary on culture. Dr. Natasha Mortley found that Jamaican men are suffering from an identity crisis related to high youths’ unemployment which puts a strain on gender relations and masculinity. She highlighted that men have conflicts, which affects their identity, attitude and practices. Masculinity has to with when males become aware of the expected roles and behavior of their culture. Masculinity also has a lot to do with women, and women can either validating, interrogating their masculinity. According to linden Lewis (2017), men in the Caribbean speak to each other directly in terms of boasting, ridicule, and insult.

Patriarchy is a socially constructed system where males have primary powers and are the head. It affects many aspects of life from politics, business management, religion, property ownership right down to the family home where men are considered leaders. Male-centeredness, male dominance, and male identity are some characteristics of a patriarchal society. In anancy and ticks patriarchy was reflected in the form of leadership when anancy gain leadership over ticks which leads back to the representation of manhood in the Caribbean. Caribbean men are referred to as ‘ginal’s’ and use their advantages to get gain.