When we read literature, we see many different aspects and characteristics of human life. Some of them are more present than others. As long as humans have existed on the planet, they have always had defined roles. From Neanderthals to Homo sapiens, humans have always had separate roles, which have defined the society in question. When we read writings from a wide range of time and diverse cultures, we reveal implicit gender biases and stereotypes that negatively affect the lives of people all over the world. It’s a fight that continues today. When people ignore traditional gender roles, they can live their lives as fully and freely as possible. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Gender stereotypes in Asia are often reflected in the literature of the time. Female and male roles are clearly defined in this period of history and we see this understated nuance in many of the finest writings of this Asian era. One of the most definitive examples is found in the Man'yōsho collection of poems from 759 AD. : “Young girl, gathering herbs on this hillside, I would ask you: where is your home?... It is I who reign so widely and so far. “I myself, as your lord, will tell you about my house and my name. » We find this in the extract from Man'yōsho the implication of a society dominated by men. Although this poem has been the subject of numerous translations, the singular voice of oppression is always present. In the poem we see the unspoken voice of male domination: “I myself, as Lord, will tell you.” He may not say these things out loud, but these are his unconscious motivations, his state of mind. However, we don't just see the subtext in the poems. Other writings by women and men show us how their society conformed to traditional gender roles, both quietly and loudly. "When I imagine what it is like to be one of those women who live at home and faithfully serve their husbands, women do not yet have a single exciting prospect in life who believe that they are perfectly happy." (Morris 43) As we look at these different types of writings, from different cultures and perspectives, patriarchy is still present in these depictions of life from this era and how women came out of it. However, when we look at everything that is prevalent in any culture, in any era, there is always this pushback, a counterculture. We have seen this reaction in many different eras, from the ancient Greeks to the present day. But let us now look at the time encompassed by these two periods. In Sei Shonagon's "The Pillow Book" (1002), her personal journal, we see her own private opinions about who she is and her role in society. “The Pillow Book” can be compared to another entry, The Kitchen, by Banana Yoshimoto (1988). The two comparisons of writings from different eras, but from the same culture, reveal evolving gender roles as well as societal change. From this comparison we can see the growth and broadening of the mentality of a society, even one relatively closed to Western influences. "Indeed, a person's attachment to a man depends largely on the elegance of his farewell." From Sei Shonagon, we see that in her society, she has a choice in who she loves. She has the choice of a partner, a spouse. These free choices and these changes., 2006.