Expectation is a two-way thing, you either achieve it or you don't. High expectations are often not met, and for men, failure to meet certain high expectations leaves a negative effect on them. The sense of inadequacy is a negative effect and in the stories “Shiloh” by Bobbie Ann Mason and “Woman Hollering Creek” by Sandra Cisneros, the male characters Leroy and Juan Pedro had similar and different ways of dealing with the situation, however Leroy was not like that trapped in expectations like Juan Pedro is. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay Leroy has failed to fulfill his role as the man/provider of the family after the Leroy truck accident and has begun working on mini-crafting projects, sewing, and fantasizing about building a log house for Norma Jean thinking it would satisfy her. This was a way to compensate for his sense of inadequacy as a man. The story states: “In the meantime, make things with craft kits. He started by building a miniature log cabin out of notched popsicle sticks. He painted it and put it on the television, where it remains." (Mason 1) Leroy was traumatized by the truck accident and didn't want to go back to trucking, instead he stayed at home working on useless jobs. He plans to self-destruct . Not only does he waste time doing meaningless things at home, but he was obsessed with the idea of ​​building a log house for Norma Jean, his wife. On page 1 of “Shiloh” we read: “I will build you this house, he says Leroy. I want to make you a real log cabin. It's just like lifting logs. Norma Jean doesn't respond. Leroy thinks that by building the log house for Norma Jean, he will rekindle the relationship and satisfy her, but he ignores the very things that are deteriorating the relationship and what really matters provide, this is a traditional idea that still exists in many families and cultures, but Leroy does not realize that he has lost himself and his responsibilities as a man after the accident. The accumulation of emotions and frustrations in Juan Pedro is the result of the expectation of where he comes from. All these emotions spill over to Cleofilas, his wife who has to put up with him in order to compensate for her sense of inadequacy. The author writes: “O he is a little surprised when he kicks the refrigerator and says that he hates this shitty house and that he is going away where he will not be disturbed by the little girl's howls and her suspicious questions,” (Cisneros 406) . Juan Pedro to work hard and provide for his family's needs. This specific gender standard leads men like Juan Pedro to be so frustrated and angry as often as shown in the quote above. Juan Pedro also physically abused Cleofilas and in the story it states: “But when the time came, he slapped her once, and then again, and again; until her lip split and she bled an orchid of blood, she didn't react, she didn't burst into tears, she didn't run away like she imagined when she would see things like that in soap operas. "All Juan Pedro's accumulation of frustrations and sense of inadequacy were the result of his culture's high male expectations, and taking his emotions out on his wife was a way of coping and compensating. Readers may also infer that the abuse Cleofilas' physique was a way of asserting male dominance to remember that Juan Pedro was still a man. In the stories, Leroy compensated for his sense of inadequacy by cultivating useless hobbies and dreaming of building a log house while JuanPedro lashes out and abuses his wife, however, they also compensate for their sense of inadequacy by seeking the support of others, which is a similarity in which both characters share. In “Woman Hollering Creek” it is stated: “He couldn't think of anything to say, he didn't say anything. I simply stroked the dark curls of the man who cried and he would cry like a child, his tears of repentance and shame, this time and each." (Cisneros 405) Juan Pedro cried in Cleophila's arms after hitting her because he felt guilty of this he did it and also because he needed his emotional support Men are often seen as strong and emotionless, but when they show emotions or cry it usually means that they have been through a lot and need the emotional support of their loved ones. . Leroy did not cry in Norma Jeans' arms but seeks emotional support from others. In the story, Leroy can often be seen asking other people's opinions on his plan to build a log house : “My goal is to build myself a log house, as soon as I have time. My wife, though, I don't think she likes the idea. Well, let me know when you want me again,” says Stevie. "(Mason 2) Leroy he tries to tell his drug dealer, Stevie, about his log house project, but it's clear that Stevie isn't interested in it. Throughout the story Leroy seems to talk a lot about the log house project to people making him seem desperate to get support. This is what Leroy and Juan Pedro have in common, they seek the support of others to feel better about their sense of inadequacy. Both Leroy and Juan Pedro are men who feel inadequate as men, however Juan Pedro is definitely more trapped/pressured by the gender specific expectations of his culture because in “Woman Hollering Creek” Cleofilas was seen as the typical housewife and Juan Pedro was the typical husband who is the only person supporting the family. On the other hand, Leroy stayed at home doing nothing to contribute to the family of two while Norma Jean worked at the pharmacy and took more classes to improve her life. In “Woman Hollering Creek” it is stated, “and his demands to fix this and this and this because if he had any brains in his head he would realize that he got up before the cock making a living to pay for food in the his belly and the roof over his head and he should wake up early again the next day, so why can't you leave me alone, woman." Juan Pedro supports the family alone by working early in the morning and late while Leroy is instead doing the 'exactly the opposite. Even after Norma Jean tries to encourage him to go out and get a good-paying job, something other than a truck, he refuses with excuses and goes back to working on his mini projects and doing everything a woman would do. In “Shiloh” it states: “Things you could do, he announces. You could get a job as a guard at Union Carbide, where they would let you sit on a stool. You could go to the lumberyard. You could do a little carpentry work, if you want to build so bad. Could you…, I can't do something where I would have to stand all day.'” Leroy makes excuses to not work and stay at home while Juan Pedro gets up early in the morning to go to work. This shows that Juan Pedro is more responsible and is a man who tries to fulfill his duty and role by being the only male in the family, which shows that he is more trapped by the specific gender expectations of his culture. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Juan Pedro and Leroy are both good examples of men who felt..