Question

One central idea in the selection from Bad Boy is that boys are "supposed to" act in a certain way. Which sentences from the selection best suggest this idea?

O There wasn’t any ice to skate on in Harlem, so I gave up hockey.
O Most of the girls I knew couldn’t play ball, and that excluded them from most of what I wanted to do with my life.
O …I would sometimes run into older kids who would tease me about my reading. It was, they made it clear, not what boys did.
O When the girls had finished their dancing, they went through some stretching exercises.
O I liked dancing, too, but I had to pretend I didn’t like it.

Answer 1

Sentences suggesting that boys are "supposed to" conform to traditional gender roles include being teased for reading, as it wasn't what boys did, and hiding a liking for dancing. These reflect societal expectations learned through socialization.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sentences from the selection of Bad Boy that best suggest the central idea that boys are "supposed to" act in a certain way are:

• …I would sometimes run into older kids who would tease me about my reading. It was, they made it clear, not what boys did.
• I liked dancing, too, but I had to pretend I didn’t like it.

These excerpts highlight the societal expectations or gender roles that dictate how boys are traditionally expected to behave, which is often learned through socialization. For example, boys are often discouraged from engaging in activities viewed as feminine, like reading for pleasure or dancing, and are instead pushed towards behaviors that align with a more aggressive, traditionally masculine script. This cultural script serves as a kind of unwritten set of rules that boys are expected to follow, leading to internal and external conflict when their interests deviate.