Mock IO Script:

Global issue: Traditional gender roles lead to unequal power dynamics, often silencing women while pressuring men to maintain

control—resulting in emotional suppression, violence, or inequality.

Texts chosen

Literary work: The Pearl by John Steinbeck

Non-Literary Text: “He For She” UN speech by Emma Waston

Introduction:

The global issue I will be exploring today is how traditional gender roles—especially the belief that men
must lead while women remain submissive—create unequal power dynamics that often silence women and
harm emotional expression in both genders. This issue falls under the field of Politics, Power, and Justice
because it examines who holds authority and how that control is shaped by gender expectations.

The literary text I have selected is The Pearl by John Steinbeck, a 1947 novella that explores how a poor
fisherman’s discovery of a valuable pearl leads to tragedy. In my extract, Kino asserts control after being
attacked, silencing Juana with the line, “I am a man.” Steinbeck explores the global issue through tone,
characterization, and dialogue that highlight the imbalance between Kino and Juana.

The non-literary text is Emma Watson’s 2014 HeForShe speech, delivered at the United Nations. Watson
challenges rigid expectations of masculinity and invites men to be part of gender equality. She presents the
global issue using rhetorical structure, inclusive language, and emotional appeals that show how gender
roles harm both men and women.

Zoom In (Literary text):

In this extract from The Pearl, Steinbeck presents a moment of deep emotional conflict between Kino and
Juana, using dialogue, repetition, and physical imagery to reveal the gender-based power imbalance
between them.

The first moment begins with Juana pleading, “Kino, this pearl is evil. Let us destroy it before it destroys
us.” Her repeated phrase, “it is evil, it is evil,” reflects emotional urgency and clear moral reasoning.
Steinbeck uses this repetition to highlight her intuition and concern, positioning her as the voice of reason.
However, her plea is dismissed—demonstrating how, within patriarchal roles, women’s voices are often
ignored even when they speak the truth. This links directly to the global issue: traditional gender roles
silence women by treating them as irrational or secondary decision-makers.

The second moment comes when Kino replies, “No. I will fight this thing. I will win over it.” Steinbeck uses
the repetition of “I will” to show Kino’s attempt to reassert control. The emphasis on personal action
reveals how masculinity is linked to control and ego. Then, Kino declares, “I am a man”—a phrase repeated
throughout the extract. This becomes a symbol of traditional gender based identity, showing how Kino
equates being a man with leading, deciding, and refusing vulnerability. Even in crisis, he prioritizes control
over collaboration, which Steinbeck critiques as part of the destructive consequences of gender roles.

The final moment is quieter but just as powerful. Steinbeck writes, “His voice was command. And she was
silent.” The word “command” reinforces Kino’s authority, not through earned respect, but through social
conditioning. Juana’s silence is not agreement, but submission—she’s emotionally present but pushed
aside. And even when Kino tries to soften his tone—“his hand touched her cheek”—the moment feels
hollow. This gesture comes after he’s silenced her, making it a form of emotional control masked as care.
Steinbeck uses this contrast to show how power imbalance isn’t always loud or aggressive—it can be quiet,
subtle, and deeply rooted in gender roles.

Overall, through diction, repetition, and symbolic contrast, Steinbeck uses these three moments to expose
how traditional gender roles reward male dominance and suppress female agency—even in the most
personal spaces.

Zoom Out (Literary text):

While the extract clearly shows Kino silencing Juana, Steinbeck continues to develop the global issue of
gender-based power imbalance across the whole novella. Juana is consistently portrayed as calm,
emotionally aware, and morally grounded. Early on, when Coyotito is stung by a scorpion, she takes action
immediately—praying, applying remedies, and urging Kino to go to the doctor. Yet at every step, it is Kino
who decides what they do next. Steinbeck uses this dynamic to reflect traditional gender roles, where
women are expected to care and support, but not lead—even when their judgment is more rational.

A powerful moment comes when Juana secretly tries to throw the pearl into the sea, recognizing that it has
brought nothing but danger. Kino catches her and violently stops her: “He struck her in the face with his
clenched fist and she fell among the boulders, and he kicked her in the side.” Steinbeck’s detached tone
and straightforward description make this moment especially disturbing. He doesn’t try to justify Kino’s
actions—he presents them bluntly, allowing the violence to speak for itself. Through this, Steinbeck
critiques how harmful gender expectations can escalate into physical harm when a man’s control is
challenged.

Even in the final scene, when they return to the village with Coyotito’s dead body, it is Kino who throws
the pearl back into the sea. Juana walks beside him, silent once again. While she has been strong and
intuitive throughout, the final symbolic act—letting go of the pearl—is given to Kino. Steinbeck uses this
ending to reflect how, even after tragedy, men are still positioned as the ones who take action and close
the narrative. Juana’s presence is powerful, but her voice is still pushed to the background.

Overall, Steinbeck uses characterization, tone, and structure throughout the novella to highlight the
imbalance created by traditional gender roles. Juana represents emotional intelligence and quiet strength,
but because of societal expectations, she is continually sidelined. By showing how this imbalance leads not
only to conflict but to loss and grief, Steinbeck makes a clear critique of systems that give men authority by
default and silence women, even when they are right.
Zoom In (Non - Literary text):

In this extract from Emma Watson’s HeForShe speech, Watson uses powerful rhetorical techniques to
challenge traditional gender roles and call for equality. She opens with a clear call to action, inviting men
into the conversation: “I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation.” This formal,
inclusive language frames gender equality as a shared responsibility, directly addressing the global issue of
unequal power dynamics between men and women.

Watson also builds credibility through ethos, sharing, “I’ve seen my father’s role as a parent being valued
less by society.” This personal example makes her message relatable and sincere, showing that gender
inequality impacts families, not just individuals.

To strengthen her argument logically, she uses logos with the statistic: “In the UK, suicide is the biggest
killer of men between 20 and 49.” This fact highlights how harmful gender expectations are for men,
reinforcing the idea that rigid roles hurt both sides.

Watson then uses emotional appeal (pathos) when she says, “Men don’t have the benefits of equality
either.” She taps into empathy, encouraging the audience to see that gender stereotypes limit
everyone—not just women.

One of her strongest techniques is parallel structure in the line: “If men don’t have to be aggressive to be
accepted, women won’t feel compelled to be submissive.” This mirrors the cause-and-effect nature of the
global issue, showing how changing male behavior can create space for female empowerment.

Overall, Watson uses ethos, logos, pathos, and a strategic call to action to argue that dismantling gender
roles benefits everyone. Through these rhetorical choices, she pushes for a future built on shared voice and
balance.

Zoom Out (Non - Literary text):

Across the full HeForShe speech, Emma Watson develops the global issue of gender roles and power
imbalance through emotional storytelling, inclusive tone, and a structured, persuasive argument. Speaking
at the United Nations, she exposes the issue to a global audience framing gender equality not as a women’s
issue, but as a shared responsibility that affects everyone.

One powerful moment comes early in the speech when she confronts common misconceptions: “Fighting
for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating. If there is one thing I know for
certain, it is that this has to stop.” Using a firm tone and direct language, Watson makes it clear that
feminism is about fairness, not blame—challenging the idea that power should sit with one group over
another.

Later, she recalls: “When at 15 my girlfriends started dropping out of their sports teams because they didn’t
want to appear ‘muscly.’ When at 18 my male friends were unable to express their feelings.” These
personal reflections are deeply emotional and build ethos and pathos. They show how both boys and girls
are limited by gender norms—one group punished for being strong, the other for being soft. This mirrors
The Pearl, where men are expected to lead with control and women are expected to remain silent.

Finally, Watson ends with the iconic line: “If not me, who? If not now, when?” This repetition and rhetorical
questioning turn her message into a direct challenge for the audience to act. Her tone remains hopeful and

urgent, encouraging listeners to become part of the solution without feeling attacked or excluded.

Overall, Watson uses structure, emotional storytelling, and inclusive rhetoric to argue that traditional
gender roles must be dismantled—not to shift power, but to share it. By speaking from a global platform
and highlighting personal truth, she shows how breaking silence can lead to real change for everyone.

Conclusion:

Both The Pearl and Emma Watson’s HeForShe speech reveal how traditional gender roles can lead to
unequal power dynamics, though they explore this idea in very different ways. Steinbeck presents a world
where masculinity is linked to control, and where women like Juana, despite their strength and insight, are
consistently pushed aside. Watson, by contrast, uses her platform to directly challenge these
expectations—urging both men and women to reject limiting roles and take part in the conversation.

While The Pearl shows the harm that results when gender expectations are blindly accepted, HeForShe
offers a more hopeful vision—one grounded in empathy, shared responsibility, and action. One text ends in
silence and loss, the other in a call for change. Together, they show that reshaping the way we understand
gender is not only necessary—but urgent—if we want a more equal and balanced future.