How to Talk yo a Hunter
             In Pam Houston's short story "How to Talk to a Hunter" she stresses four gender stereotypes: men are afraid of commitment; men will say anything to keep their female from thinking he is cheating; women read too much into what men say and do; and women will use many strategies to keep a man. The reader finds phrases such as "just like a woman," or "you have a male dog, don't you?" to help them relate to the story. Pam Houston uses these stereotypes to help the reader see what the narrator is feeling and experiencing.
             The first stereotype the reader encounters is when the narrators best male friend makes the comment, "Didn't you know what would happen when you said the word 'commitment'?", which is then followed by, "Commitment, monogamy, it all means just one thing." These comments seem to suggest that men in general are afraid of commitment, and that a woman can easily run them off by mentioning any word that is associated with it. You also have the best female friend making the comment, "So what did you think? That a man who sleeps under a dead moose is capable of commitment?" This also stresses the stereotype of men having troubles committing. The narrators friends stress this stereotype, making it seem universal.
             The second stereotype emerges in phrases like, "He will say whatever he needs to win.": "He'll say the night away from you has given him time to think about how much you mean to him. Realize that nothing short of sleeping alone will ever make him realize how much you mean to him." These comments show how a man will say whatever it takes to keep his female from thinking he is cheating. Even though he knows she already suspects him, he will still try and make her think that she is the only one he wants. Another way that Pam Houston e...