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Christopher Figueroa
Professor Gina Lawrence
English 1311
June 20, 2014
The Difference
The interaction between genders in the world is a very complex and interesting thing to
observe. What drives people to engage with one another and socialize out in public, makes life
experiences that much more exciting. The space that I chose to study was the restaurant located
in Cincinnati Bar and Grill on Cincinnati Street in West El Paso, Texas. A popular hangout in El
Paso, many people of both genders frequent this bar often. I wanted to find out if this bar catered
to both men and women equally.
As you walk into the restaurant side, it is not as bright as it is outside. The decor of the
bar has many wooden pillars spread out about 10 feet from each other on the walls. The walls
themselves are a forest green that eventually meets a dark wood trim. The floor is a dark red tile
with black grout. The area is about 25 feet by 20 feet in total. The wall on the left has two
televisions, while the wall on the right has one big television. Tables are in a line against the wall
on the left, and two rows of tables on the right. There is a straight path from the front door that
leads directly to the back of the restaurant. Looking up, the ceiling is about 15 feet high painted
black, with five black ceiling fans dangling along with s black duct system visible. To the right is
an open kitchen with two cooks, and connected to it is a bar with a shelf of liquor behind it. The
front of the restaurant has a ledge that travels up about two feet and meets a window that makes
up the rest of the wall. Light is providing most of the lighting inside, and the sound of the World
Cup game can be heard from every seat in the bar. The room is about 76 degrees fahrenheit.
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The restaurant is packed with about 35 people, all wearing Mexican soccer jerseys. There are
nine couples, and the rest are made up of groups of nothing but men. This bar is inviting for both
sexes.
The interaction between servers, male or female, varies towards their customers. I believe
that female servers can be more relaxed than male servers when providing a service in a
restaurant setting. The area I am observing provides customers a setting that allows them to turn
whichever way and be able to observe a television screen. Food is provided, as well as alcohol.
The customer is able to indulge in the setting for long periods of time. The interaction with the
server is part of the experience at this restaurant. The server plays the host and is able to amplify
what the customer may encounter on their visit. Quick service and efficient communication are
what these servers are providing.
The male server acts a bit more attentive and careful with what he does. He definitely
returns back to check on customers more often and does not stick around for small talk. The
female server is relaxed and good with interacting with the guests. She provides more input on
the conversations started at the table and carries it on. The way she walks is more relaxed and
lenient. She is dressed in white shorts, and a button-up blouse that is not buttoned up all the way.
She is showing some of her cleavage that is noticed by all the male persons.
I spoke to one of the managers named Carlos Dorado, that has been working at Cincinnati
Bar and Grill for 5 and a half years. I asked if this establishment catered to both sexes equally.
Yes, it does. We have televisions that show every sport, and have a food menu that appeals to
men and women, whether you are really hungry or want to eat something light.
Deborah Blum writes in The Gender Blur: Where Does Biology End and Society Take
Over, that Males are more aggressive, not just among humans but among almost all species on
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Earth. I watched a couple watching the Mexico and Brazil soccer game that was on every
television. The pair had been sitting at the restaurant for about three hours already and the game
was almost over. Both of them were really into the game and would not look away from the
screen for anything. When the game ended, the female asked her boyfriend to borrow some
dollars to put into the jukebox on the bar side of the establishment. He replied, Were already
leaving. She made a sad face, and really did not mind. They stayed sitting down for another half
hour and it looked like they were going to be sticking around even longer. I believe she got that
notion, and asked for money again. The boyfriend said no, again, and said, I said we were
already leaving. She became mad and now they both got up and stormed out, all because of the
male being a little too aggressive.
Alice H. Eagly and Valerie J. Steffen wrote Gender and Aggressive Behavior: A Meta-
Analytical Review of the Social Psychological Literature and describe that males are expected
to be tough, violent, and aggressive. Many in El Paso can agree upon this social norm. This idea
puts pressure on males on how they should act in society, especially the males that really are not
that naturally aggressive. Does this space make groups of men overly aggressive whenever an
important game is displayed at this restaurant?
I also watched two others groups of four men. The first group had die-hard Mexico fans
that dressed the role and never stopped cheering at the television. This group kept the celebration
going until two hours after the game until their wives called within 30 minutes of each other
telling them to come home. Each man respectfully got up and went on their way. They were all
friendly and respected those around them, occasionally sparking a conversation with strangers.
The second group of males seemed to not be interested in the game until Mexicos goalie
started blocking some very close goal attempts. These men were now not closely focused on
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their own conversation, but focused on the television. I noticed when the group of married men
began yelling and cheering, the second group would stop and stare at what possibly could have
happened with the game. By the time the game was over, the second group of men joined in for
one more conversation between each other, unrelated to the game, and left on their separate
ways.
Studying this area has provided some information regarding how an environment plays a
huge role with gender interactions. Socializing with the same or different genders can go in many
different directions. A global game on television involving different countries against each other
can bring great unification between many people. The conditions in the environment greatly
influence a bar experience between genders. This establishment provided the sound, the visuals,
the food, the seating, and gathering of genders to provide different experiences with everyone
present that day.











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Sources Cited
Blum, Deborah. The Gender Blur: Where Does Biology End and Society Take Over?
http://glaw114.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/0/0/12005777/the_gender_blur_blum.pdf. Web.
20 June 2014.
Dorado, Carlos. Personal Interview.18 June 2014.
Eagly, Alice H., and Valerie J. Steffen. "Gender and Aggressive Behavior: A Meta-analytic
Review of the Social Psychological Literature." Psychological Bulletin 100.3 (1986):
309-30. Web. 20 June 2014.