There are many societal expectations about how people should act based on their gender and class. These expectations can have negative effects on a person and the way they grow. An individual may feel torn between his family members and society because he supposedly does not meet expectations. This was the case for Dorothy Allison in her article "A Question of Class" and for Paul in Willa Cather's story "Paul's Case: A Study in Temperament." Allison believes that her family does not understand her sexuality as a lesbian and that her colleagues cannot identify with her due to their class differences. Paul's homosexuality and his desire to belong to the upper class separate him from his father and his neighborhood. The teachers also hate him because he tries to be different from the other students and are uncomfortable with the way he dresses. He also tries to fit in with those around him, but ultimately fails due to his differences. Society's expectations of gender and class roles cause Dorothy Allison and Paul to feel conflicted about who they are, which results in their alienation from family members and peers. As a result of gender expectations, people feel the need to choose an identity instead of being themselves. . Males are seen as masculine, aggressive and not too sensitive or emotional. Females are feminine, polite, soft-spoken and perform domestic roles. The article “Intersections of Gender and Class” by Jean Anyon states these expectations. Anyon discusses research conducted in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries on the conflicts people endure due to both gender and class expectations. According to Anyon, feminist researchers argue that girls believe their behaviors, attitudes, and roles are… at the heart of the card… the conflict is the result of her denial of who she is: she refuses to accept her identity. lower status and really doesn't belong in New York City. Similar to Allison, Paul's background and society's expectations will always be the factors that keep him from being himself. Society assumes certain behaviors and roles for people of different genders and class statuses. Allison's sexuality affects the relationship between her and her family. Being a lesbian, she hides, but also does the same because of her class difference. Paul is similar to her with his struggle to belong in a place he feels is best suited to him. Society's expectations have pushed Allison and Paul to distance themselves from others and from themselves. The way Allison and Paul feel is not what society supposedly allows, and the people who follow these expectations don't understand them or can't identify with them..