A Work In Progress: Gender Roles In The United States

Gender is the state of being male or female. Male are thought to be adventurous, aggressive, strong whereas females are to be affectionate, attractive, shy and sexy. While I highly identify with my feminine gender characteristics, at times l possess masculine characteristics like confidence, ambition, and sometimes aggression.

A patriarchal system refers to “A form of social organization in which males dominate females” (Macionis). America is still considered a patriarchal society even though feminists are rising up more and more. Some researchers claim that biological factors like the difference of hormones and how the brain is structured differently is a major part as to why America cannot seem to break the chain of patriarchy. Through this chapter examples of how gender is perceived/rooted links to the way our society is set up. Men still dominate work fields such as engineering, computer science, and physical science. Although women have went from 20 to 60 percent work force population, jobs are relatively gender base. Women still have mostly “pink-collar jobs” with male overhead. While America has come a long way from the past, things like gender inequality, job stratification, and unequal pay make America a patriarchal society.

In Robert Jensen’s article “The High Cost of Manliness”, he states that the idea of masculinity is a bad thing and they should get rid of it. This article debates on the common stereotypes of men, as he states:

In “Guys Suffer from Oppressive Gender Roles Too,” author Julie Zeilinger makes it clear that men’s actions, personalities, and identities are contrived based on society’s expectations. These expectations shove boys and men into a character-like attitude, preventing them from truly discovering themselves. With a society that decides to adhere to these gender roles, any sign of being different from the rest of the world tends to generate a negative reaction. Accepting and learning about gender roles is established at a young age, for anyone of that matter. Whether it be during school, through any form of media, or even from our own friends and family, gender roles are expectations that many boys and men tend to feel threatened by. Zeilinger

Society has clearly defined boundaries between what is considered to be male or female. The development of an individual’s gender role is formed by interactions with those in close proximity. Society constantly tells us how we should look, act and live based on gender, as well as the influence of family, friends and the media have a tremendous impact on how these roles are formed and the expected behavior of each gender role.

It is better not to give birth than to have a baby girl as a child. This was an idea that took place way back in the past of Asian culture countries. Boys were tremendously preferred than girls and girls were thought and treated valueless and useless. This ideology is now considered old-fashioned and improper, however, the same concept still lies in the society. In human society, there always have been certain gender roles. Ever since the primitive age, gender roles existed: men went outside to hunt animals and search for food when women stayed inside to take care of babies and cook. Women were hugely dependent on men in survival. As time passed and many societal ideas changed through time, gender roles have changed as well. Women became more

Aaron Devor discusses the patriarchally-expected gender roles of today’s society. He delves into the discussion of femininity versus masculinity. Society associates femininity with weakness, whilst associating masculinity with greatness.

In the book “You May Ask Yourself”, they define gender roles as “sets of behavioral norms assumed to accompany one’s status as male or female” (Conley Dalton). Gender roles are a very controversial matter. When people think of males, they automatically think of strong, brave, and the breadwinner. On the other hand, when people think of females they think delicate, housewife, and sensitive. I guarantee that most people in the world have this idea of each gender. Why do we think like that though? I think because since we are born, people treat us differently. If you are male then they expect you to be strong and if you’re a female then you should be pretty. We are brought up to the idea that our moms do all the housework and our dads work outside.

Stereotyping is not something that only happens with women; men are meant to fit a certain standard, and those who fail to do this are the target of insults. “Be a man,” “suck it up,” and “don’t cry” are only a few phrases handpicked from a plentiful selection of ego-damaging constructions built into today's society, aimed at boys and men. Reinforcing rhetoric that feminizes emotional expression and masculinizes violence has the power to stunt empathy, drive dominance, and connect respect with fear. Boys are born loving creatures, but at a very young age they are taught the traits, diminutive language, and mindset that aligns them with society’s concept of what it means to be a man. If a man is not like this, then essentially, he is not a true

In the recent years there has been a greater amount of attention brought to the gender roles in America. This is prevalent in many different forms in our society including advertisements and articles. In the Article “The men America left behind” by Kirsten Weir we take a look at the many roles that men take on compared to the women in our current American society. Kristen Weir is a well-known female author that specializes in the science and health industry. These attributes of “masculinity” in men are often the effects of women finding these characteristics attractive in men. We will notice the effects that these roles have on men, including stress and disconnection that men may feel. Men in the American society form strict

gender roles dictates to us what's right or wrong and pleasing to society and how our attitudes, behaviors, and self-presentation methods should be pertaining to your biological sex. This includes norms for behavior, which some researchers have started to call “the rules of masculinity” which is completely wrong.an example of this is boys are told to not bear their imperfections to the public, to keep it private, boys are also told not to wear makeup cause its made for girls and it and it causes an impulsive reactions from people who find it distasteful. another way of how gender roles ruins society is it tells us boys that we shouldn't be too creative or people may think otherwise the way we wear our jeans shouldn't be too tight or we might

Being pressured into conventional roles today is less common than back in the 40’s and 50’s when society had nothing but conforming roles for men and women in society. examples of this come from how men and women were brought up, culture and media. If it were not for these three factors gender roles would be farfetched. But unfortunately, there is still this pressure of gender roles and one way or another everyone has to make the decision of whoever they want to be and live with those roles. In this essay culture, media and how both men and women being raised affect gender roles and socialization.

Gender role refers to those behaviors and attitudes that are considered to belong to one sex. Gender role is based on femininity and masculinity that differentiate women and men by giving men some roles and women which results to gender inequality. There some work in society that is regarded to belong to women such as cooking, taking care of children and other less important roles while men are given roles that makes them superior than women. Most of the gender roles associated with women makes them inferior and creates a room to be oppressed. Gender roles are constructed by society and attributed to women or men. In the book of vindication of the right of a woman, Wollstonecraft brings out clearly the roles of a woman in her society and how it has led to oppression of women (Wollstonecraft 22). Wollstonecraft believes that men and women are equal given the same environment and empowerment, women can do anything a man can do. In her society, education for women is only aimed at making her look pleasing to men. Women are treated as inferior being and used by men as sex objects. Wollstonecraft believed that the quality of mind of women is the same with that of men, and therefore women should not be denied a chance for formal education that will empower them to be equal with men.

What we should know about stereotypes is that they are characteristics that describe groups of people involving gender, race, national origin and other factors. They are a result of incomplete or distorted information accepted as fact without question. A stereotype is an extensively held belief that an individual is a

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