Essay on Gender Roles - 2001 Words

The term gender roles refers to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered appropriate for individuals of a certain gender. These roles vary between cultures. Gender roles, unlike gender itself, are socially constructed. They may reflect the natural aspirations of the gender, or they may be manipulated, resulting in the oppression of a gender. Historically, gender roles have not always been consistent with those we have today. Though in many ancient societies men have been dominant to women, there are example where women have been considered equal to men, and where women have been dominant over men. In hunting and gathering societies, such as the ones of early humans, males and females were considered equal. Because of†¦show more content†¦Although, men and women were not fully equal, women still had many more rights in Egypt than in other civilizations. Ancient Sparta, one of the many Greek city-states, was unique in the sense that Spartan women and men shared equal rights and opportunities, where women were considered lesser in other Greek societies. While Sparta might be seen as a male dominant society, due to its war-like, violent nature, women were not considered inferior by the men. At birth, both male and female babies were bathed in wine to test their strength. Those who failed this test were abandoned. Boys were enrolled in military school at the age of seven, and female children were given education at this time. The Spartans were the only Greeks who included the education of women as a state policy. Women did not learn domestic tasks during this education. They were given physical training and taught gymnastics, javelin, foot races and staged battles. While men were away at battle, women were often the ones defending the city from invaders. Spartan women were not required to stay at home all day like other Greek women. Th e women also possessed economic power, controlling property and the family wealth. Women often voiced their opinions, while the men listened to their wives as well. Although these freedoms wereShow MoreRelatedGender, Masculinity, And Gender Roles1380 Words   |  6 Pagesenvironment, but is instead, viewed from the perspective of women themselves. They are not observed from outside in, but from the inside out. At the same time, Danzon reverses and thus subverts the classic representations of gender, while relocating and challenging gender roles. Unlike the common representation of women in former Mexican cinema, femininity is not defined as being an opposition to masculinity in the film. In fact, men almost rarely appear. When they do appear, they appear as constructedRead MoreThe Role Of Socialization And Gender Roles852 Words   |  4 PagesINTRODUCTIOn tell me what you are focussing on†¦..family and theirgender roles Socialisation is the process by which a child learns to respect his or her environmental laws such as norms, values and customs. Socialisation helps the infant gradually become self-aware and a knowledgeable person, skilled in the ways of the culture into which he or she is born. Children within the primary socialisation of the family learn a great deal from parents and other care givers such as grandparents, grandmothersRead MoreGender Roles And Gender Role844 Words   |  4 PagesGender Roles can be defined as roles society expects people to play on account of their sex life. Like all roles, gender roles are made up of sets of expectations, so they can be thought of as sets of expirations, so they can be thought of as sets of expectation that are attached to sex.(pp: 220 John E. 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The traditional gender role for the female purpose is toRead MoreGender Roles And Gender Role Essay1385 Words   |  6 PagesOF SUBMISSION Gender roles Introduction Gender is set of characteristics that may be used to differentiate between female and male through the use of one’s gender or through gender identity therefore. Gender role can be considered as the hypothetical construct in humanities and in many social sciences referring to a set of behavioral and social norms which in a particular culture may be largely regarded to be socially appropriate for individuals of a particular sex, gender roles vary from variousRead MoreThe Shift Of Gender Roles940 Words   |  4 PagesThe Shift of Gender Roles Gender roles are a major component of many wonderful pieces of literature and differ as time passes. The amazing part about reading novels set in different time periods is that as readers we can see the progression of these gender roles throughout time. Willa Cather s novel One of Ours displays both traditional and non-traditional gender roles. These gender roles are displayed through the main characters Claude and Enid, and minor characters such as Leonard Dawson andRead MoreThe Influence Of Gender Roles1404 Words   |  6 Pages The Influence of Gender Role Stereotyping Shawn Berkley Santa Fe College Abstract Study on gender role stereotypes has shown that there are several negative effects of stereotyping. The study on how gender role stereotyping effects children is not as prevalent because most believe that it doesn’t matter, since children are just forming their stereotype so children do not care. However, some psychologists have done some research on it, and from their researchRead MoreGender Roles in Society1047 Words   |  4 PagesBroadly conceptualized, gender roles are what our society expects and values in their community. They shape our behavior and values, thoughts and feelings, even going so far as to denote a person’s worth. Gender roles are present in everyday situations. In the past they strictly dictated the behavior of people in the community (the right to vote, occupations women were allowed to work in), though in the recent past have become more subtle and more successfully challenged. In some instances they areRead MoreThe Gender Roles Of A Woman975 Wo rds   |  4 Pagesshe is immediately outcasted and seen as a problem instead of embraced. Anowa, who is the young lady protagonist in Ama Ata Aidoo’s short story, â€Å"Anowa†, does just that. She challenges the gender roles in many ways throughout the story in order to push back against the idea that all women should accept the role as the passive bystander to her male counterpart that society and traditions have predetermined for her, she ultimately expects more out of her life than just living her mother’s life. RegardlessRead More Gender Roles Essay864 Words   |  4 PagesGender Roles The affects of gender roles on people greatly change the way the society runs. According to the Websters dictionary the definition of gender are the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex, and the definition of role is a character assigned or assumed. The key word in this definition is assumed; therefore, whether you are male or female, you know what role you must play in society. Traditional gender roles are beneficial