Paper Example on Gender and Gender Roles

Introduction

Gender refers to the state of belonging to either of the two sexes, that is, male or female. The term however, generally refers to references regarding the cultural and social characteristics that define the sexes rather than their anatomy (Lindsey, 2015). In most societies, the differences between the two defined social structures and roles that could be done by any individual and were highly institutionalized and ingrained in most groups within communities. In the recent past, these perceptions have begun to be questioned more so with the advent of technology and quick modernizations experienced after the two world wars (McBride, 2016). This paper provides an analysis of how gender roles are quite evident and pronounced within our society while being reinforced by long established ideas that regularize and normalize the practices making them acceptable to society.

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Discussion

The perception of gender defines the identity of an individual and splits communities into two factions that are well distinguished along sexual orientations as either male or female. Social stratifications enable divisions that allocate different roles to each side and generally set out the behaviors and norms expected from each individual based on this categorization (Kuo, 2016). In effect, different roles are allocated to groupings solely based on their gender in most cases irrespective of persons' interests or ability.

However, despite the fact that this social construct is prevalent in most societies globally, the roles allocated for each sex vary from one community to another. A problem of choice is thus created where individuals do not have the free will to embark on fields that are of interest to them but have to rather abide by the unwritten rules that are deeply entrenched into society (Kuo, 2016).

Typically, women are viewed as being limited in ability coupled with the inability to make rational decisions far removed from reality as they are driven by emotions and empathy (Lindsey, 2015). This view, therefore, legitimizes the decision to segregate women from decision-making positions and as a result designates them to perform more mundane activities that are repetitive and require less mental action. On the whole, this scenario is not isolated and cuts across most fields of human endeavor. Consequently, women are worse off in this socially entrenched system of allocating roles and responsibility based on gender (McBride, 2016).

However, since these gender defined roles have been practiced for a long time, they have come to form an acceptable part of most societies and have only recently been questioned (Lindsey, 2015). In today's world, the gender based social construct is clearly evident both within the family setting and work places. Men and women tend to socialize along this social template provided by society and rarely deviate from the norm. These divisions are further underlined by labor as well as the state (Oakley, 2016). For example, within the medical profession, women were expected to play the role of nurses while men generally studied medicine to be doctors with the former exercising less powers in the running of a health facility but nevertheless expected to embody all the attributes expected of a woman (Lindsey, 2015). These attitudes include empathy, a willingness to engage and supposedly an in-built motherly approach to anguish faced by fellow human beings.

Television films and shows follow along the same script and routinely portray women in a supporting role usually playing the same society ascribed roles while the men in those movies hog all the lime light while virtues expected from men (Oakley, 2016). As stated above, in a majority of governments across the globe, positions of decision making that come with power are disproportionately assigned to men while women are relegated to secretarial jobs that are regarded as a preserve of young ladies. Within the family setting, women are expected to be submissive to their husbands, which is a perpetuation of the gender social construct and limits their ability to seek career growth opportunities (McBride, 2016). It is a common practice to expect women to act as stay at home mothers while the opposite gender toils and provides for the homestead. The practice takes away financial freedom from these women and leaves them with no choice but to stay submissive to their spouses.

Conclusion

The gender roles discrepancies continue to persist because of ingrained social norms and ideas. Women are viewed as weak physically and this extends to their mental ability being seen as inferior to that of men. While young boys are brought up to be aggressive and seek opportunities wherever possible, young girls are taught submission and respect for boundaries that are set by society (Kuo, 2016). These views are carried on to adulthood and generally affects how individuals view gender and roles they should play.

Formal education alongside sensitization of communities on the advantages and need of a more inclusive society continue to break down the societal boundaries based on gender as they question the morality and sustainability of a system that leaves out half the population form actively engaging in human advancement (McBride, 2016).

References

Kuo, P. (2016). Who should do what? Gender Roles and the Transitions to First-and Second-Time Parenthood: Lessons from Television and Consequences in Co-parenting. Retrieved from: https://www.deepblue.lib.umich.edu

Lindsey, l.l. (2015). Gender roles: A sociological perspective. Washington University, St. Louis. Sixth Edition. 43, 2-32 Retrieved from: https:// https://books.google.co.ke/books?y#v=onepage&q=gender%20roles&f=false

McBride, D.E,. & Parry, J.A (2016). Women's rights in the USA: Policy debates and gender roles. Retrieved from: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781317564591

Oakley, A. (2016) Sex, gender and society. London, Routledge ISBN 9781351900928. Retrieved from: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781351900928