Introduction
Gender refers to the cultural distinctions between men and women, such as those made by society and culture based on sex. As a result, a person’s sex never changes, but their gender occasionally does. The society in which people live largely shapes how men and women are perceived and what is expected of them. People claim that gender is, therefore, socially created. This essay will detail the social roles of men and women and the gender inequalities that continue to exist.
Discussion
According to social learning theorists, gender is a taught habit. For instance, as a youngster matures and develops, they learn about typical behaviors from their social surroundings and come to grasp gender identity. For example, in Trifles, Henry Peters states, “Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves” (Glaspell 10). This shows the attitude towards the role of a man and a woman in society. Additionally, a person’s choice of identity is based on a number of social and personal characteristics. A strong sense of one’s strengths, weaknesses, and uniqueness are all characteristics of a well-developed identity. On the other side, if an individual’s identity is not fully formed, they will not have a fully formed, defined sense of who they are.
Gender roles are not personality traits or patterns of action. Instead, gender roles are a result of socialization or the process through which young people learn what actions are acceptable in society. What children see and hear in their families and the outside world affects how they see the roles that are suitable for various genders. Brave Orchid from No Name Woman describes womanhood in the following way, “Now that you have started to menstruate, what happened to her could happen to you. Don’t humiliate us…. The villagers are watchful” (Kingston 15). In this quote, socializing agents, or entities that persuade people to adhere to particular social standards, enforce gender roles.
Passivity, humility, cooperation, expressiveness, kindness, fragility, and selflessness are all characteristics of the feminine personality. To conform to the traditional feminine ideal, women are supposed to be kind, nice, and deferent, especially to men. In addition, women are required to keep or strive for a slim or curvy shape, dress modestly, and don makeup.
Dominance, aggressiveness, logic, independence, competitiveness, and strength are examples of masculine personality traits. To conform to the traditional male image, men are supposed to exhibit physical strength, athletic prowess, and domination over women. Men are also required to adhere to certain physical standards, such as having a strong, athletic build, particularly facial hair, and grooming rituals. For men, traditional gender roles include: Some of these traditional roles are reflected in popular culture; for example, in the movie But I’m a Cheerleader, Marry Brown states, “ No! Foreplay is for sissies! Real men go in, unload, and pull out!” This reflects how men are viewed in society and the expectations of their behavior.
Despite the progress that the civil rights movements have achieved over the last decades, there are still disparities between men and women. Men have been the dominant gender, while women have been in the minority for a long time, which inevitably affects the social systems and culture. This is mostly because women took care of the home and the kids while men worked to support their families. Today, gender inequality is still a significant problem.
Conclusion
In summary, the term “gender” describes how society and culture make distinctions between men and women based on things like sex. Numerous social and personal traits influence a person’s choice of identity. The process through which young people learn what behaviors are acceptable in society—socialization—leads to the development of gender roles. Despite the civil rights movement’s successes, there are still differences between men and women.
Work Cited
Glaspell, Susan. Trifles: A Play in One Act. Walter, H, 1948.
Kingston, Maxine Hong. No Name Woman. Oates and Atwan, 1993.
But I’m a Cheerleader. Directed by Jamie Babbit, Lions Gate Films, 2000.