Are gender rolls rightfully accepted by society?
Are gender rolls rightfully accepted by society?
Most people understand that there are strict behavioral rolls that guide individuals how to act appropriately as males and females. These gender rolls dictating appropriate gender behavior seem to be predicting in how society sees the relation between sex and gender. Males and females have very different statuses. Often times ones gender is inconsistent with what society deems appropriate. In the book, The Last Time I Wore a Dress,by Steve Ottero and in the movie, Boys Don't Cry, by Janis Thomas imposed social control, "an attempt by society to regulate people's thought and behavior" (Ross,485), to discourage inappropriate behavior and to encourage appropriate behavior.
When we think about sex and gender we often think of sex or gender rolls, which is "an attitude or activity that links society to each sex" (Ross,495). When boys play rough and get into fights, light their farts on fire, and roll around in the mud we often think of such behavior to be natural. When girls play house, see the need for a Barbie doll, and wear dresses, society thinks it makes sense. This is a prime example of gender roll in our society.
Regardless of the differences in sex and gender most people see a relation between the two that enables them to develop strict behavioral rolls that dictate appropriate behavior for males and females. For example, it seemed natural for people 200 years ago that women should stay home and nourish the children while the men exposed themselves to harsh manual labor, labor which was then requiring endurance and strength, something females were not considered to have. Now these barriers are being broken. The idea of more men staying at home with the children and women working to support the family is more acceptable than ever before.
Because men and women are perceived to have different functions, we set up markers to distinguish the functions and solidify them through gender role socialization. Research suggests that gender role socialization begins at an early age. Parents often sex type babies at birth and describe males and females in different ways. Fathers for example are more likely to engage in rough types of play with their young sons than their daughters. Females are often stereotyped as needing more help than boys. Young males get toy guns and females get dolls. Further research suggest that males and females already have a...