Essay Sample on Gender Roles

Introduction

For centuries, the society has had expectations of how men and women should conduct themselves. The ideas of how either gender should present themselves vary across communities, ethnic groups, and cultures. Each society has clear, often unwritten expectations of the male and female members. It expects people to think, act, speak and dress in a particular way. A society's gender schemas essentially define the concept of masculinity and femininity (Oakley, 2016). However, over time, the expectations can change. Interaction with agents of socialization from other societies impacts a community's gender roles expectations. Due to traditional expectations, cultures have developed stereotypes that limit both genders.

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I have been brought up in a society with particular expectations for both male and female members of the community. Strong gender stereotypes characterize my cultural background. Socialization agents, such as my parents, teachers, and religion have been instrumental in reinforcing the society's biased view of gender roles (Eagly, 2013). My parents have had the most influence on the perceptions and understanding that I have developed. Since childhood, my father and mother have treated us in a different manner. Our father has always been stern with us whenever we make mistakes. Our mother offered us solace and comfort after being punished. Thus, I have grown up knowing that men are expected to be authoritative and aggressive. Equally, women are the accommodating and emotionally available members of the society.

Socialization in the home setting has shaped my belief that women are supposed to carry out the role of a caregiver. The man is expected to provide for the family. I believe that women should do duties such as cooking, cleaning, and raising children. With my father being away from home so often, these responsibilities automatically fell to my mother. She performed these tasks gracefully without ever complaining. Occasionally, she told us that she drew satisfaction from keeping her home tidy and taking care of us. Apart from providing finances for the home, my father carried out roles such as home repairs. The interaction in the home setting has influenced my belief that the male gender is in charge of decision-making and financial responsibility (Eagly, 2013). The female gender inclines towards the nurturance of the family.

I believe that women lack assertiveness and independence, unlike their male counterparts. They fail to exude a confident, aggressive personality as compared to men. My religious background has reinforced the belief. Religious teachings have always portrayed the woman as second to man (Oakley, 2016). I have grown up listening to instructions that depict a woman's submissiveness as a sign of virtue and respect for the man. The impact of the lessons has led me to believe it is normal for men to dominate in almost all sectors of life. Thus, I think that men perform better than women in some occupations. Consequently, I grew up knowing professions such as doctors and engineers are reserved for men while nursing and teaching are for women.

Conclusion

My upbringing has played a vital role in my understanding of gender role expectations. I believe that men are the superior gender in the society. However, I have noticed a gradual change in how my community treats the female gender. Regardless, there still exist strong stereotypes used to discriminate against women who are steering the change. The bias is caused by a rigid mindset that cannot embrace the changes taking place in the society. Wide-scale interaction has resulted in cultural and social differences that are slowly influencing my perception of gender roles. Thus, I believe that in some years to come, social change may invalidate my beliefs.

References

Eagly, A. H. (2013). Sex differences in social behavior: A social-role interpretation. Psychology Press.

Oakley, A. (2016). Sex, gender, and society. US: Routledge.