| Gender Roles |
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Posted by: Roohani A gender role is defined as a set of perceived behavioral norms associated particularly with males or females. The society has defined roles for each gender since history. These roles state that of every married couple, the woman would be the home-maker and the man would be the breadwinner. Now I don't have anything personally against these roles. Usually many people are happy conforming to traditional roles. Gender roles only become a problem when they are forced on an individual or when there is a huge social outcry when one wishes to go against said roles. Not everyone likes the roles their gender is suppose to follow. Why should they be forced into a role simply because of the gender they were born into? Do you believe one should be forced to stay in the class their parents were simply because they were born into it? People should be able to make their own choices about their own lives. If that means a man wants to be a stay at home father, fine. If that means a woman wants a career, fine. I don't understand why people have such issus with gender roles. Anti feminists claim that feminists have something against women who choose these traditional roles. We don't. It is the *stereotyping* the role of a woman (being a mother and home maker) is what I have a problem with, and not the roles. When a woman is expected to do what her traditional gender roles have always been, and not given a choice to follow her own choices, that's where feminism comes up. There still exists approximately one man out of every ten men who thinks that his wife is supposed to stay at home, cook for him, clean for him, wait on his hand and foot, give up her dreams and devote herself to him, give him sex when he wants it, doesn't fight or raise a voice at him, (as if life is all about HIM).. She is a human being who has every right to refuse the traditionally expected roles thrust upon her, and men need to change their attitude of leaving all housework and family and children and kitchen responsibnitly on her. Just bcoz she has XX chromosomes in her body and two different parts doesnt mean she needs to become a slave to penis owners. The whole idea of stereotyping women as wife/mother and men as the person who works has been questioned enough times now, and by now everyone agrees that men and women are both HUMANS and are both capable of doing everything. Women are subjected to extreme criticism when they choose to work (how they're neglecting their children, how they're putting wrong impressions on their children, on and on). Women are thrown out of their workplace if they are in the process of giving birth. Sure, some women would prefer the traditional roles over working, and we respect their choices. The problem arises when a woman chooses NOT to do what is traditionally expected of her, and she is looked down upon by her family and is subjected to criticism, hence having to go against her choice. I've heard from a lot of people that because of the coming of feminism, women have "forgotten what being a woman is really about." So, what exactly is being a woman about - conforming to traditional roles, not thinking for themselves, not doing what they thought of doing with their own lives? Being a woman isnt "really" all about taking care of home adn raising children and being stay at home moms. Every woman is different and may want a different kind of lifestyle. If some women dont like staying at home, by all means they shouldnt be forced to stay at home. There are biological and physical differences between a man and a woman. Appreciating them and living with them is one thing. Turning them into social differences, into oppression of one whole gender, stereotyping roles, refusing choice, contributing to gender discrimination and refusing to treat women as human beings is another thing, which is absolutely unacceptable. I think life has too many option for all of us, why to limit those options? Following "roles", make us all build a tiny box, I believe life is much more than that, if we explore and get free from preconceptions. Gender roles and stereotypes limit our choices more than they help us. |