society and gender roles

Humans are used to a particular way of life that establishes their gender roles. Therefore, a person's gender is determined by the behavior that is expected of them in a culture rather than by their biological makeup. For instance, guys are drilled from an early age to act tough, never reveal their emotions in public, and be macho. However, girls are encouraged to be kind, maintain their beauty, and pay care to their appearance. As kids get older, they imitate the gender roles that society has established, which causes them to be ingrained in their new environment. However, being a certain gender tends to restrict one's ability to think independently because they must conform to social expectations. The modern society has become defiant of doing gender as either set is bent on ensuring that they achieve to their capability while disregarding the societal notions. This essay analyses the concept of dong gender and further give scenarios doing gender in the current society.

For instance, women who have taken over the corporate world, traditionally reserved for the men, have to live up to the fact that they have taken up manly role. Eventually, the ladies have to prove themselves through hard work that they are worth their salt and the recognition in their various position of power. Whenever an individual defies the socially accepted norms in regards to the gender roles, they are sometimes regarded as abnormal and often, people tend to associate less with them. Moreover, gay marriages seem to go against the accepted norm of having the opposite gender intermarry. The issue of submission is critical in a marriage but for instance when two males marry; the person to submit has to act like a lady.

While growing up, boys and girls had clear defined roles. For instance, the girls were expected to take care of the home by cleaning, cooking and feeding the domestic animals. Although we had a house help, I was actively involved in ensuring that everything was in order by the time my parents returned from work. Ladies were also forbidden from engaging in manly behavior like playing rough games like rugby, looking untidy or even using cursing words. If reported to the parents, we would get a thrashing that’s would remind us of our identity. Therefore, my sisters and I grew up with very clear roles and there was hence no source of conflict pertaining what was to be done in the home. The girl child was hence expected to be busy in the kitchen preparing meals for the family and ensuring that everything was in order.

The one instance that I violated my gender role is when I contested for the captain’s position in the elementary school. For a long time, it was the school’s tradition that only boys would lead and girls would then be given lesser roles like supervising cleaning. The students however seemed to have loved the idea of having a different gender rule them. However, my parents were opposed to the idea and they made frantic efforts to ensure that I would quit the race. They felt that having such a leadership position would affect my performance since I would not handle the pressure well and I would also get too much stress from the added responsibilities. I however was successfully elected as the school’s captain with a margin of 95% vote while my opponent only got the remaining 5%. From the experience, I realize that I am capable and I am the only hindrance to my success.

This course transformed my thoughts in regards to doing gender. It is indeed possible for the gender roles to intermingle and the determining factor should only be the ability. For instance, men have actively come up to raise children on their own, something that would be unheard off in the past. More men have taken up parenting roles and hence participate in the disciplining, tendering and even cleaning the young ones. A man would not change the child’s diapers previously, but nowadays the society has accepted the changing roles.

Gender roles are a form of social control as they help to demarcate the responsibilities of men and the women. If gender roles never existed, the society would seem disorganized. While some gender roles only serve to limit individual sex, it is evident that they help promote order in the community. It is evident for instance that the mother ought to nurture their children. While the modern man can avail himself and take care of the child, they cannot fill the role of a mother.

In conclusion, while it is important for the society to maintain some gender roles to create a balance in the society, there is a need to allow people to be independent. Doing gender confines people to a particular line of thought thus limiting their creative side. Furthermore, with education, women have proven that they can level the men in the workplace and even the social arena. People should be regarded as individuals and hence given equal opportunities to showcase their talent. Mannerism and presentation sills should however be reinforced especially to the young adults to help have a morally straight society.