 GENDER ROLES AND SOCIETY:

Gender roles are based on the different expectations that individuals, groups, and societies
have of individuals based on their sex and based on each society's values and beliefs about
gender. Gender roles are the product of the interactions between individuals and their
environments, and they give individuals cues about what sort of behavior is believed to be
appropriate for what sex. Appropriate gender roles are defined according to a society's beliefs
about differences between the sexes.
Gender roles are the roles that men and women are expected to occupy based on their sex.
Traditionally, many Western societies have believed that women are more nurturing than men.
Therefore, the traditional view of the feminine gender role prescribes that woman should
behave in ways that are nurturing. One way that a woman might engage in the traditional
feminine gender role would be to nurture her family by working full-time rather than taking
employment outside of the home. Men, on the other hand, are presumed by traditional views
of gender roles to be leaders. The traditional view of the masculine gender role, therefore,
suggests that men should be the heads of their households by providing financially for the
family and
making important family decisions. While these views remain dominant in many spheres of
society, alternative perspectives on traditional beliefs about gender roles have gained
increasing support in the twenty-first century. Different disciplines offer a range of perspectives
on gender roles. An ecological perspective on gender roles suggests that gender roles are
created by the interactions between individuals, communities, and their environments. That is,
while individual people play
a role in constructing gender roles, so to do the physical and social environments within which
people operate. A biological perspective on gender roles suggests that women have a natural
affinity toward the feminine gender role and that men have a natural affinity toward the
masculine gender role. The biological perspective does not, however, suggest that one role
holds any inherently greater value than another role. A sociological perspective toward gender
roles suggests that masculine and feminine roles are learned and that masculine and feminine
gender roles are not necessarily connected to males' and females' biological traits. Sociologists
study the different meanings and values that masculine and feminine gender roles hold in
society. Related to the

sociological perspective, a feminist perspective on

gender roles might assert that because gender roles are learned, they can also be unlearned,
and that new and different roles can be created. The feminist perspective points out that
gender roles are not simply ideas about appropriate behavior for males and females but are
 also linked to the different levels of power that males and females hold in society. For example,
maintaining economic control over themselves and their families is one way that men
experience greater power in society than women. Because men are expected to be the primary
breadwinners for their families, women often find themselves to be in poverty if their
marriages dissolve. In this example, a feminist perspective would assert that men tend to hold
more power in their marriages than women since men are less likely to lose power or social
status if their marriages dissolve.

 SOCIETY AND NORMS:

Many people still stick to traditional ideas that men and women should behave in ways that fall
into specific categories determined solely on their gender. However, male or female gender-
specific identities are irrelevant in modern, civilized society. Gender roles are social constructs
developed over time and are not based on natural human behavior. This is because gender
roles evolved as a way to organize the necessary tasks done in early human society. Some may
say that due to the fact that traditional gender roles have been practiced for so long, they
should not be changed, and are now a key element in human development. Nevertheless, in
many of the modern societies today, there is no need for traditional gender roles, because both
men and women are able to do many of the same necessary tasks, thereby making gender-
specific behaviors irrelevant. These stereotypes can be harmful because they motivate people
to condemn and oppress those who do not fit the traditional gender roles. As a result of this
oppression, many people struggle to reach their full potential. Therefore, it is critical that we
encourage everyone to follow and express their own truth, regardless of gender norms, so that
everyone is able contribute fully to our society.
Women began to stay home or within the settlement to take care of children, make clothes,
and other domestic tasks, while men worked the fields to grow food, domesticate animals, and
continue to hunt, although to a lesser scale. While children and women did tend to the fields
with the men, they were often not as physically capable as the men, and thus began to be
valued as less. This shows that roles were not necessarily based on gender, but rather they
were based on societal needs, and, since needs remained relatively the same, they became
seen as the traditional roles that men and women needed to fulfill. This demonstrates how
gender roles were created based on the needs of a society. However today, the majority of the
jobs that are viewed as important, such as being a lawyer, doctor, politician, business executive,
etc., are attainable by both sexes. This means that past gender roles should not apply anymore,
because both sexes are now equally capable of contributing to society.

 GENDER STEREOTYPING:
Gender stereotypes are oversimplified understandings of males and females and the
differences between them. Individuals sometimes base their perceptions about appropriate
gender roles upon gender stereotypes. Gender stereotypes tend to include exaggerated or
erroneous assertions about the nature of males and
females. For example, a common gender stereotype about males is that they are not
emotional. Females, on the other hand, are commonly stereotyped as being irrational or overly
emotional. Political movements such
as the feminist movement continue to work to deconstruct gender stereotypes and offer
alternative visions of gender roles that emphasize equality between women and men.

 How do gender stereotypes affect people?

Stereotypes about gender can cause unequal and unfair treatment because of a person’s
gender. A gender stereotype is harmful when it limits women’s and men’s capacity to develop
their personal abilities, pursue their professional careers and/or make choices about their lives.

Hyper femininity is the exaggeration of stereotyped behavior that’s believed to be feminine.

Hyperfeminine folks exaggerate the qualities they believe to be feminine. This may include
being passive, naive, sexually inexperienced, soft, flirtatious, graceful, nurturing, and accepting.
Hypermasculinity is the exaggeration of stereotyped behavior that’s believed to be masculine.
Hypermasculine folks exaggerate the qualities they believe to be masculine. They believe
they’re supposed to compete with other men and dominate feminine folks by being aggressive,
worldly, sexually experienced, insensitive, physically imposing, ambitious, and demanding.
These exaggerated gender stereotypes can make relationships between people difficult.
Hyperfeminine folks are more likely to endure physical and emotional abuse from their
partners. Hypermasculine folks are more likely to be physically and emotionally abusive to their
partners.
Extreme gender stereotypes are harmful because they don’t allow people to fully express
themselves and their emotions. For example, it’s harmful to masculine folks to feel that they’re
not allowed to cry or express sensitive emotions. And it’s harmful to feminine folks to feel that
they’re not allowed to be independent, smart or assertive. Breaking down gender stereotypes
allows everyone to be their best selves.

 Masculinity and femineity:

Masculinity is defined as a set of performances, beliefs, and customs that are
produced and reproduced across time, space, and one’s life span. Men who take
part in the household chores and performed domestic masculinities and are
unwilling to reproduce masculinity performances and do not refrain from engaging in
so-called womanly duties.
Our findings reveal the complex dynamics of gendered stereotypes, divisions of
tasks, and persistent hegemonic masculinities. As shown in image below traditional
stereotypes on embedded gender roles lead to unequal divisions of household tasks.
Our research found evidence that male performances and perceptions of household
chores emerged under two main themes. The first was the construction of gendered
roles and how they defined being a man, and the second was their performances
within the home. The latter is discussed in relation to masculine domesticity. Our
findings reflected two types of masculinities – one that takes on traditional
discourses and masculinity as a gender role and one that performs domestic
masculinity by being emotionally and physically engaged in house and care work but
nevertheless does not challenge the traditional gendered roles.

Masculine and Feminine. When hearing those two words you might immediately think of
men and women. I wouldn’t blame you, many of us are told that men must be masculine
and women must be feminine.

I want to talk about why masculinity and femininity are not the same things as
gender and why they are two completely different things.
Let’s start with some traits that are considered masculine
 Dominant
 Strong
 Independent
 Assertive
 Brave
  Innovative

Now for some traits that are considered feminine

 Emotional
 Collaborative
 Nurturing
 Vulnerable
 Caring
 Humble

When looking at both these traits I don’t see gender. Traditionally feminine traits are
considered bad or unwanted, I believe that is why women and men have taken to more
masculine traits. In the workplace, I found it better to be dominant, assertive, and strong
than it is to be caring, humble and emotional. Now, why is this? Why have we taken
these traits and immediately started labeling them? All of the feminine traits are
associated with women, whereas the masculine traits are associated with men. If a
woman is seen being dominant or assertive, she is bossy, but if a man is dominant or
assertive, he’s a boss and is taking control. We can say the same thing about a man
who is seen crying or being caring, he can be considered weak, but if a woman is
emotional or caring it is considered good or the way she is supposed to act.

It is time that society realizes that masculinity and femininity are not traits we associate
with depending on gender, but instead depending on the character. To be balanced and
better people, I believe we need to have both masculine traits and feminine traits.