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Gender refers to the different characteristics concerning femininity and masculinity that influence a persons identity. Gender roles refer to behaviors and characters a person is supposed to have depending on their sex (Blackstone 335). Ideas about gender and gender roles are ingrained and reinforced in ones mind from a young age. This is because many of these roles are taught through stories at a young age that kids grow up with. Many cultural beliefs are taught through stories and are passed on from one generation to the other.
While growing up, kids are shown how to behave by their elders. This will most likely shape how a persons views the different genders and the role assigned to each gender. The environment one is growing up in also affects ones views on gender roles and educates them on what is the appropriate behavior for each gender (Blackstone 335). If one grows up in an environment where there is gender discrimination, they are likely to believe it to be true and fair.
Depending on the culture they are based on, gender and gender roles often differ. Some cultures do not believe in gender roles, and everyone is supposed to behave the same way, thus promoting equality, but that is not always the case. For example, for European American middle-class women, men are the providers in the family, while the women are expected to stay home and take care of the family (Blackstone 335). However, this is not the case for women of color as they are expected to help with the family income; thus, they also work like their husbands.
Gender and gender roles completely differ when it comes to generations. The older generation still believes that women are supposed to be in the kitchen while men must be breadwinners. The newer generation believes that all genders are equal and there is no specific job for a certain gender. For example, in the corporate world, due to the traditional beliefs of that generation, men were not given parental leave benefits (Blackstone 337). This is, however, changing with the newer generation as fathers are allowed to go on paternal leave.
Work Cited
Blackstone, Amy M. Gender roles and society. Human Ecology: An Encyclopedia of Children, Families, Communities, and Environments edited by Julia R. Miller, Richard M. Lerner, and Lawrence B. Schiamberg, ABC-CLIO , 2003, pp. 335-338.
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