Molding Gender Roles
"What is gender? It is something everyone has, but rarely thinks about. They know they are either a man or a woman and simply take it for granted. Does it mean genetic status as XX or XY, or does it mean the sum of our development up until birth? Or is it simply the social label applied to us by our birth certificates?" (About Gender). In one short essay, "Women and Men Talking on the Job," Deborah Tannen argues that gender roles are defined from our peers when we are children. On the other hand, in "How Men and Women Think," Nicholas Wade disagrees saying the difference may be the direct result of men and women brains. Most people believe that we learn to behave the way we do, while a few argue that behavior is instinctive and predicted by our biology. In American societies, girls are taught by their family members and peers to act in feminine ways. As the child grows, it learns that certain expressions of its personality are appropriate to its sexual label, while others are not. Although times have changed, stereotypical images and ideas of women can still be found. For instance, women are known to be more intuitive, emotional, and submissive. One of the aspects of femininity, submission, can be
On the other hand, in order to mold to their gender role, boys are brought up to abide by different sets of standards. Unlike girls, boys are told to be bossy and demanding. Boys often acquire this confidence by being instructed to live their lives in the spotlight. They are also shown to act this way through the relationship of their parents. Most fathers possess the majority of the authority in the family, with the wife abiding to his demands. There is also a consequence for boys who don't fit this role. Boys who act submissively are frequently ridiculed by their friends. They might be labeled a "sissy" of even rejected from a certain group. Tannen reasons saying, "Boys don't typically accuse each other of being 'bossy' because the high-status boys are expected to give orders and push the low-status boys around" (Tannen 554). Similar to girls, there is an immense pressure on boys to fit into their gender role. developed through the relationship of child's parents. In the stereotypical marriage, the wife is submissive to the husband. When the daughter witnesses this relationship, she learns to mirror her mother's behavior. However, her peers also hold a strong impact on her actions. For example, when girls act too aggr
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Approximate Word count = 836
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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