In my opinion, current gender ideals in American society are a stark dichotomy. There are the more traditional views which expect men and women to fulfill very specific roles. Women (at least, ideally) are expected to be feminine, delicate, attractive, and in many cases, stay home to tend to their homes and families. Men should portray the opposing characteristics: masculine, muscular, and providers for their families. The other school of thought for gender ideals includes those which hold the belief that gender is simply a social construct and is fluid in nature. With this new thinking, people are encouraged to explore their gender and are not restricted to the predetermined roles, as with the aforementioned, traditional way of thinking.
