Relationships And Gender Roles

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Many people do not realize that power in a relationship and gender roles still exist and it is a controversial issue between men and women. Most people ignore or simply do not notice these gender differences. Women were always classified as being powerless in their marriages, politics, and the workforce. Also being seen as subordinate their husbands and are not worthy of making decisions. Seen as just a “mother” to stay at home and attend to her children all day, while the husband works to bring home the bread. Power is seen throughout everything such as relationships, work places, or at home. But who has the power over another individual (relationship wise)? Why does a “powerful” person feel like they have this power over another person? …show more content…
Margaret Mead, GIVE CREDIT, says “gender is a social construct specifying the socially and culturally prescribed roles that men and women are to follow.” Men and women may not even realize they are following these social construct on how they should perform depending on their gender. However, it is an issue still to this day. Men and women are not seen as equal and are not depicted as equals (whether it be films, news, teachers, etc.). “Women have always had lower status than men” (Mead). Throughout history women have been under the control of men without a say. Many women, who disobey their husbands in anyway were “stricken” (beaten, maybe brutal, or a slap). The women’s role was to stay at home and attend to the children, cook, and clean. “While men traditionally had roles away from the home which involved providing for their families, women would remain in the home and care for the children. Women have always been homemakers in history books, but these roles were only firmly established during medieval period. During this time, legislation and and church ruling emerged, dictating a woman’s role and how she should manage her own life without the supervision of a man. For example, in medieval Europe, women could only manage their own finances if they became a femme sole, ‘which means widowed in modern terms. While men would work and fight wars, women stayed home and fulfilled the roles of childbearing and rearing. This often meant women were subjected to greater scrutiny than men and were afforded less privileges. For example, in royal society, a man was permitted to have a mistress, but a woman having an affair could result in her being banished and sent to a nunnery or execution.” Has society used religious ideology in order to control women? During the time religion was very important especially among blacks.

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