Nicole Forster
Mrs. Sandoval
12th Humanities
January 30 2017
Gender Roles: True Inequality
The pervasiveness of traditional gender roles seem to be an omnipresent force in every aspect of our society. Frequently, we can often recognize and acknowledge overt sexism, but avoid tackling our bigger obstacle, the driving force behind gendered behaviors, our gender roles. We shy away from the subject, either perceiving it as too big to tackle, seeing gender qualities as innate characteristics possessed by male and females that dictate the behaviors of our entire lives. What we have failed to recognize as a society that is at times, becoming increasingly more aware of issues pertaining to women, our true obstacle in creating legitimate equality …show more content…
In fact, studies have proven that the brains of male and females, while retaining some specific qualities, are so malleable throughout the course of one’s life that gender is not a definitive factor your ability to perform a skill or job, or even decide your behavior.
While genetically, women possess strengths focused on multitasking, empathy, and nurturing behavior, men have strengths in more linear behavior and “direct” subjects, such as math and science. The enduring issue is that the stereotypical behavior expected for gender puts women’s self-worth and opportunities beneath that of men.
The people who believe in “natural” gender roles make the assumption that boys are good at math, logic, and reasoning while girls are better suited for the humanities, possessing natural compassionate behavior, refrain from seeing that the opportunities presented to women are inferior in our perceptions of them. The argument implies that men will be leaders, scientists, engineers, while girls will be caretakers, mothers, friends, and supporters.
If we are perpetuating the idea that girls hate math, that they have little prospect in developing tangible skill, will lead to girls to distance themselves from the …show more content…
Men fix things, they are innovators which are all proclaimed individualistic based rolls. Women are expected to take care of others frequently, rather than serve themselves and their own identities. Men are expected to create while women are expected to contribute. When we place focus on a boys ability to create, and a girl’s ability to only care, it robs young girls them of the infinite amount of talents and opportunities that they are more than capable of. While these are not bad qualities to possess in balance, It reinforces the idea that girls must give and give, while boys can take. While these are qualities that can both be very beneficial to teach a child in a balanced manner, it seems that a the hyperfocus on girls qualities end up rearing them as less than, while overestimating boys in comparison.
Another example could be the issue with girls education, particularly STEM fields. Research routinely shows that girls are just as good as math as boys, even better, and are recorded as outperforming them on homework assignments and tests.
The US Department of Education has found that girls "who have a strong self-concept regarding their abilities in math or science are more likely to choose and perform well in elective math and science courses and to select math and science-related college majors and
Mrs. Sandoval
12th Humanities
January 30 2017
Gender Roles: True Inequality
The pervasiveness of traditional gender roles seem to be an omnipresent force in every aspect of our society. Frequently, we can often recognize and acknowledge overt sexism, but avoid tackling our bigger obstacle, the driving force behind gendered behaviors, our gender roles. We shy away from the subject, either perceiving it as too big to tackle, seeing gender qualities as innate characteristics possessed by male and females that dictate the behaviors of our entire lives. What we have failed to recognize as a society that is at times, becoming increasingly more aware of issues pertaining to women, our true obstacle in creating legitimate equality …show more content…
In fact, studies have proven that the brains of male and females, while retaining some specific qualities, are so malleable throughout the course of one’s life that gender is not a definitive factor your ability to perform a skill or job, or even decide your behavior.
While genetically, women possess strengths focused on multitasking, empathy, and nurturing behavior, men have strengths in more linear behavior and “direct” subjects, such as math and science. The enduring issue is that the stereotypical behavior expected for gender puts women’s self-worth and opportunities beneath that of men.
The people who believe in “natural” gender roles make the assumption that boys are good at math, logic, and reasoning while girls are better suited for the humanities, possessing natural compassionate behavior, refrain from seeing that the opportunities presented to women are inferior in our perceptions of them. The argument implies that men will be leaders, scientists, engineers, while girls will be caretakers, mothers, friends, and supporters.
If we are perpetuating the idea that girls hate math, that they have little prospect in developing tangible skill, will lead to girls to distance themselves from the …show more content…
Men fix things, they are innovators which are all proclaimed individualistic based rolls. Women are expected to take care of others frequently, rather than serve themselves and their own identities. Men are expected to create while women are expected to contribute. When we place focus on a boys ability to create, and a girl’s ability to only care, it robs young girls them of the infinite amount of talents and opportunities that they are more than capable of. While these are not bad qualities to possess in balance, It reinforces the idea that girls must give and give, while boys can take. While these are qualities that can both be very beneficial to teach a child in a balanced manner, it seems that a the hyperfocus on girls qualities end up rearing them as less than, while overestimating boys in comparison.
Another example could be the issue with girls education, particularly STEM fields. Research routinely shows that girls are just as good as math as boys, even better, and are recorded as outperforming them on homework assignments and tests.
The US Department of Education has found that girls "who have a strong self-concept regarding their abilities in math or science are more likely to choose and perform well in elective math and science courses and to select math and science-related college majors and