America has created a dichotomization of gender roles based on norms and standards throughout society. From birth, children are assigned a gender and are socialized to conform to certain gender roles based on their biological sex (BOUNDLESS). Gender roles in society are known to begin at birth and continue throughout four main aspects of socialization; family, education, peer groups, and media. Therefore, this socialization shapes the way America’s youth grows up and affects the goals and dreams they have for the future. Gender norms are very important in American society because without many of the norms that currently exist, life would be completely different and may not function the same way it does today. For example, women are often
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Functionalist Theory: American society consists of many different people, of many different backgrounds. They all have unique and individual viewpoints and ideas, leading them to support a certain gender perspective over another. There are many theories to everyday life, and many of them apply directly to gender roles, although, the three major classical theories of sociology are the theories that will be applied to gender roles. The three major classical theories of sociology are functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. The first theory, functionalism, approaches gender inequality with an outlook that sex determines which roles men and women are best suited to. It is more appropriate for men to play instrumental roles rather than expressive roles. (pg 247 book) A functionalist supporter would say that a possible function of gender roles is due to the need to establish a division of labor that will help maintain the smooth running of the family and consistently contribute to the stability of society.( quote). This is how most Americans view gender roles and for many Americans it works out great, but for others, it is a different story. According to (THE BOOK), women are naturally more
Functionalist Theory: American society consists of many different people, of many different backgrounds. They all have unique and individual viewpoints and ideas, leading them to support a certain gender perspective over another. There are many theories to everyday life, and many of them apply directly to gender roles, although, the three major classical theories of sociology are the theories that will be applied to gender roles. The three major classical theories of sociology are functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism. The first theory, functionalism, approaches gender inequality with an outlook that sex determines which roles men and women are best suited to. It is more appropriate for men to play instrumental roles rather than expressive roles. (pg 247 book) A functionalist supporter would say that a possible function of gender roles is due to the need to establish a division of labor that will help maintain the smooth running of the family and consistently contribute to the stability of society.( quote). This is how most Americans view gender roles and for many Americans it works out great, but for others, it is a different story. According to (THE BOOK), women are naturally more