Gender roles are learned by whatever culture you are a part of. In most western societies, from the time you are born you're learning how to act based on if you are male or female. The stereotypical "girls do this, boys do this" thing. For example the second your born you get pink balloons if you're a girl, and blue ones if you're a boy. Girls get barbies, boys get GI Joes, that is teaching gender. As the Berdache article metioned, western society has a hard time accepting/understanding it when people do not follow their assigned gender roles. No wonder our society has trouble accepting gays, bisexuals, and transgender people. We have this engrained image of what male and female are and how they should look and act and live. Every religion has it's particular gender roles, most of which consider women to be the subordinate. Men are usually assigned the role as provider, and women are given the role of obedient wife, mother, and homemaker.
I believe mainstream American society only provides for two genders roles, because it's what we are used to. However, I do think this is changing, slowly but surely. More and more people are beginning to accept new ideas about gender and the roles that men and women play in everyday life. With more women in the workforce and more men becoming bigger influences in the home, old fashioned views about gender are changing. Not everyone is on board, but my generation is certainly more open to change in gender roles than my grandparents generation. Also more religions are coming in to the country, creating more fresh ideas and influences about everything, including gender roles.
I do still like the idea of women being the homemakers while men make the money, it's sort of like tradition. However, our gender roles should have some limitations, such as a woman should have the opportunities to be more than just a homemaker if they wanted. I know I do try and play the homemaker role, such as cooking dinner and taking care of the men, but I ask for help in return if they want the to be treated nicely. For example, I am willing to go out and make dinner, but the guy should be there to lift some heavy boxes if I needed him to.
ReplyDeleteGender roles have certainly changed from ancient times, but that is because there are more types of people for those roles to encompass. It's really hard to fit people nowadays into the man or woman gender role, sometimes an individual could fit into both for whatever reason.
I love the examples of sterotypes you used! They are spot on to how we are perceived as genders. I think it so odd that in ancient Greece, being homosexual was the norm, and was widely accepted. Then the church believed it was not alright any longer, and now woman are more accepted in job positions, and homosexuals in America are widely accepted! I love it! Thanks Will and Grace! (pop culture reference)
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