Gender Conformity And Expectations Through Time

Gender can be a hot topic within cultures; a male or female does not want to be told that they can or cannot do something based on their gender. Every culture views gender roles differently, and some cultures are more serious about gender than others. Many times, male and female actions are determined by what a person has been taught is right; furthermore, gender roles are a set of societal norms that are the behaviors that a sex is generally known to do and what is considered accepted of a person based on their sex; gender roles can also known as stereotypes (“Gender”). Many times men are associated with masculine and logical ways in the United States, whereas women are associated with nurturing and passive ways.

Do you believe in gender equality? Gender equality is when one’s rights are not distinguished by their gender. Well, women in the 1700s, faced high levels of oppression. Men overpowered them in every sense. Consequently, they dealt with repression in many ways. In addition, Society placed men on a pedestal of higher importance and this perception made women look inferior to their counterparts. Women fulfilled certain nurture qualities by being caring mothers to their children, and submissive by being obedient wives to their husbands. Conversely, when stepping out of the household, women had to meet specific dress standards created by men. Women did everything they didn’t have any say over. Society placed women in a box and weren’t held up to the same standards as their counterparts, men. Both pieces like “An occasional letter on the female sex” by Thomas Paine and “On the Admission of Women Rights of Citizenship,” by Marquis de Condorcet did an excellent job antagonizing the idea that women were being treated like property and standing up for gender equality. During the 1700’s women’s rights were significantly suppressed; affecting them socially, politically and economically.

In Orlando’s climatic scene, the Lady Orlando and her lover, Shelmardine, discuss the common perception regarding gender. “If I were a man,” Muses the newly-female Orlando, “might choose not to risk my life for an uncertain cause. I might think that freedom won by death is not worth having.” Shelmardine argues that, in the eyes of society, this would be to “choose not to be a real man at all”. He, in turn, mocks the stereotype observations regarding women; “Say if I were a woman; I might choose not to sacrifice my life caring for my children. Or my children’s children. Or to drown anonymously in the milk of female kindness. But instead choose to go abroad. Would I then be –”, (here Orlando interrupts him), “A real woman?” Yet it is this conversation, the embodiment of Butler’s theories on gender performance, which bring Orlando to the realisation that she longs for a child. Not to earn back her home through her heir, and not to better portray the behaviour of a woman, but simply to have the companionship and love she always longed for.

“Gender Roles Attitudes since 1872 In social Trends..”, Campbell discusses the gender roles and their representations within numerous fields. In addition, Campbell mentions that the politics, in particular, have seen an increase in women involved within the government. Campbell mentions that during the 20th century, many women were not in the workforce. After WWII, they began seeing an increase of women entering the labor force. In 2000, 60%of wives with children younger than six entered into the workforce, as were 80% single women”(Campbell, 83). GSS measured numerous items about women in 1972 and got numerous responses.

From the beginning of modern western history, gender norms have been set in stone. The concept of predator and prey have been pushed onto both male and female. Julia Serano, author of “Why Nice Guys Finish Last” reveals the concepts to you. What many people think is nature or normal has actually been set up for you to think this. You can challenge this idea set up by the patriarchy. Through strategies such as improved education and help from influential people, a difference can be made. This will not be a simple task nor will it happen quickly. This idea has been put into media and everything you see throughout your childhood and life. Your conscious and subconscious has absorbed this and assumes it 's how things work. Ethan Watters the

The way people look at gender has changed quickly over the past few years. Gender has always been a social topic on what boys should do and what girls should do. The new generation of young adults seem to break the mold of gender stereotypes with effortless ease. I have seen many classmates and many schools changing the status quo of gender within the last few years. My generation has a different opinion on gender stereotypes than my grandparents and even my parents. Gender stereotypes are rapidly changing with each generation, whether it be through sports or the occupations people have.

My commonplace journal didn’t follow an exact theme; rather it was primarily used to keep track of quotes I found interesting. The most common theme, however, is the theme of gender and gender norms in the 19th century. There are a few of my entries that don’t exactly fit such as my educational quotes and the issue of rape. I found my educational quote interesting because of how real it is; many people believe that modern day education is teaching students to pass, not to learn, so we get this idea of force-feeding information to students instead of giving them a more useful education. The other picture that deviates from the gender roles theme is the picture with the quote of rape; this one was interesting to me because it shows how disturbing

These days people may be asking what gender roles are. Well the idea of gender roles has been around for many years. According to oxford dictionary, gender role is the role or behaviour learned by a person as appropriate to their gender, determined by their prevailing cultural norms (“Gender Role”). This definition means that everyone has a role and a place in society that they are expected to stick to. This topic is important because these days gender roles are less enforced. Gender roles are based on one’s cultural background, country and the time period in which they are alive. These roles are socially and culturally determined and are affected by important aspects of living such as economics, politics and education (interview). Gender roles change over time as society evolves.

In a study conducted that analyzes outcomes of conformity of masculine roles show that conformity and gender role conflict account for men’s violence (Berke). Furtuna also states that men are closely linked to crime and cruelty, which is also linked to masculinity (Furtuna). Violence is a cruel act to exert on a significant other, but violence is a probable outcome in these feminine-masculine homosexual relationships. In these masculine-feminine homosexual relationships, often the masculine man will protect his masculinity with constant arguing and even physical violence (asserting his dominance); this man will also blame the feminine-identifying gay man for the abuse (Signs of An Abusive Relationship). Abuse is highly linked to mental health

Women 's studies is an interdisciplinary study that revolves around women and their plight throughout history. One of the main focuses of women 's studies is to perceive how a woman is seen in society according to their culture, race, and class. All these even though they don’t seem like much shape how a woman and men alike act at home or out in public. Gender norms are a very complex idea regarding on how both male and females should act according to the standard in their culture and our society.

Throughout the course of the quarter we read various novels in which the issue of gender arose significantly, whether it was opposing or accepting gender normalities, cross dressing, or a patriarchal society, the topic was present. In William Shakespeare’s, Twelfth Night, gender is presented in two ways: the first way is Viola, who cross-dresses as a man to hide her identity and wealth and the second, is when the women in the play go after what they desire, even if it goes against the normalities of gender in the Elizabethan Era. In Frances Burney’s, Evelina, women give into the expected subordination towards men as it expected in the novel’s patriarchal society. But in Virginia Woolf’s novel, To the Lighthouse, we see a shift in that Lily

In the US, values are often based on outdated traditional gender ideals that no longer fit our culture. It should be taught in society to accept someone who may not have the same interests that match their traditional gender role. In order to keep the US from continuing on the path of a more angry and judgemental country, we need to make it clear to both men/boys and women/girls, that its okay to be both strong and sensitive. It needs to be shown to everyone that there isn’t anything wrong with liking something considered ‘feminine’ or ‘masculine’

Female conformity to abiding the law is an expectation which is instilled in society subconsciously; no one expects women to be criminal. The ideal image of a woman consists of her compassionate being, with no trace of potential to harm or mistreat others. Therefore in order to reserve this conception and ideal of females, when a ‘soft’ crime is committed such as theft, female offences are less likely to be reported and recorded. The social regulation for men and women contrasts, with the criminal law being mostly concerned with the regulation of male behaviours as it is males who commit more serious offences and therefore there are more men who are incarcerated than women. In contrast, female behaviours are regulated through the definition

November 24, 1922 12pm.: Ever since I cut my hair I’ve never felt so free. I refuse to wear the corsets that I have been obligated to use since childhood. You cannot believe how relived I am to not have to wear those tight close fitting undergarments. So instead I have started wearing loose dresses that I feel more comfortable in. My mother always told me that men liked women with a slim waist and emphasized breast and with my new look no man will want to marry me. Of course she is livid. Not only at the fact that I cut the “beautiful long cascade of never ending long dark hair” as she says, but mostly because I’m rebelling against society’s norm. I’ve decided that it is time to take a stand for my rights and fight for my independence. I refuse to comply too these social norms. The submissive woman, restricted from freedom due to her traditional modest, accustomed, womanly gender roles. I will not be that woman. I will be the change. I’ve seen my mother, grandmother do it for years and I’ve had it. We have been repressed, and made slaves of the household generating a perspective that all we have to offer is pleasing our men and doing chores. But these social conventions will finally come to an end. Thanks too many women who have decided to be the change for today’s society. The Voting right for women has already commenced. And I can’t find the words to describe how incredibly joyful I am that now we have the right to vote. As of now we have a whole new sector of power and

After numerous disappointing and confusing interactions with lovers and friends, Orlando decides he is unable to find happiness in his role as English nobleman. He escapes to the East in an attempt to realize his true self. There, Orlando awakes after a long sleep to find himself in a new body: the body of a woman. This transition feels unquestionably natural for Orlando. Unable to reconcile masculinity with a love of nature, Orlando explores her passion in a new body. She uses her never-ending poem, “The Oak Tree” as an outlet for observation and analyses. Orlando tries to understand her experiences and identity through her love of nature and her love of