Role Theories, But More Precisely Gender Role Theory

Gender roles can be defined as mannerisms, interests, or behaviors that are regarded as either "masculine" or "femmine" by one's society. A common misconception that people usually make are that gender roles are related to one’s gender identity, but they are actually mainly a product of the way someone was raised. Research shows that both genetics and a person’s environment influence the development of gender roles. As society changes, its gender roles also change to meet the needs of its society.

Gender roles affect the way we view males and females in society. According to Public and Private Families an Introduction by Andrew J Cherlin, “sex” is described as the biological characteristics the distinguish the difference between man and woman such as their reproductive organs and hormones. “Gender” is described as the social and cultural characteristics that describe the difference between men and women. Gender roles in the United States have changed more for women than for men due to the asymmetry of gender change which is the bigger change in woman’s lives than males.

Gender roles are society’s concepts of how men and women are expected to act and are shaped by cultural norms. Over the years society has influenced the way we think about gender norms through numerous media outlets; film, television, music videos, internet, etc. To support my argument I will use three class texts. “Age, Race, Class, and Sex: Women Redefining Difference” by Audre Lorde, “Reading the Slender Body” by Susan Bordo, and “The Problem of Speaking for Others” by Linda Alcoff. Through those readings you will see how society affects our view, how gender roles are socially constructed, and how history shapes what is considered normal or acceptable.

For generations, cultural norms have significantly influenced male and female gender roles. Gender roles emphasizes that social and cultural influences are the main energy force for differentiating between gender roles and the root of division of labor based on sex. Furthermore, contingent to our social environmental conditions, we adapt to our cultural characteristics, learn accepted behaviors, and pass those characteristics from generation to generation. The following section looks to guide the reader through the biological and communal impacts of gender roles and discusses how it relates to America culture.

gender roles: A gender role is a set of societal norms dictating what types of behaviors are generally considered acceptable, appropriate or desirable for a person based on their actual

A set of social norms that are generally accepted, appropriate, or desirable based on a person’s sex or sexuality are referred to as gender roles. Gender roles play a large role in how a society and its people are shaped and how people should behave according to their sex. Gender roles are based on social norms or standards that are created in a society. In many cultures, being masculine is traditionally associated with having or showing strength, aggression, dominance, and to never reveal any significant signs of emotion that may show weakness. On the other hand, being feminine is traditionally associated with passivity, nurturing, and being submissive.

Functionalism is a macro level theory, which focuses on large scale social interactions, and views society as a structure with interrelated parts that are designed to meet the biological and social needs of individuals in a society (OpenStax, 2015). Herbert Spencer was the first to recognize a relationship between the parts of the society and the whole society. He explains the theory by comparing the society to a human body and the organs to social institutions; social institutions help society run smoothly and efficiently (OpenStax, 2015). Functionalists believe that social issues weaken a society’s stability, but that they also serve important functions for the society.

How do gender roles develop within society, and what exactly influences the roles that we are

the world. Gender roles can be described as the attitudes and behaviours expected of male and

Gender roles, ways people are expected to conduct themselves, are based on norms created over time by society. They have been portrayed countless ways and recently may have started to change for the better. However, roles assigned to females and the idea known as “gender stereotypes” can be compared and found to be just as much similar as they are different. Maybe even more.

There are various types of theories within the framework of sociology which includes functionalism. Functionalism is a key theory that was developed by Emile Durkheim, one of the founding fathers of sociology (Crossman, 2015). Essentially, Functionalism is a theory of the mind that asserts to inform us the fundamental nature of our mental states (Anderson, 2003). An individual’s mental state contains everything from fear of heights to belief that it is Monday, from a desire to eat steak, to the sharp pain in their leg. However, fears, opinions, desires, pains are all mental states (Anderson, 2003). This paper will focus on the theory of functionalism, and the elements of family, culture, religion, and education that are delineated

The functionalist perspective is one of the classical paradigms in sociology and was the prevalent perspective until the 1970s. Functionalism is most closely associated with Emile Durkheim (often referred to as the founding father of functionalism) but has also received crucial contributions from other theorists including Talcott Parsons, Herbert Spencer, and Robert K. Merton. Functionalism offers a macro approach to understanding society and views macrostructures as the pillars of social order. The paradigm views society as a smooth-running system with various parts that possess specific functions, of which can both destroy or maintain social stability. The concepts of manifest and latent functions uphold an important role in the theory,

A gender role is a set of societal norms depicting the types of behavior that generally accepted and associated based off their gender or sex..The Mainstream Media introduces us to many different gender stereotypes, for example the Jeep commercials use men to make them look strong and hard workers as well as other companies such as Men’s Fitness magazines, whereas women are usually displayed as fashionist.

Functionalists argue that societies consist of inter-related social institutions such as schools, mass media, political systems, the Church and the family each of which contribute positively to the maintenance of stability of society as a whole. Broadly speaking it is assumed by functionalists that societies operate in the interests of all of their members so that there is no reason for fundamental conflict in society. Instead there is a high degree of consensus that societies are organised efficiently and relatively fairly.

They dictate one’s behavior. They manipulate one’s thoughts. They restrict one’s potential. These standards, known as gender roles, are the way society believes males and females should act (Bland). According to these stereotyped behaviors, the traditional man is physically strong, intelligent, respectable, heroic, confident, and always in control; his main roles are to protect and provide for his family (“Talking to Kids”). In contrast, women are traditionally seen as beautiful, dependent, and inferior to men; women are conventionally expected to stay at home with the children and cook the meals while the men work (“Talking to Kids”). Starting at a young age, most people are influenced by the way gender roles are depicted in the media. In