Women And Multiple Roles : Myths And Reality

Women’s roles have changed greatly throughout history. As the advancement of culture, laws, and ideas altered ways of life, women’s lives also evolved in numerous aspects of society. Women’s roles changed greatly between 1815 and 1860. During this time, family dynamics changed as the mothers that were placed at the center of the household were given greater freedoms. In addition, women had more opportunity to take on jobs in the workplace. Women also fought for reform movements that altered their ways of life in the community. During the reform era of the United States, factors such as religion, education, and reforms greatly changed women’s roles in the family, workplace, and society.

Studies suggest that when the number of children in the home rise, and as the age of the youngest child decreases, there are more conflicts within the family. In establishing relationships with children, parents struggle to manage work and family, including having insufficient time to completely focus on both the necessities of work and family (Cichy, Stawski, & Almeida, 2012). Due to new job obligations, MJ experiences work stress independently, enhancing personal and financial stressors. There can be an adverse effect between job security and father-child relationship due to fathers striving to secure careers so they are able to provide for their family. As personal stressors are experienced more regularly, so are perceptions that one’s work obligations increase negative effects on their family life (Minnotte, Pedersen, & Mannon, 2013).

For centuries now, women have been bombarded with an infinite amount of conflicting and overwhelming messages about what it means to be a woman and which behaviors are considered appropriate, especially regarding sexual behavior. Traditionally, women have always been defined in relation to men. Men are seen as strong, while woman are seen as weak. Men are superior and women are their subordinates. This is exemplified by the fact that “masculine” traits such as strong, non-emotional, and competitive are considered socially desirable traits, while “feminine” traits such as docile, emotional, and passive are not. We evidently live in a society that is not only sexist, but also undoubtedly racist. The white woman typically appears as virtuous and pure, while the woman of color typically appears as unclean and tainted. If the woman of color also happens to be poor, she appears as being even more worthless. Therefore, in the United States, femininity as a concept is inextricably linked with concepts of race and class. In the present paper, I discuss the effect that this is having on women and their sexuality, the events that have paved the traveled path towards gender equality, and current issues plaguing women today, such as the attack on our reproductive rights and our value as women.

Past researches either supported or opposed the perceived incompatibility between motherhood and employment (Pacaut et al, 2012). This study revealed an increase in work interruption among women who began working before having children. It also showed a big decline in the gap that separates women with children and those without. The study concluded that changing attitudes towards mothers' work did not appear to ease the balance of work and motherhood. These attitudes include the availability of daycare

From silent short films of the 19th century to full length films of the 1920s, women have played important central roles over time. Women have transitioned from submissive conservative roles to liberal something. A big part of this is due to the view of women changing in history.

Women are known to be the nurturing part of human nature. It is women who birth and generally care for the young of human kind; however, the roles of women have progressed to be so much more in today’s society. Now women are looked to not only as a homemaker, but a breadwinner as well. In many families, the women provide a major source of income and are responsible for the wellbeing of the family. “More than a quarter century has passed since Arlie Hochschild’s The Second Shift powerfully made the case that women cannot compete fairly with men when they are doing two jobs and men are doing only one.” (Moravcsik). He goes on to say that women’s roles have shifted to being able to balance a job and a family at one time. Despite the many jobs that

We know that balancing work and family life produces stress and guilt, not to mention the uncomfortable conviction that one day your child will cry to a therapist about how the babysitter nursed them through the chicken pox”(1). This quote is explaining how trying to balance work and family can cause stress, especially when children are involved. Children can effect parents at work and at home. Work can impact children needs and relationships between them and parents. In, “The Child’s View of Working Parents”, Daniels and Galinksy write, “Parents who have well work environments, who come home in a better mood and with more energy to invest in their children, have kids who fare better.

The roles of gender are changing rapidly. Throughout U.S. history men have played dominant roles and were always the family breadwinners. As women get more education and make more money they are becoming the primarily breadwinners of their families. More women are working outside the home and their earnings are important to the well-being of their families. What are the effect on their families, careers and equal wages?

Being a mother is a full time job because as a mother you need to be around your child all the time. Even the father plays a similar role but nothing can ever come close to the nurturing capabilities of a mother towards her child. However, the present trends reflect that most parents are generally engaged in professional jobs where they need to devote a certain amount of time. Irrespective of the professional commitments that parents have, they must also give time to their children and take care of their responsibilities.

The term 'working mother' is a redundancy. No woman need feel any guilt for opting to fill her days with whichever activities give her the greatest joy and fulfillment” (English, 2005).

In her essay, she informs us about how the extra work towards mothers is affecting them. She shows studies and her own observations of over 52 couples that prove this is becoming a problem in women and families leading to more workload, depression, divorce and less interest in sex. She compares the

World war II brought with it strict rationing. Food rationing began in January 1940, clothing rationing in June 1941, and soap rationing in February of the next year. ‘Come in and have a both rather than a drink, is the new social gesture’- Vogue at the height of the blitz. Hair washing became a luxury. The magazine recommended once “every ten days for greasy heads, every three weeks for dry ones”, and when Marlene Dietrich travelled to entertain US troops, she brought with her three months worth of dry shampoo. Cosmetics weren't rationed, but might as well have been. Britain saw a 75% decrease on pre war cosmetic output. Metal was needed for armaments, petroleum and alcohol amongst other essential base cosmetic ingredients were needed for wartime products such as foot powder, camo makeup, and anti-gas ointment (see images 3, 4). Gala manufactured lipstick refills: “rescue those old lipstick cases”, “saves money, saves metal, helps win the war, and helps you

These four inventions that I used are based in what I use on a day to day basis. When jotting notes down from a lecture or writing down your grocery list, we are looking for a piece of paper. Should I have a cold and don’t want to drink a cold beverage or just or to sip on a warm beverage on a cold winter’s day, tea will be the first thing that comes to mind. Third, though we are in the technology stage that we look to our cell phones, or the computer to look at the time, one day there is a power failure and not able to see what the time is, or the battery has died on our phones, the use of the mechanical clock can still be of use. Lastly, silk is one of the most beautiful fabric to have ever been invented

Women in the last thirty years or so have fought for equality among the sexes in all forms. The Women?s movement have fought hard to change this socially constructed view of our society. Due to this double burden placed on working mothers there is a far greater demand on their bodies and an increasingly likelihood of illness in many forms as well as psychological trauma such as depression and anxiety due to the constant workload. Females in the past were argued as having a less likelihood of illness because they were not as abundant in the workforce thus giving them more relaxation time.

The female gender has been evolving over time. During the last few years women have been rising above the obstacles and excelling. Women are now becoming the leaders in society despite many challenges. My gender as a female, possess so many positive characteristics but also negative connotations. When I think of the term female, I think of superheroes. Women are extremely amazing and we have the power to rise above all obstacles. We have positioned ourselves in society to advance in higher roles then ever imagined. It is also extremely hard being a female because of the constant issues we face. Women have been suppressed, discriminated against and degraded. Women are constantly pulled in many different directions when it pertains to our role. Women are held to many different expectations and standards, our role is sometimes confusing.