10.2: Gender Roles
Gender roles: the set of societal expectations and norms that dictate how men and women should behave, think, and interact with others.
Often based on biological sex and are deeply ingrained in cultures around the world.
Cultural sexism: the ways in which a culture of society perpetuates the subordination of an individual or group based on the sex classification of that individual or group
Gender roles have evolved over time and vary across cultures.
In many societies, men have traditionally been seen as the breadwinners and protectors, while women have been expected to take care of the home and children.
Gender roles can have a significant impact on individuals, shaping their sense of identity, self-worth, and opportunities in life.
Eg. women may face discrimination in the workplace or be expected to prioritize their family over their career.
There has been a growing movement to challenge traditional gender roles and promote gender equality.
Includes advocating for equal pay, breaking down gender stereotypes, and supporting individuals who do not conform to traditional gender norms.
Gender roles intersect with other aspects of identity, such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, and ability; this means that individuals may face multiple forms of discrimination or oppression based on their intersecting identities.
To create a more equitable society, it's important to continue challenging traditional gender roles and promoting diversity and inclusion; this can involve supporting policies that promote gender equality, educating others about the harmful effects of gender stereotypes, and advocating for the rights of marginalized groups.
The second shift: women contribute significantly more time to home care than men, even when working full-time jobs
Women often work a "double day" - a full day of paid work followed by several hours of unpaid domestic work
Includes tasks such as cooking, cleaning, childcare, and emotional labor.
Can lead to stress, burnout, and resentment among women who feel that their work is undervalued and unrecognized
Time-availability approach: the idea that since women spend more time at home, they are relegated to household tasks
Relative resources approach: the idea that the partner with the least power is relegated to the most unwanted tasks
Gender role ideology: the idea that division of labor is influenced by traditional gender socialization
Media portrays females and males in limited stereotypical manner.
Femininity has a focus on appearance and sex appeal.
Masculinity has a focus on insensitivity and anti-emotional behavior.
Both sexes are victimized by images in the mass media.
In general, religious teachings have tended to promote traditional concepts of gender but not all are traditional.
Eg. within many religious denominations, individual congregations choose to interpret their religious teachings from an inclusive perspective
Worldwide, women are more likely to be unemployed or to engage in unpaid labor and, if working, to be paid less, work longer hours, and be employed as a contributing family worker than her male counterpart
Over 100 countries have laws that prevent women in certain jobs
Over 22 million people in the United States work in the 40 lowest-paying jobs in the economy, and 64% of them are women
Women are more likely to live in poverty than men due to various factors such as gender discrimination, lack of access to education and employment opportunities, and unequal pay.
Women are also more likely to be single parents, which increases their risk of poverty.
Women in developing countries are particularly vulnerable to poverty due to factors such as limited access to healthcare, lack of property rights, and cultural norms that restrict their economic opportunities.
The feminization of poverty has significant consequences for women's health, education, and overall well-being.
Differing gender expectations lead to varying degrees of self-esteem, autonomy, depression, and life dissatisfaction
On average, women live longer than men by about five years
Men are less likely to go to a doctor or to have an annual physical examination due to structural and cultural reasons, namely the normalization of the “macho man” and similar views of masculinity
Men are more likely to engage in self-destructive behaviors
Women are more likely to be poor, are less likely to be seen as worthy of care when resources are short, and, in many countries, are forbidden to travel unaccompanied by a male, making access to a hospital difficult
Gender violence: any harm that is perpetrated against a person’s will and that results from power inequalities based on gender role
Eg. domestic violence and marital rape, sexual violence and sexual exploitation, honor killings, and dowry killings, human trafficking, child marriage, and female genital mutilation/circumcision
Men are more likely to be involved in violence, and more likely to kill and be killed.
Boys learn that violence is an acceptable form of conflict resolution.
Misogyny: hatred toward women
Toxic masculinity: an extreme form of aggression, violence, and misogyny, socially induced, and culturally specific
Gender roles: the set of societal expectations and norms that dictate how men and women should behave, think, and interact with others.
Often based on biological sex and are deeply ingrained in cultures around the world.
Cultural sexism: the ways in which a culture of society perpetuates the subordination of an individual or group based on the sex classification of that individual or group
Gender roles have evolved over time and vary across cultures.
In many societies, men have traditionally been seen as the breadwinners and protectors, while women have been expected to take care of the home and children.
Gender roles can have a significant impact on individuals, shaping their sense of identity, self-worth, and opportunities in life.
Eg. women may face discrimination in the workplace or be expected to prioritize their family over their career.
There has been a growing movement to challenge traditional gender roles and promote gender equality.
Includes advocating for equal pay, breaking down gender stereotypes, and supporting individuals who do not conform to traditional gender norms.
Gender roles intersect with other aspects of identity, such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, and ability; this means that individuals may face multiple forms of discrimination or oppression based on their intersecting identities.
To create a more equitable society, it's important to continue challenging traditional gender roles and promoting diversity and inclusion; this can involve supporting policies that promote gender equality, educating others about the harmful effects of gender stereotypes, and advocating for the rights of marginalized groups.
The second shift: women contribute significantly more time to home care than men, even when working full-time jobs
Women often work a "double day" - a full day of paid work followed by several hours of unpaid domestic work
Includes tasks such as cooking, cleaning, childcare, and emotional labor.
Can lead to stress, burnout, and resentment among women who feel that their work is undervalued and unrecognized
Time-availability approach: the idea that since women spend more time at home, they are relegated to household tasks
Relative resources approach: the idea that the partner with the least power is relegated to the most unwanted tasks
Gender role ideology: the idea that division of labor is influenced by traditional gender socialization
Media portrays females and males in limited stereotypical manner.
Femininity has a focus on appearance and sex appeal.
Masculinity has a focus on insensitivity and anti-emotional behavior.
Both sexes are victimized by images in the mass media.
In general, religious teachings have tended to promote traditional concepts of gender but not all are traditional.
Eg. within many religious denominations, individual congregations choose to interpret their religious teachings from an inclusive perspective
Worldwide, women are more likely to be unemployed or to engage in unpaid labor and, if working, to be paid less, work longer hours, and be employed as a contributing family worker than her male counterpart
Over 100 countries have laws that prevent women in certain jobs
Over 22 million people in the United States work in the 40 lowest-paying jobs in the economy, and 64% of them are women
Women are more likely to live in poverty than men due to various factors such as gender discrimination, lack of access to education and employment opportunities, and unequal pay.
Women are also more likely to be single parents, which increases their risk of poverty.
Women in developing countries are particularly vulnerable to poverty due to factors such as limited access to healthcare, lack of property rights, and cultural norms that restrict their economic opportunities.
The feminization of poverty has significant consequences for women's health, education, and overall well-being.
Differing gender expectations lead to varying degrees of self-esteem, autonomy, depression, and life dissatisfaction
On average, women live longer than men by about five years
Men are less likely to go to a doctor or to have an annual physical examination due to structural and cultural reasons, namely the normalization of the “macho man” and similar views of masculinity
Men are more likely to engage in self-destructive behaviors
Women are more likely to be poor, are less likely to be seen as worthy of care when resources are short, and, in many countries, are forbidden to travel unaccompanied by a male, making access to a hospital difficult
Gender violence: any harm that is perpetrated against a person’s will and that results from power inequalities based on gender role
Eg. domestic violence and marital rape, sexual violence and sexual exploitation, honor killings, and dowry killings, human trafficking, child marriage, and female genital mutilation/circumcision
Men are more likely to be involved in violence, and more likely to kill and be killed.
Boys learn that violence is an acceptable form of conflict resolution.
Misogyny: hatred toward women
Toxic masculinity: an extreme form of aggression, violence, and misogyny, socially induced, and culturally specific
