Gender roles, which are the cultural determinations of what is considered ‘male’ or ‘female’, encompass various aspects such as personality traits, mannerisms, interests, attitudes, and behaviors. These roles are influenced by both genetics and environment but do not necessarily align with one’s gender identity. As society advances, gender roles also evolve to meet societal needs. Some argue that adopting androgynous gender roles – where males and females display emotion-oriented or goal-oriented behaviors as required – can benefit individuals and society. However, it is important to acknowledge that traditional roles, reversed roles, or any other variation can have their own merits. Additional research is needed to understand how genetics and the environment shape the development of gender roles and how different types of roles contribute to stability and progress in society.
Gender stereotypes in society are typically based on the assigned gender of a child at birth. If a baby is male, they often receive a masculine name, while female babies are given feminine names. These stereotypes extend to personality traits as well. Women are generally expected to demonstrate more accommodating and emotional behaviors, known as Hyperfemininity. This involves displaying exaggerated and stereotypical feminine traits like passivity, shyness, flirtation, naivety, sexuality, and gentleness. Those who exhibit such behavior face an elevated risk of encountering physical and emotional abuse from their partners.
When it is apparent that a boy is expected, stereotyping becomes evident. The nursery’s decoration reflects the colors typically associated with boys and is designed based on society’s expectations of what a boy should like and learn. Men are generally assumed to possess qualities such as being providers, strong, and tough individuals. When a child is born and identified as a boy, they face pressure to conform to society’s definition of a “normal” man. Nowadays, being a man involves suppressing emotions, enduring hardships, displaying toughness, and meeting the expectations of being a provider – which can be seen as Hypermasculinity.
Hypermasculinity refers to exaggerated behaviors believed to represent male characteristics. Hyper masculine individuals excessively emphasize qualities such as competitiveness with other men, using aggression to dominate feminine individuals, having worldly and sexual experience, lacking sensitivity,
possessing a strong physical presence , being ambitious ,and displaying demanding attitudes . It is often assumed that hyper masculine individuals are both physically and emotionally abusive towards their partners.
When discussing Gender, it is crucial to consider the growing number of transgender and transsexual individuals in our society. Transgender individuals believe they were born with the incorrect body, having physical characteristics of one gender but identifying as the opposite gender. Signs of Gender Identity Disorder (GID), also known as transgenderism, can emerge as early as ages two or three. GID can affect people at various stages of life, including children, teenagers, and adults.
Those with GID strongly identify with the opposite gender and may feel uncomfortable with their assigned sexual role and organs, expressing a desire to change their bodies. While not all individuals with GID are labeled transsexuals, some choose or aspire to undergo sex change procedures which categorizes them as transsexuals. These individuals often strive to present themselves socially as the opposite gender by altering their physical appearance through cosmetic and hormonal methods and potentially seeking a sex-change operation.
The exact cause of GID remains unknown; however, it has been suggested that prenatal hormonal imbalances might play a role in its development. Issues within family dynamics and interactions have been suggested as potential influential factors.The DSM-IV is the authoritative guide for mental health professionals in the US, offering guidelines on gender identity disorder. This condition occurs when an individual consistently identifies with a different gender and experiences ongoing discomfort with their assigned biological role. It is crucial for this distress to significantly impact their well-being or functioning. Treating children with this disorder involves addressing associated issues like depression and anxiety while promoting a positive self-image. Typically, children undergo psychosocial therapy sessions, and their parents may also be advised to attend individual or family therapy.
In today’s society, there is a wide range of genders that individuals identify with. Some of these topics and terms include Agender, Androgynous, Bigender, Binary, Cisgender, Gender dysphoria, Gender expression, Gender fluidity, Gender identity, Non-conforming gender identity or behavior , Questioning gender identity , Queer gender identity , Misgendering someone by using incorrect pronouns or descriptors for their identified gender , Non-binary (or enby) as an umbrella term covering all those who don’t fit within the traditional binary classifications of male and female genders , Being perceived as one’s identified gender without being mistaken for another.
Our personal perception and expression in the world we live in are shaped by our individual sense of gender identity. It is distinct from our biological makeup or sex assigned at birth and also separate from our sexual orientation or whom we are attracted to. The terminology associated with identifying one’s own unique sense of personal gender continues to expand and evolve over time.
Gender stereotypes impose certain qualities on women, such as submissiveness, quietness, tidiness, weakness, cleanliness, clumsiness, incompetence, and motherliness. These expectations are reinforced by various influencers like parents, friends, teachers and the media. Consequently, many women conform to these traits and suppress their opinions while avoiding physically demanding sports. They also struggle with career advancement due to insecurity and societal pressure to have children. Departing from gender roles may lead to negative labels like harsh or controlling or being considered manly.
In contrast, men face cultural unacceptability for displaying qualities like tidiness vulnerability emotionality or nurturing behavior. Male stereotypes highlight athleticism loudness strength dominance and emotional self-control instead. While this can hinder their mental and emotional development it also pushes them towards excelling in physically demanding sports and professional fields out of fear of appearing feminine or weak.
From a financial standpoint, gender stereotyping tends to favor men but restricts their creativity and emotional growth as well. Men possessing creative and emotional attributes that defy the stereotype often face negative perceptions.
Men who conform to societal gender norms are looked upon favorably, while women face limitations in terms of expectations. Women are expected to embrace femininity without being too overt and must keep their sexuality within certain boundaries. They receive encouragement to pursue a career as long as it does not compromise their role as mothers. The definition of ‘feminine’ or ‘masculine’ is mainly influenced by parents and society rather than biology. Our current comprehension of gender roles greatly influences how we view both men and women.
Riane Eisler highlights the challenge of analyzing prehistoric gender roles due to the cultural bias that influences our decision-making processes. This bias, ingrained through acculturation, results in sexism. However, recent societal evolution and economic shifts have led to rapid changes in gender roles in Western societies, including increased female workforce participation. The pressure to address perceived inequities has also contributed to these changes. Gender relations are part of the socialization process, where society imparts values and behavior patterns aligned with social roles onto young individuals. In American society, significant fluctuations in these roles have occurred, allowing both men and women to expand their contributions within society. Women have entered fields previously dominated by men while men have found new ways to function within the family unit. Nowadays, people are less willing to accept artificial roles that confine women solely to their homes and away from public spaces. To increase female representation in leadership positions, it is crucial for more women to actively run for such positions. Transforming the public’s perception of gender roles takes longer compared to actual reality changes.To bring about a gradual change, it is crucial to confront long-standing sexual stereotypes that have become deeply ingrained. Initiating this process in early childhood is essential for fostering transformation. Parents, schools, and churches must all play a part in challenging outdated gender and sexual role stereotypes. By working together, we can promote a fairer and more rational understanding of both genders.
References
- Holly Brewer, (2017). List of Gender Stereotypes.
- Manuku Mukoni. (2015). Traditional Gender Roles of Men and Women in Natural Resource Conservation among the Vhavenda People in Zimbabwe: Implications for Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, No. 4(1) April 2015
- Simona Palermo & Elisabetta Giuffra are at Parco Tecnologico Padano in Lodi, Italy.
- Valeria Arzenton & Massimiano Bucchi are at Observa—Science in Society, in Vicenza, Italy. (2008). Gender and Science. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2427376/
