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GenderGender

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GENDER ROLE GENDER ROLE EXPECTATIONSEXPECTATIONS

Then:Then: Think back in history and outline what the gender Think back in history and outline what the gender

expectations were for both males and females.expectations were for both males and females. Give specific details!Give specific details!

Now:Now: What are the gender expectations for both males What are the gender expectations for both males

and females now?and females now? To what extent do they align with past expectations?To what extent do they align with past expectations?

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The Social ConstructionThe Social Constructionof Genderof Gender

So-called “natural differences” have been used to So-called “natural differences” have been used to justify unequal opportunity in education, justify unequal opportunity in education, employment, politics, and moreemployment, politics, and more Women were once thought incapable of Women were once thought incapable of

succeeding at college because of their biological succeeding at college because of their biological makeupmakeup

Our cultural suppositions are more rooted in our Our cultural suppositions are more rooted in our social constructions of what is natural than in social constructions of what is natural than in biological limitationsbiological limitations

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Gender Roles in the Gender Roles in the United StatesUnited States Gender roles: expectations regarding proper Gender roles: expectations regarding proper

behavior, attitudes, and activities of males and behavior, attitudes, and activities of males and femalesfemales

Gender-Role SocializationGender-Role Socialization Boys must be masculine: active, aggressive, tough, Boys must be masculine: active, aggressive, tough,

daring, and dominantdaring, and dominant Girls must be feminine: soft, emotional, sweet, and Girls must be feminine: soft, emotional, sweet, and

submissivesubmissive

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Gender Roles in Gender Roles in the United Statesthe United States Gender-Role SocializationGender-Role Socialization

Occurs through influences of parents, older Occurs through influences of parents, older siblings, mass media, religious and siblings, mass media, religious and educational institutions, and other adultseducational institutions, and other adults

Prevalence of Prevalence of homophobiahomophobia demonstrates demonstrates how important clear line between masculinity how important clear line between masculinity and femininity is in our cultureand femininity is in our culture

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Gender Roles in Gender Roles in the United Statesthe United States Women’s Gender RolesWomen’s Gender Roles

2004 Dove Campaign for Beauty found that only 2004 Dove Campaign for Beauty found that only 2 percent of women around the world feel 2 percent of women around the world feel comfortable describing themselves as beautifulcomfortable describing themselves as beautiful

TV consistently portrays women as young, thin, TV consistently portrays women as young, thin, and beautifuland beautiful

Children’s books have portrayed most female Children’s books have portrayed most female characters as helpless, passive, and incompetentcharacters as helpless, passive, and incompetent

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Satisfaction with Body Satisfaction with Body Weight and ShapeWeight and Shape

Source: Etcoff et al. 2004.

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Gender Roles in Gender Roles in the United Statesthe United States Men’s Gender RolesMen’s Gender Roles

Stay-at-home fathers still rareStay-at-home fathers still rare Must prove masculinity at work and in sportsMust prove masculinity at work and in sports Nonconformists often face criticism and Nonconformists often face criticism and

humiliationhumiliation

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As We Read, CONSIDER: As We Read, CONSIDER: How do society’s roles define who we are? How do society’s roles define who we are? What are the different connotations of What are the different connotations of

“masculine” and “feminine”? “masculine” and “feminine”? Where do these conceptions originate? Where do these conceptions originate? How are gender roles established, How are gender roles established,

maintained and, sometimes, transcended in maintained and, sometimes, transcended in media and culture? media and culture?

Are gender roles inherent or learned?Are gender roles inherent or learned?

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Looking Ahead: Gender in Looking Ahead: Gender in the 21the 21stst Century Century

While changes may be incremental, we are While changes may be incremental, we are seeing movement toward a society in which seeing movement toward a society in which women and men enjoy equal rights and women and men enjoy equal rights and opportunities.opportunities.

Are there certain parts of the world that still Are there certain parts of the world that still struggle with equal rights?struggle with equal rights?

Are these gender roles a problem in society?Are these gender roles a problem in society?