Roles of Men and Women
Changing roles of men and women adapting to changes in work and family life in Australia.
Roles of men and women have changed in today's context, unlike the past, it was caused by cultural and sociological changes around the communities. Roles can be defined as the characteristic and expected social behavior of an individual. The aim of this essay is to investigate the changes in responsibility of men and women, adapting to changes in work and family life in Australia. This essay will focus on three main points, namely, the roles of men and women in former times, their changing roles in Australia, and gender equality.
The first point of this essay will focus on men and women roles in the former time. Firstly, Women's roles were determined by the tradition and not by what women wanted to do. According to Ford Foundation, The population in 1940 did not agree with married women working. Instead, they were expected to stay at home and managed the housework. It also stated that there was pervasive societal belief that women were responsible for the home. (Changing roles of men and women, internet, 2006). It seemed visible that because of the pervasive societal belief, there were not many jobs or occupations available for women in Australia then. The community believed that women could not do men's job. Therefore, women did not have much option at that time as they were unable to find work outside. In 1899, women started to work outside, but their jobs were still limited to "women's work", like secretary or nurse. Lewis points out that there seemed to be traditional arrangement where men were responsible for the economic needs of the family while women were responsible for the emotional needs of the family. (Lewis et al, Men's changing roles in the family). This statement proves that tradition is a factor which controls men and womens roles in the former time in Australia, and the roles of women was to be at home instead of working outside and earning income for the
Roles of men and women have changed in today's context, unlike the past, it was caused by cultural and sociological changes around the communities. Roles can be defined as the characteristic and expected social behavior of an individual. The aim of this essay is to investigate the changes in responsibility of men and women, adapting to changes in work and family life in Australia. This essay will focus on three main points, namely, the roles of men and women in former times, their changing roles in Australia, and gender equality.
The first point of this essay will focus on men and women roles in the former time. Firstly, Women's roles were determined by the tradition and not by what women wanted to do. According to Ford Foundation, The population in 1940 did not agree with married women working. Instead, they were expected to stay at home and managed the housework. It also stated that there was pervasive societal belief that women were responsible for the home. (Changing roles of men and women, internet, 2006). It seemed visible that because of the pervasive societal belief, there were not many jobs or occupations available for women in Australia then. The community believed that women could not do men's job. Therefore, women did not have much option at that time as they were unable to find work outside. In 1899, women started to work outside, but their jobs were still limited to "women's work", like secretary or nurse. Lewis points out that there seemed to be traditional arrangement where men were responsible for the economic needs of the family while women were responsible for the emotional needs of the family. (Lewis et al, Men's changing roles in the family). This statement proves that tradition is a factor which controls men and womens roles in the former time in Australia, and the roles of women was to be at home instead of working outside and earning income for the