Why Are Gender Roles So Important To Our Identity
Gender roles are an incredibly important factor when it comes to our identity. Gender is multidimensional, meaning that there are psychological, social, cultural, political, and economic dimensions to gender (Strong & Cohen, pg 110). On some of these dimensions, gender can be highly personal, and on others it is considered political.
If I were the opposite gender, I believe that I would be an incredibly different person. I believe this because of the significant stress that is put on gender roles. Even as very small children there are things that are considered okay for a boy to do, and things that are considered okay for a girl to do. Examples of this would include that it isn't okay for a boy to play with barbies, and it isn't okay for a girl to play with monster trucks. So, if I were a boy growing up, my family probably would have encouraged me to play with cars and play sports, rather than give me dolls and provide dance lessons. My parents might have given me different chores to perform. they would most likely make me mow the lawn or clean the garage, like my brother did when we were children. They may have also taught me how to behave differently, and could have taught me that I need to be tougher, stronger, and be independent of others …show more content…
Right now I have to decide on a career that will allow me to rear children. I'll need a job that won't take up so much of my time, that I can't care for kids. I will most likely have to have children before I pick my career, so that I can raise them, and then go to work while they're at school and get home before they're out. If I were a man I would not have to take any of this into consideration. I would have complete freedom of choosing my career, and not worry about taking care of children, because the vast majority of the time a woman is compelled to care for the
If I were the opposite gender, I believe that I would be an incredibly different person. I believe this because of the significant stress that is put on gender roles. Even as very small children there are things that are considered okay for a boy to do, and things that are considered okay for a girl to do. Examples of this would include that it isn't okay for a boy to play with barbies, and it isn't okay for a girl to play with monster trucks. So, if I were a boy growing up, my family probably would have encouraged me to play with cars and play sports, rather than give me dolls and provide dance lessons. My parents might have given me different chores to perform. they would most likely make me mow the lawn or clean the garage, like my brother did when we were children. They may have also taught me how to behave differently, and could have taught me that I need to be tougher, stronger, and be independent of others …show more content…
Right now I have to decide on a career that will allow me to rear children. I'll need a job that won't take up so much of my time, that I can't care for kids. I will most likely have to have children before I pick my career, so that I can raise them, and then go to work while they're at school and get home before they're out. If I were a man I would not have to take any of this into consideration. I would have complete freedom of choosing my career, and not worry about taking care of children, because the vast majority of the time a woman is compelled to care for the