Gender Roles

Gender equality has become one of the most pressing social hot-topics of the past 2 centuries. A while back, women had little to no rights at all. They weren't allowed to work, vote, or even be politically involved. Obviously after too long a time, America has grown out of that barbaric stage and has started to treat women with the respect they deserve. Women now legally hold nearly every right as a man would (voting right, can run for political positions, etc). But we can see a social (not legal) divide between what man can do and women cant, or in some cases vise-versa. Here are some important questions;

1. Which aspects of gender roles are true everywhere?

This is a difficult question to answer. Everywhere in the world we see a difference in gender roles, but it is often very different. As a whole, women are viewed as the stay-at-home figure of the family. They take care of the children and are the nurturers. This belief dates back to early points in our history. Though many don't believe this is the only role for women (myself included), this seems to be the biggest difference in gender roles.

2. Which are specific to your culture?

In my culture, the biggest difference is the way in which men talk to men, and how women talk to women. I talk to my father much differently then i would talk to my mother, and i would talk to my friend Shannon much differently then I would talk to my friend Alec. 

3. How does language reinforce or create or thwart those gender roles?

Language is used to persuade or sway certain genders. Language through advertisements and television is used to reach an audience, and often those audience are "male or female" demographics. Language is a great way to articulate thoughts and feelings in a beautiful way, and no violence needs to come from it. Without language gender roles would not be able to argued and discussed. Language has been known to divide people, but through that division a union follows that no other medium could produce.