Gender Roles

Introduction

Gender in perceived as a socio-cultural construct of male and female identities that determine and influence the manner in which people live and construe their vicinity, and those around them (Lee, 2005). Typically, gender is natural. Nonetheless, it is also learned directly and indirectly in the society. In a broad sense, gender refers to the opportunities, societal attributes, and relationships affiliated with being masculine or feminine (Lee, 2005). In this regard, gender roles are perceived as behavioral norms and patterns that are affiliated with males and females in a particular culture, system, or social group (Fairbairn, Blanckenhorn & Székely, 2007). Normally, femininity and masculinity exist in comparative relation to

In the traditional American society, gender roles played an imperative role in employment distribution and occupational preference. Research indicates that issues pertaining to employment distribution and occupational preference remained constant from 1900 to the late 1970s (Wayne, 2007). In the traditional American society, women were more often than not allotted second-rate jobs. For instance, in American institutions, women who were lucky enough to secure employment opportunities served as receptionists, secretaries, and the like. On the other hand, men took up high ranks such as managerial, executive, and administrative posts (Wayne, 2007). These patterns were affiliated with gender roles that required the society to assign high rank tasks to males, and low rank tasks to

In the traditional American society, the education systems were highly affected by gender roles. Based on gender roles, females were expected to pursue studies that were more inclined on literature and theory (Wayne, 2007). Whereas, boys were expected to partake studies that were more inclined on sciences, and mathematics. Overtime, this pattern has been subverted. In the prevalent American society, female students are free to pursue studies that are more inclined on sciences and mathematics. Likewise, boys are also free to pursue studies that are inclined on literature and theory. With reference to the Sport Arena, the traditional American society did not record high numbers of female participation in sport (Wayne, 2007). Females that were lucky enough to participate in sport, indulged in sporting activities such as tennis, and the like. On the other hand, boys indulged in sporting activities such as American football. Generally, males indulged in vigorous sporting activities, compared to their female counterparts. In the prevalent American society, females and males participate equally in the sporting arena (Benthin, 2009). For instance, females in the United States indulge in American Football and so on.