Gender Roles | EssayIvy.com

Running Head: CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 1

Cultural Anthropology

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 2

Introduction

Gender roles refer to the responsibility of the female and the male sex in relation to a

particular phenomenon. During the ancient times, the male and the female were assigned

specific duties and responsibilities which they could undertake. The chores of the female

could not be performed by the males and vice versa. Each of the genders was entitled to full

participation in their respective areas (Rajadhyaksha, Korabik, & Aycan, 2015). The woman

species was not given any chance to rule over the man. They were always suppressed by men.

In the present era, there is equity in terms of sexual division of labor (manago,

Greenfield, Kim, & Ward, 2014). A woman can decide on what to pursue as a lifetime career

as opposed to the past whereby they were regulated to the kitchen. Women can freely

compete with men and actually perform better than the male species. They are given the

chance to air their views and make opinions in relation to family matters and even national

matters. They can presently be elected to represent a particular group of people in a forum.

Women can participate in the process of amending and making of laws governing a certain

state.

There has been a change in what women and men look for in relationship partners.

During the ancient times, the character and behavior of a woman were taken as the paramount

feature of finding a spouse. The man had the initiative to look for a woman not of their choice

but of good character. Beauty and the outer looks were merely taken into consideration

during the selection of a spouse. The parents could also be given the responsibility to look for

a suitable woman for their son to marry (O'Neil, 2015). Contrary to the present marriage

systems in which the men do not consider the behavior of the woman but rather consider the

outer looks and the beauty. In the present generation, women are also allowed to propose

their spouses to their parents.

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 3

In the past, a woman could not make decisions on staying without being married. The

wedding plans could be made even without the consent of the woman. In the present age, the

policies and rights set to protect the woman from being intimidated by the society. They

select to do what is best for them; they can decide to be married or even stay single. Women

can even legally marry a man and be in charge of the family which is a contradiction of the

past whereby the man was taken to be the head of the family, the sole provider to the family

needs.

In the ancient ages, the decision of a man was final and required no interruption from

the woman. The women had to subdue to whatever that the man said. They could not express

their anger to the man but rather keep it and assume the wrongs done to them. They could not

say anything against their spouses as they had the virtue of respect instilled within them

through the knowledge they garnered from their parents. In the present age, a woman is

allowed to express their emotions relative to the occurrences (Somech & Drach-Zahavy,

2016). They are also given a chance to react to the situation to provide a meaningful and

substantial decision in relation to the problem. The women are protected by the law and any

actions against them might lead to severe punishment to the culprit unlike in the past where

men could discipline their spouses without the female response.

Traditionally in the way of dressing, masculinity and femininity was upheld (O'Neil,

2015). Man were supposed to keep their hair short while the woman was expected to keep

their hair long and wear dresses. In the current tradition, the markers of femininity and

masculinity have been evaded. For instance men can keep their hair long while women are

allowed to shave their hair short. Traditionally it could be considered a taboo for a woman to

wear a pair of trouser but due to technological advancement to the digital era, women are

allowed to also wear trousers at their own convenient time without restrictions.

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 4

Traditionally, women were given the chance to dance for the guests for instance in a

ceremony. The male was not supposed to dance vigorously as the woman. In the present age,

both the male and female can compete favorably in their dances. Men are presently allowed

to form a dancing troop which can confidently compete with the women. In relation to the

songs, traditionally only the male was allowed to produce songs. They had the mandate to

look at present situations and design a song relative to the situation (Fortin, 2015). Presently,

we are moving to a digital platform where even the women can create their own song and

stage several performances for them to be renounced the best.

Traditionally, a man could not prepare a meal for themselves. The women were

expected to prepare a meal for the men to ensure that they were kept satisfied at all times.

The function of the woman was to take care of the bellies of the man and the children. In the

present age, men can comfortably prepare their meals and feed themselves (Somech &

Drach-Zahavy, 2016). In another perspective, the women were the only people who were

allowed to practice midwifery. They could assist their fellow women in giving birth as it was

a taboo for a man to be a midwife. Contrary to the past, in the digital environment, a man can

help a woman to give birth. The midwifery responsibility has also been bestowed among the

men.

Conclusion

In the return of the driving and the riding age, the general processes were done by the

men. Men were considered to be perfect in the presence of the women. Anything new had to

be tasted by a man. Any innovation could be referenced to a man. If a woman could do any

innovation they could be warned against it. In the present age, women are given the freedom

and have an equal right to perform what anybody can perform.

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY 5

References

Fortin, N. M. (2015). Gender role attitudes and women's labor market participation: opting-

out, AIDS, and the persistent appeal of housewifery. Annals of Economics and

Statistics, (117/118), 379-401.

manago, A. M., Greenfield, P. M., Kim, J. L., & Ward, L. M. (2014). Changing cultural

pathways through gender role and sexual development: A theoretical framework.

Ethos, 42(2), 198-221.

O'Neil, J. M. (2015). A development model of masculinity: Gender role transitions and men's

psychosocial growth.

Rajadhyaksha, U., Korabik, K., & Aycan, Z. (2015). Gender, gender role ideology, and the

work-family interface: A cross-cultural analysis. In gender and the Work-Family

Experience. Springer International Publishing.

Somech, A., & Drach-Zahavy, A. (2016). Gender Role Ideology. The Wiley Blackwell

Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Place new order. It's free, fast and safe

Paper type

Deadline

Page count

550 words

Total price: $ 15.00

Our customers say

Jeff Curtis

USA, Student

"I'm fully satisfied with the essay I've just received. When I read it, I felt like it was exactly what I wanted to say, but couldn’t find the necessary words. Thank you!"

Ian McGregor

UK, Student

"I don’t know what I would do without your assistance! With your help, I met my deadline just in time and the work was very professional. I will be back in several days with another assignment!"

Shannon Williams

Canada, Student

"It was the perfect experience! I enjoyed working with my writer, he delivered my work on time and followed all the guidelines about the referencing and contents."