Gender role can be defined as number of professed personality trait and manners observed by males or females in a given society. Different culture imposes a different set of expectations on men and women (faqs, n.d).
Every culture has a different number of norms that they use to differentiate a perfect male or female with an imperfect one.
Who sets these gender roles? What if one is unable to be the perfect male / female? Is it right to restrict people to grow out of the perceived roles into something that is entirely opposite? Why is it assumed that a female will stay home to cook and clean while a man will be the sole bread earner of the house? An extensive debate has been going on for years regarding this topic.
Looking around us a commercial selling razor blade will show a man who is rugged and well built and in a shampoo commercial will have a female who couldn’t be any prettier yet she still does the normal things in life. A magazine will always cover a top model and not a housewife. Why does media always shows beautiful, perfect physique females and tall, handsome men, be it an advertisement of food product or a house or any cars?
Though over the years, people are being acceptable towards deviation in gender roles. Men and women are working together to understand and adjust to the shift occurring in gender roles Women work hand in hand with men to support living, media shows program covering normal people from the streets and both genders of a family are involved in taking major decisions.
This change will defiantly result in better environment at workplaces, better atmosphere at homes, better standards of living for the young generation and an air of equality will amongst the upcoming generation.
References
Faqs. “Gender Roles” (Internet), www.faqs.org (Accessed on January 11, 2009)
http://www.faqs.org/health/topics/8/Gender-roles.html