For centuries there has been an imbalance in gender roles in our society. This imbalance has carried across the world to the point that it has defined gender roles in the past, but it doesn’t necessarily define the future. As the world has come together and communicated, more ideas have been able to spread. America, being at the forefront of the information age, has absorbed many of these ideas and has changed as a result. Solidified for centuries, American gender roles have slowly begun to change due to emerging new ideas, but it continues to struggle against deeply engrained beliefs.
The history of the United States has defined gender roles very explicitly. The role that women had was very much defined, but it was made to where they could be respected and following a national opinion. Starting as far back as the 1790’s, the country adopted the idea of Republican Motherhood (The American Pageant). Republican Motherhood came about to put women on a pedestal but solidified their role in society as mothers and domestics, very similar to Woolf’s Angel of the House. This was actually a widely held idea for both men and women at this time. Men enjoyed having women work at home raising their children into working members of society, and women generally accepted the idea for the respect for the work they do as mothers and homemakers.
Women followed these roles of working at home until the major feminist movements and women’s suffrage. The women of these movements protested and worked for equal rights as men at the voting booth and at work. The effort they put into fighting for these rights shows that the idea of Republican Motherhood did not last, and the desire for equality in America was a major issue. The passing of the 19th Amendment was the first major success for women’s equality in America. The progress has continued up to the 2009 Fair Pay Bill, in which women are now obligated to receive the same pay as men for equal work. Yet issues of women’s health, job opportunity, etc. continue to be issues among women who have yet to win full equality.
Ethnicity plays a major role in defining gender roles due to the influence it has on people of the same ethnicity and on how others see a certain ethnicity. Judith Ortiz Cofer explains how being a Latin woman in a largely white environment that mixed signals can be sent. People with no Latin roots view Latinas as they are stereotypically seen on television or other media, as domestics, waitresses, etc. because of how the media portrays them. Other ethnic women including blacks, Asians, Indians, and others have to deal with stereotypes as well. Yet this is not always seen negatively as some ethnicities put value on gender roles for cultural reasons. Latin women for example are seen as the head of the house and earn respect for that role. Yet this culture can go beyond ethnicity.
Society has progressed into breaking gender roles. Virginia Woolf expresses the hardships of being a woman during the Victorian age of England (“Professions for Women”). Women during this age were unable to express their thoughts as openly as they had wished unlike men. This, however, is not the case anymore. Women hold nearly any job in the work force. Being a woman is no longer the barrier to free expression as it was in Woolfe’s generation. Gender roles are not limited to women. Men also have sharply defined gender roles. Gretel Ehrich explains that men have an image that society accepts. It is that of an emotionless statue of a man, but has real emotion and character personally. Yet, being a man isn’t what it used to be. Now, thanks to more emphasis in schools on expressing emotion, men are more able to break the cowboy stereotype. The fear may still exist, but this image is changing. Yet it fails to bring about its full effect.
Religion has defined gender roles for centuries, and it continues to define gender roles today. Religion can dictate how a person should act based on their gender from sacred writings. For example, “Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives.” (1 Peter 3:1). Scripture such as this has been interpreted in many ways, including very literally. Those who have used Scripture to define gender roles have created societies based on said roles, but it can differ between religions. For Muslims, women are supposed to be submissive to their husbands and show respect for men. This aspect conflicts with many of the freedoms of expression gained in America throughout the years. Taken from the Quran, it has influenced the way women dress in the Muslim community. In Christianity, women have more rights, but are sometimes barred from participating in the religion (i.e. women can’t be priests in the Catholic Church). Some have challenged religion’s influence in gender roles. Bill Broadway shows that in revised versions of the International Bible, text has been made gender neutral so as to be more inclusive to modern readers. The goal is to be able to influence gender equality and break away from gender specific aspects.
Pop culture is showing gender roles for all the people to see. In her “Cathy” cartoon Cathy Guisewite depicts a scene in which Cathy is trying to find a toy that doesn’t involve gender stereotyping. She doesn’t have any luck finding a gender neutral toy despite her efforts to find one. The idea is exaggerated but true in the sense that toys are stereotyped. Since toys are at the center of culture for kids, it is easy to see how stereotyped kids are when dealing with this. The creators of these toys also influence this. The C.E.O of Mattel, in a CBS Sunday Morning interview, when asked by Bill Geist, “Why don’t you have girls in Hot Wheels commercials?” to which the C.E.O responded, “Because girls aren’t playing with them.” Rather than finding proof of this, the company decided to stereotype toys directly. He is not marketing a specific toy to a specific demographic based on an assumption backed up with no facts. This kind of marketing does not stop at the toy market however. Television influences kids because that is what they are exposed to. While not all shows promote stereotyping (some even break gender roles such as The Legend of Korra), by and large they promote a market targeting one gender or another. By promoting this, it influences how kids will see gender and it will continue through their lives.
Gender roles have significantly impacted America’s people for generations. Whether this influence is positive or negative the fact of the matter is that this influence exists. In many of these situations, however, it has a negative impact. The fight to enforce or to break gender roles is ongoing. It is simply a matter of which side has the most influence at one time. It is our job, however, to ensure this equality. There are wonderful things we can learn from the other gender, and by removing prejudice, we can achieve it.
The history of the United States has defined gender roles very explicitly. The role that women had was very much defined, but it was made to where they could be respected and following a national opinion. Starting as far back as the 1790’s, the country adopted the idea of Republican Motherhood (The American Pageant). Republican Motherhood came about to put women on a pedestal but solidified their role in society as mothers and domestics, very similar to Woolf’s Angel of the House. This was actually a widely held idea for both men and women at this time. Men enjoyed having women work at home raising their children into working members of society, and women generally accepted the idea for the respect for the work they do as mothers and homemakers.
Women followed these roles of working at home until the major feminist movements and women’s suffrage. The women of these movements protested and worked for equal rights as men at the voting booth and at work. The effort they put into fighting for these rights shows that the idea of Republican Motherhood did not last, and the desire for equality in America was a major issue. The passing of the 19th Amendment was the first major success for women’s equality in America. The progress has continued up to the 2009 Fair Pay Bill, in which women are now obligated to receive the same pay as men for equal work. Yet issues of women’s health, job opportunity, etc. continue to be issues among women who have yet to win full equality.
Ethnicity plays a major role in defining gender roles due to the influence it has on people of the same ethnicity and on how others see a certain ethnicity. Judith Ortiz Cofer explains how being a Latin woman in a largely white environment that mixed signals can be sent. People with no Latin roots view Latinas as they are stereotypically seen on television or other media, as domestics, waitresses, etc. because of how the media portrays them. Other ethnic women including blacks, Asians, Indians, and others have to deal with stereotypes as well. Yet this is not always seen negatively as some ethnicities put value on gender roles for cultural reasons. Latin women for example are seen as the head of the house and earn respect for that role. Yet this culture can go beyond ethnicity.
Society has progressed into breaking gender roles. Virginia Woolf expresses the hardships of being a woman during the Victorian age of England (“Professions for Women”). Women during this age were unable to express their thoughts as openly as they had wished unlike men. This, however, is not the case anymore. Women hold nearly any job in the work force. Being a woman is no longer the barrier to free expression as it was in Woolfe’s generation. Gender roles are not limited to women. Men also have sharply defined gender roles. Gretel Ehrich explains that men have an image that society accepts. It is that of an emotionless statue of a man, but has real emotion and character personally. Yet, being a man isn’t what it used to be. Now, thanks to more emphasis in schools on expressing emotion, men are more able to break the cowboy stereotype. The fear may still exist, but this image is changing. Yet it fails to bring about its full effect.
Religion has defined gender roles for centuries, and it continues to define gender roles today. Religion can dictate how a person should act based on their gender from sacred writings. For example, “Likewise, ye wives, [be] in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives.” (1 Peter 3:1). Scripture such as this has been interpreted in many ways, including very literally. Those who have used Scripture to define gender roles have created societies based on said roles, but it can differ between religions. For Muslims, women are supposed to be submissive to their husbands and show respect for men. This aspect conflicts with many of the freedoms of expression gained in America throughout the years. Taken from the Quran, it has influenced the way women dress in the Muslim community. In Christianity, women have more rights, but are sometimes barred from participating in the religion (i.e. women can’t be priests in the Catholic Church). Some have challenged religion’s influence in gender roles. Bill Broadway shows that in revised versions of the International Bible, text has been made gender neutral so as to be more inclusive to modern readers. The goal is to be able to influence gender equality and break away from gender specific aspects.
Pop culture is showing gender roles for all the people to see. In her “Cathy” cartoon Cathy Guisewite depicts a scene in which Cathy is trying to find a toy that doesn’t involve gender stereotyping. She doesn’t have any luck finding a gender neutral toy despite her efforts to find one. The idea is exaggerated but true in the sense that toys are stereotyped. Since toys are at the center of culture for kids, it is easy to see how stereotyped kids are when dealing with this. The creators of these toys also influence this. The C.E.O of Mattel, in a CBS Sunday Morning interview, when asked by Bill Geist, “Why don’t you have girls in Hot Wheels commercials?” to which the C.E.O responded, “Because girls aren’t playing with them.” Rather than finding proof of this, the company decided to stereotype toys directly. He is not marketing a specific toy to a specific demographic based on an assumption backed up with no facts. This kind of marketing does not stop at the toy market however. Television influences kids because that is what they are exposed to. While not all shows promote stereotyping (some even break gender roles such as The Legend of Korra), by and large they promote a market targeting one gender or another. By promoting this, it influences how kids will see gender and it will continue through their lives.
Gender roles have significantly impacted America’s people for generations. Whether this influence is positive or negative the fact of the matter is that this influence exists. In many of these situations, however, it has a negative impact. The fight to enforce or to break gender roles is ongoing. It is simply a matter of which side has the most influence at one time. It is our job, however, to ensure this equality. There are wonderful things we can learn from the other gender, and by removing prejudice, we can achieve it.
2012: a Year in Review. The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the 20% Cooler
This year saw its tragedies and triumphs. Here is a list of some of them:
- Jan. 1: a new year arrives which brings hope to many people.
- Jan. 9: Alabama routs LSU 21-0 in BCS Championship.
- Jan. 13: Costa Concordia sinks as at least 15 die.
- Jan. 14: Ma Ying-jeou wins re-election as President of the Republic of China with 51% of the vote.
- Jan. 18: the Stop Online Piracy Act receives negative backlash from internet users and is shut down.
- Feb. 5: New York Giants win Superbowl.
- Feb. 6: Queen Elizabeth II of England celebrates 60 years on the throne with Diamond Jubilee celebration across Great Britain.
- Feb. 14: Kateri Tekakwitha is canonized as the first Native American Saint.
- Feb. 26: George Zimmerman shoots Trayvon Martin, a teenage pedestrian shot because Zimmerman thought he was a thief or thug. Thousands rally for justice for Trayvon.
- Feb. 28: Occupy London protesters are evicted.
- Mar. 4: Vladimir Putin wins Russian election.
- Mar. 19: Wendy's becomes 2nd largest burger chain.
- Mar. 25:Peter Cruddas, treasurer of Britain's Conservative Party, resigns after being caught on film selling access to British Prime Minister David Cameron.
- Mar. 26: James Cameron reaches Challenger Deep, Earth's lowest point.
- Mar. 31: Fijian floods force thousands to evacuate, another natural flood disaster in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Apr. 3: President Obama secures Democratic nomination in 2012 U.S Election.
- Apr. 5: Anonymous hacks Chinese bureaus in retaliation to censorship.
- Apr. 8: Pope calls for end to Syrian bloodshed.
- Apr. 13: North Korean Missile launch fails.
- Apr. 28: Tent collapse in St. Louis, Missouri kills one and injures 110.
- Apr. 30: World Trade One, which replaces the Twin Towers, becomes New York City's tallest building.
- Apr. 30: Manchester City defeats Manchester United in biggest soccer match in British history.
- May 5: Japan shuts down nuclear reactors, leaving the country without nuclear power for the first time since 1970.
- May 9: President Obama officially speaks of support for same- sex marriage.
- May 14: Stanford researchers develop prototype bionic eye
- May 15: Greek protests continue as 5th attempt to aid their economy fails.
- May 29: Another Italian earthquake rattle the country, but damage and casualties are minor.
- May 29: Facebook's stock continues to cost investors.
- Jun. 6: solar powered plane makes successful transcontinental trip.
- Jun. 11: Los Angeles Kings win Stanley Cup.
- Jun. 21: Miami Heat win NBA Championship.
- Jun. 24: Mohamed Morsi becomes Egyptian president.
- Jun. 29: 15,000 anti-nuclear activists demonstrate in front of the Japanese Prime Minister's office.
- Jul. 18: Kim Jong-un is appointed Supreme Leader of North Korea.
- Jul. 20: 12 people are killed in Aurora, Colorado after a gunman opens fire in movie theater, becoming one of the most brutal attacks on American civilians.
- Jul. 26: At least 200 people are killed in Syria, a continuation of violence in the Middle East.
- Jul. 27: The 2012 Olympic Games in London, Great Britain begin.
- Jun. 30: 4,000 Bronies gather in Secacus, New Jersey to celebrate the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fandom.
- Aug. 4: Oscar Pistorius becomes first amputee to advance in the Olympics.
- Aug. 5: Gunman opens fire in Sikh temple in Wisconsin, killing six then self.
- Aug. 12: London Olympics end, Phelps is officially the most decorated Olympian in history.
- Aug. 28: Mitt Romney is officially nominated as the Republican candidate for the 2012 U.S election.
- Sept. 2: The law for Egyptian women to be televised veiled is lifted.
- Sept. 6: Barack Obama accepts nomination for president.
- Sept. 11: U.S Consulate Office in Benghazi Libya is stormed by terrorists, killing U.S ambassador plus five.
- Sept. 17: Occupy Wall Street reaches first anniversary.
- Sept. 18: Chicago teacher's strike ends.
- Sept. 21: Peace One Day makes international statement on this International Day of Peace.
- Sept. 27: Mars Curiosity rover discovers evidence of ancient stream bed.
- Sept. 27: The discovery of the 113th element is confirmed.
- Oct. 8: Hugo Chavez is elected Venezuelan President for a fourth term.
- Oct. 12: European Union wins controversial victory of the Nobel Peace Prize.
- Oct. 14: Another act of terror at Nigerian mosque kills 20.
- Oct. 15: Malala, a 14 year old Pakistani girl is shot by Taliban soldiers for speaking out for better education for girls in her country. She was later flown to the U.K where she healed.
- Oct. 22: Italian scientists are convicted of manslaughter in failure to predict 2009 earthquake.
- Oct. 28: San Francisco Giants win World Series.
- Oct. 29: Hurricane Sandy makes landfall in New Jersey, New York which will become one of the costliest storm in U.S history.
- Nov. 6: President Barack Obama wins reelection over Republican candidate, Mitt Romney.
- Nov. 14: CFBDSIR 2149-0403 is discovered and found to be the closest rouge planet to Earth(100 light years away).
- Nov. 16: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 becomes the biggest entertainment launch of all time.
- Nov. 18: Israel- Palestine rocket attacks begin.
- Nov. 21: Israeli-Hamas peace negotiations are reached.
- Nov. 24: Gangnam Style becomes the most viewed video in YouTube history.
- Dec. 14: 20 children, 8 adults are killed as gunman opens fire in elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. The children were shot execution style and the gunman committed suicide, for a total of 28 dead.