This Journal is in response to two articles:
"Are Men and Women's Roles in Society Changing?"
"Men are stuck' in Gender Roles, Data Suggest"
"Are Men and Women's Roles in Society Changing?"
"Men are stuck' in Gender Roles, Data Suggest"
I do not believe that there is a big emphasis on gender roles in today's society, especially compared to how things used to be. In past time there was always a clear definition between genders and the thought of ever crossing that line was completely out of the question. In today's society, we find it acceptable for a woman to hold a higher rank in a business than an man. This is just one example that proves that gender roles aren't as emphasized as they were in prior years. However, society today still has it's imperfections.
In my opinion, I think it is harder to be a boy in today's society. I say this because despite the girls having to deal with the constant nagging from the media about body image, they pretty much have free rein to do whatever they want. Boys, on the other hand, struggle with not only matching up to the idea of what a man should look like but also dealing with the stress of making sure they act masculine. In the article, Men are stuck in gender roles, data suggests, Barbara Risman states, "if girls call themselves tomboys, it is with a sense of pride, but boys get made fun of...if they step just a little outside the rigid masculine stereotype." This shows how hard it is for boys, even at a young age to understand their "role" in society.
Women have taken the initiative to say that they are or could be "competent and assertive and ambitious". However, since they have decided that, they have created more job opportunities for them that take more responsibility and demanding efforts. Unfortunately, for the men, women have been taking their jobs, resulting in them either choosing to be unemployed or to take on a job that was previously held by a woman. Even though "more men have been expressed a desire to take on the role of primary caregiver" a lot aren't comfortable saying that they are "kind, gentle, compassionate, and nurturing." Overall, I think there has to be somewhat of a balance between men and women because as Risman says in the article: "If men don't feel free to go into women's jobs, women are not really free."
I do not feel as though it is that different being a man or a woman in today's society. I say this because each gender has there own struggles. Sometimes one has more hardships than the other and then after some time passes the tables will turn. I think that our society has become more accepting of people, despite their gender, and now we just need to work together to accept people that want to act a little outside of the preference of society.
In my opinion, I think it is harder to be a boy in today's society. I say this because despite the girls having to deal with the constant nagging from the media about body image, they pretty much have free rein to do whatever they want. Boys, on the other hand, struggle with not only matching up to the idea of what a man should look like but also dealing with the stress of making sure they act masculine. In the article, Men are stuck in gender roles, data suggests, Barbara Risman states, "if girls call themselves tomboys, it is with a sense of pride, but boys get made fun of...if they step just a little outside the rigid masculine stereotype." This shows how hard it is for boys, even at a young age to understand their "role" in society.
Women have taken the initiative to say that they are or could be "competent and assertive and ambitious". However, since they have decided that, they have created more job opportunities for them that take more responsibility and demanding efforts. Unfortunately, for the men, women have been taking their jobs, resulting in them either choosing to be unemployed or to take on a job that was previously held by a woman. Even though "more men have been expressed a desire to take on the role of primary caregiver" a lot aren't comfortable saying that they are "kind, gentle, compassionate, and nurturing." Overall, I think there has to be somewhat of a balance between men and women because as Risman says in the article: "If men don't feel free to go into women's jobs, women are not really free."
I do not feel as though it is that different being a man or a woman in today's society. I say this because each gender has there own struggles. Sometimes one has more hardships than the other and then after some time passes the tables will turn. I think that our society has become more accepting of people, despite their gender, and now we just need to work together to accept people that want to act a little outside of the preference of society.
30 Years Ago...
Today...
Other Resources:
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/report/2014/03/07/85457/fact-sheet-the-womens-leadership-gap/
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/06/05/growing-number-of-dads-home-with-the-kids/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/slides_-_family_participation_in_the_workforce_urban_bas.pdf
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/labor/report/2012/04/16/11377/the-new-breadwinners-2010-update/
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/report/2014/03/07/85457/fact-sheet-the-womens-leadership-gap/
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/06/05/growing-number-of-dads-home-with-the-kids/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/slides_-_family_participation_in_the_workforce_urban_bas.pdf
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/labor/report/2012/04/16/11377/the-new-breadwinners-2010-update/