Development of Gender Roles

Gender roles are the roles that society and culture give to males and females.
Some work is treated as “men’s work,” and some as “women’s work”, and people are expected to follow these patterns.

These roles:

• They are decided by society and tradition.
• They are not the same in every place or time.
• Change with age, education, needs of the family, and economic conditions.

Examples show that gender roles are different in different communities:

• In one tribal community (Mundugumor), women have more aggressive and dominant roles than men.
• In some Nepalese markets, women handle all money and business in shops and malls, while many men supply the goods.

This shows that the roles of men and women are not fixed by nature; they are shaped by culture and tradition.

The roles that men and women get in family and society depend on many factors:

• Structure of family and society (for example, patriarchal or more equal).
• Age and education of the person.
• Socio-economic status of the family.
• Needs, goals, and responsibilities of the family.
• Geographical and economic conditions (village/city, type of jobs available).
• Ideas about physical and psychological differences between men and women.

Common traditional views described in the text are:

• Women are seen as submissive to men.
• They are given “soft” jobs, such as teaching, academics, research, and health care.
• They are treated as more suitable for desk work instead of travelling and field work.
• In administration, they are mostly given second-level posts, which are considered less difficult.

At home:

• Women who work outside are still expected to do housework and take care of children.
• Many men in India feel that even if a woman earns as much as a man, all household work is still her duty.

This results in dual responsibility (double burden):

• One role at the office or workplace,
• Another full-time role at home.

There are many examples of women who have taken up roles earlier seen as “meant for men only”:

• Women political leaders like Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, women leaders of Bangladesh, and women heads of big banks and companies.
• These women are often called “iron ladies” because they handled very tough responsibilities successfully.

Another example mentioned is of a woman educational administrator:

• She worked as a teacher, educationalist, and author.
• She handled many difficult educational problems for years and won awards.
• She is known as a strict and tough officer, even while managing her own family and children.

All these examples show that when women get opportunity, support, training, motivation, and confidence, they can perform any role that men do.

Gender roles are linked to an old idea of the division of labour:

• From infancy, boys and girls see different work given to each.
• At 3–4 years old, children do not have sufficient reasoning power; they simply follow what their parents tell them.
• Children love and trust their parents, so they do not question instructions.
• During socialization, these patterns become part of their sense of duty and responsibility.

As a result:

• Even many highly educated and well-placed women still follow traditional family roles.
• People often accept the roles given by society and try to do their best in those roles.

Culture plays a very strong role in deciding gender roles:

• Even when women are educated, have job reservations, and earn money, cultural rules are still very powerful.
• It is very difficult to go against cultural norms in many families, especially in patriarchal families.

Culture controls not only work but also behaviour:

• How a woman should talk, walk, laugh, smile, show anger, and mix with others.
• Almost every part of her life is regulated by society.
• If a woman does not follow these rules or revolt, she is often criticized and looked down upon.

In many places, village and local leaders give harsher punishment to women than to men for things like inter-caste or inter-religion marriage.

Some natural conditions make women face extra difficulties:

• During periods (menstruation).
• During pregnancy and childbirth.
• After childbirth, women must breastfeed and take care of the child for many years until the child becomes more independent.

When the mother is also working outside:

• The father should have moral responsibility to help her as much as possible.
• It is noted that around 40–50% of men are now sharing such work, which is a positive sign for a better balance in the family.

The pattern of gender roles is slowly changing:

• Many women now work in the police, the air force, the defence, the transport, the engineering, the space travel, the mountaineering, the skating, and even in border security.
• Women have led important ministries, including foreign affairs, defence, and finance.
• In many countries, women have worked as Prime Ministers, President,s and top-level secretaries.

These changes show:

• Gender roles are not permanent.
• With education, opportunity, and social change, the roles of men and women can and do change.
• There is hope that gender roles will become more equal in the near future.

• Gender roles are roles and responsibilities given to men and women by society.
• These roles differ across cultures, times, and family conditions.
• Traditionally, women are seen as soft and submissive and are pushed into soft jobs and full housework.
• Many working women face a double burden: a job outside plus full house duties.
• Some women leaders and professionals have proved that women can do difficult and powerful jobs.
• Children learn gender roles very early, from parents, family, and customs.
• Culture and patriarchy make it hard to change these roles, but changes are taking place.
• More men are now sharing housework, and more women are entering public and professional life, offering hope of greater equality.