The Issue of Gender Roles in Society - Essay Example

Gender Issues The issue of gender roles in society has been a big topic over the past years as the era of male chauvinism finally comes to an end and equality becomes more than just a perceived concept for the future. Men and women are now thought of being equal in the various sectors of the society from business to domestic environments. Whereas in the past a woman’s role was considered to be in the kitchen cooking and cleaning for her husband and children, the modern woman has shot down this perception and proved the popular adage that anything a man can do a woman can do (Caroll 68). Women can now be seen in the office working as colleagues to their male counterparts and even taking up managerial positions with the opposite sex as their subordinates. The transition that has led to this equality has not been a smooth nor easy one however, and it has taken a lot of lobbying and politics for women to achieve the equality that they rightly deserve. Gender equality has also brought up new issues in terms of the roles that the different genders are supposed to take up now as the traditional perceptions have been shelved in favor of the new age era where most responsibilities can be looked upon as unisex in nature. Though the equality that has been achieved by women has been welcomed, issues still remain such as the fact that this does not change their sex and women still want to be appreciated as women. The issue of equality comes in when dealing with the subject of respect, women simply want to be given the same respect offered to the opposite gender, but that does not imply that they want to be treated like their male counterparts (Sommers 134). They still wanted to be treated like a lady despite their new found independence in the modern world, in issues such as going out on dates a man is still expected to play the role of a gentleman and pick up the tab, open doors for their companion and the various other gestures of affection that they have been accorded over the past (Caroll 45). This is to say that despite the equality between the two genders that has been gained, differences are still in existense and they should not be overlooked. For example, men are still considered to be physically stronger than their counterparts and energy draining tasks such as heavy lifting should not be given to a woman likely to be smaller in stature simply because women are now considered to be equal to men. The gender issues that are now being faced as a result of this equality has also led to several issues that need to be looked into if true equality is to be achieved among the opposite genders. In her article why the sexual woman is going to save the world, Jennifer Posada states “And we women have a special way to let her shine, to let ourselves shine, and to ignite the world. With that light we illuminate every dark space that ever was every hidden corner and forgotten knowing.” (Jennifer) A new line between equality and difference has developed in relation to gender roles that require mastering should true equality wish to be achieved. One has to be able to know when to treat the opposite sex as equals and when to take their gender into consideration. The effect of trying to treat women as equals but at the same time retaining an understanding of their sexuality has been an uphill task for many men but is not a hard concept in reality if one is able to break down independent situations on their own (Tierney). The main point of gender equality is the elimination of bias towards the opposite sex, and it does not necessarily mean that women are now expected to do every single thing that their male counterparts do. Just because a woman is able to change a tire does not mean that she should do so when a man is present. In short, one should still be a gentleman and treat ladies with the respect and care that they deserve (Alice, Beall & Sternberg 112). Another issue that needs to be addressed in terms of gender equality is the favoritism that it has given women in some areas as a result of many organizations trying to over compensate for the time that they were ignored by the community. These movements have at times gone overboard in their regulations and policies pitting the men at an unfair disadvantage to their female counterparts (Sommers 134). New policies that favor women have been developed not only in private organizations, but in governments as well in an attempt to ensure that the new found equality is adhered to in the various sectors of the community. A good example is the popular quota that is set by companies of the number of women occupying managerial positions. The concept of equality should not only be considered when looking at women but both genders should be considered as well. The booking of a number of positions for women means that there is a chance a man who may be better qualified will miss out on the position simply because of his sex (Alice, Beall & Sternberg 98). This in itself is a form of discrimination, but it is not acknowledged as it is committed in the name of gender equality. The main obstacle that is facing gender equality however is the pride of some men who perceive themselves to be stronger and brighter than their female counterparts and thus consider themselves somewhat higher placed in society in terms of value. These are traditional minded individuals who may have been raised to think that way by their fathers but nonetheless should be willing to change were it not for their stubbornness. Such men though thankfully fewer than they were a few decades ago have stuttered the overall progress of changing society’s mind frame and achieving the desired equality that women have so desperately fought for over the years. The value and difference in women can be properly summarized by the words of agent M in the James Bond Movie Golden Eye when a colleague accused her of not having the “balls” for the job when she said the advantage of that being is she does not have to think with them. Therefore, gender equality has brought up new issues in terms of the roles that the different genders are supposed to take up now as the traditional perceptions have been shelved in favor of the new age era where most responsibilities can be looked upon as unisex in nature. Works Cited Carroll, J. L. (2012). Sexuality now: embracing diversity: Gender role theory, 2012. Belmont, CA: Wandsworth. Eagly, Alice H., Beall, A. & Sternberg, R. S. (eds.).The Psychology of Gender, 2004. New York: Guilford Press. Golden Eye. Dir. Martin Campbell. Eon Productions,1995.Film. Posada, Jennifer. “Why the Sexual Woman is Going to Save the World” jenniferposada. 9th Dec. 2011. Web. 27 Oct. 2012. Sommers Christina Hoff. The War against Boys: How Misguided Feminism Is Harming Our Young Men, 2001, London: Simon & Schuster. Tierney, John. Male Pride and Female Prejudice, 2006. The New York Times. Web. 27 Oct. 2012. Read More