Gender Issues Established by Society - Essay Example

On the other hand, the role of men in society also changed. Men have a stronger role to play in the family. In the past, women traditionally were expected to get married and raise a family. Society frowned upon women who obtained a career instead of falling into the expected role. Today the role of women has changed dramatically. Women are obtaining education and working outside between raising their families and their career.

However, the new role of a working mom has not made life any easier. Yes, women are free than any generation of women in history to hold positions of power in the workplace and government but this has come at the expense of power over their personal lives (Crittenden, 2001, 2).” Society now causes women to feel inadequate for being a stay at home moms and not working. My neighbor recalls being asked by an old friend ‘so what do you do?’ when she answered that she stays home to raise the kids the neighbor said ‘that’s it?

“ My neighbor recalls feeling like she should be doing more even though until that moment she felt complete. Some women also feel like they have to work and leave their families to pay the bills because one income isn’t enough. Regardless of this confusion as a result of new gender roles, women have more choices than in the past. Men on the other hand are entering into a new gender role and are getting the shorter end of the stick. Women entering the workforce are diminishing the number of jobs available to men.

Male-dominated fields are fastly becoming overrun with women laborers. If health care is broking down women count for most employees in almost every field. For instance, in total ambulatory health care services, there are 12,347 female employees versus 3,449 men. In hospitals, there are 8,002 women and 2,322 men. In nursing, there are 5,361 women and 1,229 men. (Eldred, 2006,26).” Other traditionally male-dominated roles that now include women are automotive technicians, construction workers, roofers, plumbers, and police officers.

Women are slowly dominating the workforce and creating fewer opportunities for men. Outside the declining job availability for men, traditional household responsibilities have changed. Men have been and are in fact, encouraged to take a more active role in family life, parenting, and other household functions. Men are encouraged to be an active, sensational, and continuous force in their children’s life instead of taking the traditional role of breadwinner. Sharing the working and parenting responsibility can be taught to men especially those raised in traditional ways.

The societal trend toward divorce makes the more active role harder still since society provides a double standard in this case. Active fathers tend to receive the judgment of monetary child support while mothers get custody of the children providing the father with visitation rights. A stay-at-home father must learn to submit to the realization that he is not the breadwinner and adhere to the feeling of worthlessness that comes as result. Men are currently encouraged to be nurturers and a source of strength.

I believe the situation will grow worse for men in our current century. Mental disorders like depression and eating disorders like anorexia, which has been predominately female illness, will make an appearance in men. As the divorce rate increases, active fathers whose children are ripped away suffer from depression. Men who choose to be a stay at home dads will suffer from depression and possibly eating disorders. Mental and eating disorders will become widespread if these challenges are not faced.

In a world where divorce is the norm and traditional family and workforce roles have changed, the double standard of mothers being primary caregivers and fathers being monetary providers needs to change. For gender challenges to become nonexistent societies gender roles for men and women to blend equally into one norm for both sexes.