Thesis: It is obvious that men and women have different social roles that influence their behavior and attitude to the process of getting the education, family relations and social life (for instance, the life within student communities).
Although some of the researchers indicate the presence of women’s violence in domestic life, the reinforced notions, domestic violence and control of the partner are peculiar to men.
- Peculiarities of gender aspect within the education system and labour market
- Attitude for marriage of men and women as one of the major aspects within the analysis of gender roles
- Family relations as a significant ground of the different gender roles
- Fraternities and sororities as the student communities where they can feel more protective and free
- Grinding dance as an example of different gender roles
Analysis of gender roles is very popular nowadays. The researchers investigate this issue, analyzing the peculiarities of gender roles of men and women in the modern society. Gender roles can be investigated in different ways.
For instance, Ronen (2010) analyzes dance grinding attended campus parties with students in order to see the peculiarities of students’ behavior, being immersed into student environment. In order to explore a self-perception of the members of fraternities and their self-perception within those communities, Boswell and Spade (1996) analyze the examples of students.
Sharp and Ganong (2007) investigate the self-actualization of non-married women. Green (2010) analyzes gender peculiarities within same-sex married couples. Anderson and Umberson (2001) analyze how gender roles cause the domestic violence.
Andres and Adamuti-Trachek (2007), Foschi and Jerilee (2008) and Demaiter and Adams (2009) indicate that men and women have different responses on labour market. It is obvious that men and women have different social roles that influence their behavior and attitude to the process of getting the education, family relations and social life (for instance, the life within student communities).
Although some of the researchers indicate the presence of women’s violence in domestic life, the reinforced notions, domestic violence and control of the partner are peculiar to men.
Current tendency of the education system and labour market demonstrate that although women have good educational gains, statistics show that “labour force participation by women in Canada is low at around 60 percent (compared to 73 percent for men) and the average gender pay gap remains high at 72 percent of men’s average earning” (Andres and Adamuti-Trachek 94).
Andres and Adamuti-Trachek indicate that “many of the gains in labour market participation and a reduction in the gender wage gap have been attributed to increased postsecondary participation by women in general and, specifically, to increased participation in non-traditional fields of study” (94).
The types of programs in which men and women are traditionally enrolled have the significant differences: women are overrepresented in the social sciences, household science, nursing and education and presented less in such fields as physical sciences, mathematics and engineering.
However, Pelak says that gender ideology changes and, as the result one can notice the structural transformation and “the rise of women’s participation and visibility in sports during the past 30 years” (94).
On the other hand, Demaiter and Adams (2009) say about the successful experiences of eleven women who built a good career in the male-dominated field of the information technologies. The authors indicate that “respondents have a tendency to downplay the significance of gender, even as they provide evidence that gender has shaped their careers” (Demaiter and Adams 31).
Although gender roles cause various social roles and behavior, the results of the research conducted by Kane and Kyyrö indicate that “most Americans reject strict segregation by roles (for gender) or spatially (for race)” (719). In the political fields, women also started to play more significant role, being represented in the various political structures (Paxton 2007).
However, at the same time, this statement is true with regard to the developed countries. The situation in the developing countries and, especially, in Asia is different. Foschi and Jerilee (2008) indicate that male and female candidate who applies for a job and have highly similar professional qualifications demonstrates different self-presentation styles.
Thus, the authors emphasize that “the majority of the subjects yielded to social pressure to favor the female applicant in spite of their beliefs in men’s overall task superiority” (Foschi and Jerilee 1035).
One of the major aspects within the analysis of gender roles is attitude for marriage of men and women. Sharp and Ganong analyze the life of a woman “in her late 20s or early 30s who has never married”. The authors say about in-depth reflections of woman who demonstrate different attitude to this issue.
Thus, one of the woman interviewed within this investigation indicated that for her, “being never married as ‘‘living in the gray’’ – that is, being ‘‘in the middle’’ or like all or nothing” (Sharp and Ganong 836). Women consider this period of their life as a challenge when they have to wait what will happen.
Obviously, such position is absolutely different than man attitude to marriage in this age. Moreover, often, men want to wait more and do not get married until 30. They do not feel like they waste time, while many women suppose that they have to get married as soon as possible in order to make their life more stable. Moreover, women plane their life and career reflecting about future family.
Some of them even choose college major which can be more appropriate in the future life as a spouse and mother (Sharp and Ganong 837). However, it would be wrong to conclude that women consider their social life’s position as a lower than men’s one.
Thus, according to Green, in case of same-sex spouses, “some feminists extend this indictment to same-sex marriage, regarding it as a “sell out”, incapable of rehabilitation and unworthy of queer struggle (406). Nevertheless, in case of the same-sex marriage, men and women demonstrate similar attitude, indicating that this step can guarantee them stable life (Green 411).
Family relations are also a significant ground of the different gender roles. Exploring gender roles within the problem of domestic violence, Anderson and Umberson indicate that “men use violence to punish female partners who fail to meet their unspoken physical, sexual, or emotional needs” (359).
In this context, “masculine identities are constructed through acts of violence and through batterers’ ability to control partners as a result of their violence” (Anderson and Umberson 359). Men rather demonstrate male power and privilege, considering this as a natural and normal behavior.
Additionally, gender can be considered as a part of a system of relations that sustains heterosexual male privilege through the denigration or erasure of alternative (feminine/gay/lesbian/ bisexual) identities” (Anderson and Umberson 359). Analyzing money, gender and power in marriage, Tichenor (2005) supposes that the violent behavior toward woman can be caused by the fact that wife earns substantially more than her husband.
Fraternities and sororities play significant role in students’ life. Gathering within universities, men and women demonstrate the same positive attitude to the collective culture and principles of support and mutual aid. However, in some situations, being a member of fraternity, man feels more powerful and protective; therefore, one can do a crime, being sure of getting the protection of one’s fraternity.
Boswell and Spade analyze collegiate rape culture within fraternities and indicate that such places can be more dangerous places for women.
The physical and normative aspects of the relations between men and women cause a gender script that is based on the opinion that “sexually active men are positively reinforced by being referred to as “studs”, whereas women who are sexually active or report enjoying sex are derogatorily labeled as “sluts” (Boswell and Spade 134).
A good example of the different gender roles can be seen in dancing when both man and woman try to draw the attention of the opposite sex. Analyzing “grinding”, sexualized dance common for many students parties, Ronen indicates that “men initiated more often and more directly than women, whose behaviors were shaped by a sexual double standard and (hetero-) relational imperative” (355).
Therefore, one can notice that in this situation men demonstrate their social role of initiator and their higher status. This kind of dance is associated with club culture and demonstrates the current tendencies of gender roles among teenagers and students.
According to the researchers, grinding is more than just erotic dancing and can be considered as “a social gathering to be more than merely fun sociation” (Ronen 356). On Ronen’s opinion, “the heterosexual grinding script enacts a gendered dynamic that reproduces systematic gender inequality by limiting women’s access to sexual agency and pleasure, privileging men’s pleasure and confirming their higher status” (355).
Concluding, one can say that although men and women have the same rights, the influence of gender roles is significant. Gender has the serious impact on the behavior and attitude to the process of getting the education and choosing profession, family relations and social life.
Men demonstrate a predisposition to the violence in domestic life due to their natural will to control the situation. In this context, gender can be considered as a part of a system of relations where men are privileged.
Works Cited
Anderson, Kristin L. and Debra Umberson. “Gendering Violence: Masculinity and Power in Men’s Accounts of Domestic Violence.” Gender and Society, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Jun., 2001), pp. 358-380. Print.
Andres, Lesley and Maria Adamuti-Trachek. “You’ve Come a Long Way, Baby? Persistent Gender Inequality in University Enrolment and Completion in Canada, 1979-2004.” Canadian Public Policy / Analyse de Politiques, Vol. 33, No. 1 (Mar., 2007), pp. 93-116. Print.
Boswell, A. Ayers and Joan Z. Spade. “Fraternities and Collegiate Rape Culture: Why Are Some Fraternities More Dangerous Places for Women?” Gender and Society, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Apr., 1996), pp. 133-147. Print.
Demaiter, Erin I. and Tracey L. Adams. “I really didn’t have any problems with the male-female thing until …”: Successful Women’s Experiences in IT Organizations.” Canadian Journal of Sociology/Cahiers canadiens de sociologie 34(1) (2009): 31-52. Print.
Foschi, Martha and Valenzuela Jerilee. “Selecting job applicants: Effects from gender, self-presentation, and decision type.” Social Science Research 37 (2008): 1022–1038. Print.
Green, Adam Isaiah. “Queer Unions: Same-sex Spouses Marrying Tradition and Innovation.” Canadian Journal of Sociology/Cahiers canadiens de sociologie 35.3 (2010): 399-436. Print.
Kane, Emily W. and Else K. Kyyrö. “For Whom Does Education Enlighten? Race, Gender, Education, and Beliefs about SocialInequality.” Gender and Society, Vol. 15, No. 5 (Oct., 2001), pp. 710-733. Print.
Paxton, Pamela , Sheri Kunovich and Melanie M. Hughes. “Gender in Politics.” Annu. Rev. Sociol. 33 (2007): 263–84. Print.
Pelak, Cynthia Fabrizio. “Women’s Collective Identity Formation in Sports: A Case Study from Women’s Ice Hockey.” Gender & Society 16 (2002): 93-114. Print.
Ronen, Shelly. “Grinding On the Dance Floor: Gendered Scripts and Sexualized Dancing at College Parties.” Gender & Society 24 (2010): 355-377. Print.
Sharp, Elizabeth A. and Ganong Lawrence. “Living in the Gray: Women’s Experiences of Missing the Marital Transition.” Journal of Marriage and Family 69 (2007): 831–844. Print.
Tichenor, Veronica. “Maintaining Men’s Dominance: Negotiating Identity and Power When She Earns More.” Sex Roles, Vol. 53, Nos. 3/4 (Aug. 2005): 191-205. Print.