Introduction
Over the recent past, most global societies have experienced a great upheaval and revising of their traditionally cherished methods of defining roles on a gender basis as evidenced by the strides made by such communities in accepting and adjusting to new methods of assigning roles.
Currently, as evidenced by research studies women are advancing career-wise, as more women are joining career that were reserved for men and becoming their family’s breadwinners. Although this is a clear indication of where societies are heading as far as appreciating the girl child is concerned, still sexism and gender inequality are primary problems that are facing the girl child.
Such is the case primarily because societal socialization agents such as the church, schools, work groups, and parents, which are supposed to be the primary promoters of the war against sexism and gender discrimination, have and still promote gender inequality and sexism direct or indirectly. As a result of these, the war on gender inequality and sexism has failed, because of the failure of these agents of change to promote gender equality and eliminate discriminative notions held by the society (Baur and Crooks 65-67).
Regardless of an individual’s gender, there is a need for communities to respect every individual’s rights, as this forms the basis of the war against sexism and gender inequality. However, because this has failed to occur it is crucial for women to rise up and defend their rights through rejecting gender-role segregation and any other form of discrimination, which demeans their self-worth.
Gender Development and Gender-Role Stereotyping
Gender identity is a concept that develops during the early stages of development, as this is the time when children are in the process of discovering who they are. This process continues as a child grows and encounters more societal forces, which are the primary elements that define behavior and roles.
Therefore, depending on the stereotypes, which are held by a certain society, a child will grow up knowing that some roles are reserved for men and others for women. This is one of the factors that have made the war on gender inequality and sexism to always hit a snag, because in most cases it is very hard to alter the ideas, traditions, norms, and beliefs, which form the foundation of societies.
Although some societies have started to embrace change, as far as gender stereotyping is concerned, still majority of modern communities cherish and will do anything at their disposal to ensure that their cherished gender based stereotypes take precedence. This is the case primarily because; the socialization process has made most individuals to accept the gender-based stereotypes and roles as an integral part of their lives; hence (Baur and Crooks 66).
Therefore, because it is hard to alter some strong rooted gender-related traditions and practices such as sexism, the role of salvaging women from the oppression caused by these practices solely depend on the nature of efforts put in place by women. This is war that can be worn, because not every individual support this traditional ideology of assigning roles on a gender basis and viewing women as the weaker sex.
As Baur and Crooks (70-71) further add, another factor that has promoted sex role stereotyping is religion. Although, this is supposed to be one of the primary agents of change, the church has failed to sensitize societies about the negative effects of gender inequality. Most religions for example, Islam and Christianity embrace the idea of male superiority.
Religious teachings present God as man, a fact that makes the world to view males as ore superior than females. Such is even the case when it comes to the story of creation where, it is said that Eve was a product of Adam’s rib. Further, the supremacy of the male sex is clearly portrayed by the leadership structure of most churches.
Most church leaders are men, with few women who occupy subordinate leadership positions. On the other hand, although some religions have started to ordain female clergy, this ideology has been opposed by most religions. This has made many to question the ability of most socialization agents to change the human perception of men and women, more so when it comes to role gender role differentiation.
As research studies show, as compared to men, women are less impinged in principles of sexism and the traditional ways of assigning people roles, using gender based stereotypes. Further, as studies indicate as compared to men, most women are ready to accept positions that will guarantee them some form of equality with men.
Although this is the case, the desire to change this in most cases faces numerous challenges, because of the tendency of most individuals of being ready to undertake most traditional masculine or feminine based duties without questions. These like scenarios are so because of the numerous forces within the society, which have contributed to the cherishing of these values, regardless of how much they demean individuals of a certain sex.
One of the biggest forces within the society, which has promoted sexism and gender-role inequality, is the family. As compared to other agents of socialization, parents are the main contributors to the nature of values and beliefs held by individuals; hence, the great shapers of behavior. Different homes have different expectations for boys and girls.
Majority of these expectations are usually biased, as most families have a tendency of restricting the girl child’s freedom while granting boys more freedom. Consider even the type of toys that parents buy for their children; most of these toys are primarily meant to prepare children for their adult roles. For example, it is very rare to find parents who buy their male children dolls and tea sets or their female children trucks and balls, as the opposite is the case in most family setting.
On the other hand, as children grow, parents usually teach them different types of family chores. Most parents encourage boys to help their fathers in hard chores and girls to help their mothers in the kitchen. Therefore, regardless of how much parents may discourage their children from embracing gender stereotypes and gender-based role segregation, this are ideas which in most cases are rooted in children’s minds hence, very hard to eliminate (Baur and Crooks 65-69).
In addition to parents, the peer group and the working lot, is another group of socialization agents who have failed in their duty to sensitize the societies on the need to change the strongly embraced sexism and gender inequality promoting values.
The peer group is another basic unit, which is involved in the gender role socialization process. Right from selecting their playmates, assigning of roles depending on an individual’s sex, and providing assistance on the type of careers to take, the peer group is one of the biggest promoters of sexism and assigning of gender biased role.
Peer groups have a tendency of encouraging the girl child to be more nonassertive and caring, a case that is contrary when it comes to boys. As children develop and go through their puberty into adulthood, their will grow embracing these gender based duties; hence, making it very hard to alter them when children are mature. This like gender role stereotypes have encroached the workforce, as most workplaces are made up of men who occupy senior positions while women play the subordinate and easy roles.
Although the culture of women owning wealth has started to be embraced by most communities, most wealth is owned and managed by men, because of the corporate, political and economic power, which the society accords men. Most women have to always find ways of balancing between family chores and office duties, because of the believe held by societies that, regardless of what women do, tending to the family is one of their primary roles.
As a result of these, most women tend to prefer part-time jobs, jobs that are low paying, or which require simple skills. This has created a very big pay gap between women and men, sexual harassment, and declining number of female workers; hence, the need for women to stand up and reject this form of role inequality (Coon and Mitterer 363-368).
Conclusion
In conclusion, as a result of the failure of the primary societal socialization agents to bring the desired change as far as sex-role stereotyping is concerned, it important for women to combine forces and fight for their rights. Although it is hard to change most the long cherished societal value systems beliefs, and stereotypes, through women declining gender based roles, which demean them, women are likely to succeed in their quest for role equality.
Works Cited
Baur, Karla and Crooks, Robert. Our sexuality. Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing, 2011. Web.
Coon, Dennis and Mitterer, John. Introduction to psychology: gateways to mind and behavior. Wadsworth Publishing: Belmont, 2008. Web.