Gender Role Devaluations, Restrictions and Violations
Other ways in which gender roles are reinforced is through devaluation, restriction and violation. Dr. James O’Neil, a Professor of Educational Psychology and Family Studies Psychology at the University of Connecticut, provides a definition of gender role devaluations as, “negative critiques of self or others when conforming to, deviating from, or violating stereotypic gender role norms of masculine ideology, resulting in loss of personal status” (O’Neil 2008). O’Neil defines restrictions as “confining others or oneself to stereotypic norms of [gender] ideology, [resulting] in controlling people’s behavior, limiting one’s personal potential, and decreasing human freedom” (2008). Lastly,
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The previously discussed gender role of masculinity, and the tendency of males to exemplify those masculine behaviors, ensured that the individual male gain access into the “male culture,” which, in this case, is fraternity life. Devaluation, restriction, and violation, all represent ways of reinforcing these behaviors and permanently ensuring the socially constructed definition of masculinity. Exactly as O’Neil described them, one must only use the tiniest stretch of the imagination to apply the concepts of devaluation, restriction and violation to the rushing, hazing and standards practice (the process in which members of a Greek organization receive punishment) used by all fraternities. During the rush process, which is when a fraternity picks its newest members, individuals are often judged immediately, ridiculed, and treated extremely poorly. Oftentimes, a potential member is rated on “how well he’ll fit in.” Literally, an individual’s chance of being accepted often depends on how well they conform. Any deviance from the defined “norm” results in negative critiques, loss of personal status, stature and positive regard of self. After the initial new members, or “pledges,” are selected, …show more content…
One highly unique example of the masculine gender role is the popular social networking app Tinder. Although intentionally designed to simply bring singles in the area together to socialize and possibly develop relationships, Tinder has taken on an increasingly sexual undertone. What started as a social networking tool, has now become a glorified booty call app. However, in an article dedicated to the process through which boys learn to be men, Dr. Jackson Katz defines this generation as being raised “in a society that, in many ways, glorifies sexually aggressive masculinity and considers as normal the degradation and objectification of women” (Minnesota Fathers & Families Network, 2007). In other words, the aggressive sexual behavior exemplified on the Tinder app is becoming increasingly normal. Katz goes on to explain that today’s youths will consider normal the concept that, “sex is what makes you more of a man” (2007). With such an emphasis on sex, Tinder will serve as yet another way for college-aged males to achieve this increasingly normal definition of masculinity. Another example, and one that probably relates closest to my own example, is the television series Blue Mountain State. The show follows three incoming freshman football players attending Midwestern University who must quickly learn
Walking around a university’s campus any day of the week, one sees an array of Greek letters worn proudly by young men and women in the Greek system. Fraternities and sororities play a big part in a university. The Greek system can also be an easy target to direct criticism. There are those who oppose the Greek system and those who embrace it. Evan Wright opposes the Greek system in his article “Sister Act” that was featured in Rolling Stone Magazine. He uses examples from students at Ohio State University in Columbus to show his disapproval of the way sororities are now days. He portrays sorority girls as catty conformists who are obsessed with partying with fraternity guys. Evan Wright’s insubstantial claim is full of half-truths in reference to alcohol consumption, conformity, and the purpose of sororities; therefore, his critical position that sororities are corrupt is not credible.
... Guys in fraternities gain respect from their ‘brothers’ when they sleep or hook up with a lot of girls. If they don’t try and hook up with girls, or if they have never slept with anyone, they are often looked down upon, or made fun of. If the fraternity is more popular with the girls than other fraternities, they gain a sense of power and more masculinity.
The critical rank for reducing gender inequalities should be education, labor force participation, and lastly, wages. There are obvious differences between men and women whether it’s anatomically, financially, and so forth. The gender inequalities women face compared to men is alarming and saddening. Gender stereotypes reinforce gender inequalities because stereotypes can often be internalized which results in biases against either sex. These biases against a person can result in negative results. Gender inequality has been within our society for a long time especially amongst women.
Americans history has changed over time especially gender roles between a man and a woman. This essay will be discussing the dynamic dark dystopian society in George Orwell's 1984 book verses today's society and see the difference perspectives or similarities of the gender roles and how it’s defined. Is there a possibility to change it before things get out of hand such as domestic violence? If we left it how it is, will the childrens be effected by it as well?
Greek Life, or the presence of fraternities and sororities, exists in many colleges and universities. According to Michael Grandillo in an Encyclopedia article, “there are more than 5,500 chapters on 800 campuses throughout the United States and Canada.” Although Greek Life is so common, participation in such organizations can be a controversial topic, particularly when critics suggest that hazing can be detrimental to students' health and college careers. For those who do not know much about Greek Life, or the process that one goes through to become affiliated with this system, there is first a week called “rush week,” where fraternities and sororities host parties in attempt to cajole students into joining their organizations. If members of a fraternity or sorority like a particular student, they will vote to give that student a “bid,” which gives that student the opportunity to pledge their organization. If the student accepts the bid, his pledge process will begin, which generally lasts between six to ten weeks. Assuming the student sticks it through, he will be admitted into organization and will be rewarded with the benefits of membership for the remainder of his life. Despite the fact that some Greek organizations engage in intense hazing practices that may result in reduced grades for pledges, it is beneficial for students to participate in Greek Life because organizations force students to create strong bonds among one another while learning important lessons, they prepare students for their future careers, and they provide students with great networking opportunities.
Mainstream media often portrays the idea of masculinity in a very linear way, to be a man you have to display certain characteristics and if you don’t have show these socially constructed masculine traits you can be ostracized because of it. Some of these traits “include a cultural ideal that emphasizes dominance, strength, accumulation of material goods, aggression, risk-taking, and adventurousness” (Connell, 1995). These traits are often negative and stereotype young men into these crafted categories that not everyone is going to fit into. Thus forcing men to go in a certain direction with their gender identity based off old ideas instead of letting them find their own identities and come to terms with who they truly are as a person. So as a man who consumes this mainstream media I would like to see less of this generalized gender identity being pushed on men. I
Gender roles are often used in our own society to tie people to a certain representation for what is socially acceptable. These roles perpetuate gender inequalities because they often make the female end of the spectrum worth less than the male. One example is equating masculinity with strength and femininity with weakness. Because of this sayings such as “You run like a girl” become negative. Gender roles create a system where people are set to a different standard based off gender alone. In trying to follow what is socially acceptable based on gender people are forced into roles. There is a lower percentage of women in science than men because girls are taught at a young age that being smart isn’t feminine. These roles harm boys too, teaching them that they have to be hyper-masculine to be considered
Let’s travel back in time to about the 1700s and the 1800s, back when women had absolutely no rights as an individual and men were considered superior to women. A time where women couldn’t be anything but a housewife and do anything beside house chores, reproduce, and take care of the kids. Meanwhile, men would go out to the world and work. However, throughout the centuries, women fought for their equal rights until they finally succeeded. Back to the present day, women today outnumber men in graduating college, and in professional programs. Gender roles today took a complete twist compared to how it was back then.
When you mention gender roles in society the first thing that comes to mind usually are stereotypes, or the set labels that society has established on how everyone acts based on the different biological, social, and cultural categories they fit into. Throughout history these stereotypes that pertain to genders roles in society have been proven true. Gender roles refer to a behavioral and social norms that are widely accepted for people of a certain sex. In this report I will discussing the gender roles of the two most recognized types of gender, man and woman, from the perspective of a man and a woman who have lived 65+ years. I will also discuss how those roles have influenced society and how they have changed gradually over the years.
My gender was impressed upon me from the minute I was born as I was wrapped in a fuzzy pink blanket and had a bow taped to my bald head. Gender refers to our behavior, feelings, and attitudes as dictated by our society or culture (Defining, 2015). Not only our family, but our peers, schools, and society influence and shape our beliefs and views about our gender (Defining, 2015). It is thought that our gender is socially constructed as our notion of what women and men are and what they are supposed to be is created by the society in which we live (Gender, 2010). As a female born and raised in Philadelphia in the United States in the 1960’s, my gender role, behaviors and attitudes expected of male and female members of a society by that society, was that of a passive, nurturing, and subordinate person.
‘Boys will be boys’, a phrase coined to exonerate the entire male sex of loathsome acts past, present, and potential. But what about the female sex, if females act out of turn they are deemed ‘unladylike’ or something of the sort and scolded. This double standard for men and women dates back as far as the first civilizations and exists only because it is allowed to, because it is taught. Gender roles and cues are instilled in children far prior to any knowledge of the anatomy of the sexes. This knowledge is learned socially, culturally, it is not innate. And these characteristics can vary when the environment one is raised in differs from the norm. Child rearing and cultural factors play a large role in how individuals act and see themselves.
Everybody is born and made differently, but one thing is similar, our gender. We are born either male or female, and in society everybody judges us for our gender. This is called gender roles; societies expecting you to act like a male or female (Rathus, 2010). Some people say, “act like a lady,” or “be a man,” these are examples of how gender roles work in our everyday lives. In society when we think stereotypes, what do we think? Many think of jocks, nerds, or popular kids; gender stereotyping is very similar. Gender stereotypes are thoughts of what the gender is supposed to behave like (Rathus, 2010). One example of a gender stereotype for a man would be a worker for the family, and a women stereotype would be a stay at home mom. Though in todays age we don’t see this as much, but it is still around us. In different situations both gender roles and stereotypes are said and done on a daily basis and we can’t avoid them because everyone is different.
In our society, gender roles are instigated at a very young age. Society develops a standard or a norm of what role a women or man should play (Griffiths et al., 2015). For example, young girls are taught to play with dolls and learn
Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall Apart tells the story of the people of an Igbo village in Nigeria. In Igbo society, the traditions and gender roles are strict, and being a woman or viewed as feminine is a negative thing. Okonkwo, the novel’s protagonist values the traditions of his clan, but is controlled by the fear of being perceived as weak or effeminate. This fear causes Okonkwo to make decisions that are frowned upon by his fellow villagers, creating conflict. In Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe utilizes Okonkwo’s desire to be perceived as masculine through the act of putting his own interests above those of the clan in order to portray how Igbo society is negatively affected by gender roles. Gender roles are the norms and behavior that society expects each gender (male and female) to adhere to. So, for example, in the novel men are expected to provide for their families and women are expected to be submissive to their husbands. The idea of gender roles has a negative effect on Igbo society because it enslaves people to a gendered way of life that can, at times, limit people from expressing their true feelings out of
We may be personally responsible for our own misconceptions of gender and masculinity. Our actions about these topics speak louder than words. Sociologist, Ann Oakley argues that parents often mold their children around certain behaviors, with positive and negative consequences, to adhere to the standards that are socially acceptable. Oddly there is a strong back lash to this sort of treatment in females. In a study done conducted by Michael Messner, when asked who was a tomboy and who was a sissy as children, women raised their hands more often to identify with the tomboy image. The tomboy trait celebrates masculinity and restricts femininity. Often children explore many traits about themselves, as Allen explained to Pascoe, “When you’re younger…you’re a kid. You are wide open…You just do what you want” (Pascoe 118). Darnell, a football player, stated “Since you were little boys you’ve been told, ‘hey don’t be a little faggot’” (p 55). Darnell showcasing that males are conditioned very early like females about their roles of masculinity. These children are taught about how masculinity works. In the school Pascoe researched, a faculty member, Mr. Ford, reminded males students through his reply to a backhanded comment made to him from another student that men should engage in sexual actives with women, not men. Another...