Created by society based on norms and standards, gender roles are the concept of how men and women should act and behave. The severity and types of gender roles vary across cultures and countries, but the concept of gender roles are something that is universal. Gender roles are especially harsh on women, and affect their quality of life. While ignored by society, gender roles are not ignored by women, and these roles continue to affect women’s lives all over the world. Gender roles are enforced on women as early as conception. Once the sex of the baby is found out to be female, the parents immediately begin buying pink clothes and decorating the nursery with butterflies and flowers. These gender roles come naturally, and most people are
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Many women are not allowed to own their own property and assets, for example in places like Chile. A 2010 study by the United Nations Development Programme found that 62% of Chileans are opposed to full gender equality and expressed the belief that women should limit themselves to the roles of mother and wife (“The Cross-Cultural Perspective”). Although Chile is working on creating gender equality, the gender roles there still have not been broken. In Japan, gender roles can cause intense anxiety. Women in Japan may be well-educated and career-oriented but they still experience immense social pressure to find a husband. While women in Japan may not experience many legal boundaries, gender roles are still prominent in family life, and the workplace. In fact an old proverb that is still influencing Japanese women today is “good wife, wise mother” (“The Cross-Cultural Perspective”). Despite more women joining the workforce, they are still expected to get married and can often experience anxiety as a result of the social pressure in response to their unwed status (“The Cross-Cultural Perspective”). This pressure to wed affects the women’s quality of life and general well-being since they are so consumed with anxiety. Although many countries are increasing women’s freedom, gender roles still play an important part in everyday life, and some people claim that gender roles are
Many women are not allowed to own their own property and assets, for example in places like Chile. A 2010 study by the United Nations Development Programme found that 62% of Chileans are opposed to full gender equality and expressed the belief that women should limit themselves to the roles of mother and wife (“The Cross-Cultural Perspective”). Although Chile is working on creating gender equality, the gender roles there still have not been broken. In Japan, gender roles can cause intense anxiety. Women in Japan may be well-educated and career-oriented but they still experience immense social pressure to find a husband. While women in Japan may not experience many legal boundaries, gender roles are still prominent in family life, and the workplace. In fact an old proverb that is still influencing Japanese women today is “good wife, wise mother” (“The Cross-Cultural Perspective”). Despite more women joining the workforce, they are still expected to get married and can often experience anxiety as a result of the social pressure in response to their unwed status (“The Cross-Cultural Perspective”). This pressure to wed affects the women’s quality of life and general well-being since they are so consumed with anxiety. Although many countries are increasing women’s freedom, gender roles still play an important part in everyday life, and some people claim that gender roles are