Question

a. What contemporary beliefs, attitudes, or cultural expectations shape current views about men's and women's roles? What present-day organizations, cultural norms, traditions, and institutions play some role in defining gender roles? Do you think the media (e.g., television advertising, magazine articles) exercises a lot of influence on contemporary society?

b. Social perspectives on gender have changed over time. What might be the next big shift in societal views of men, women, and gender? Can you imagine a time when gender will not play as large a role in our perceptions and expectations of men and women as it does today? What would such a society look like?

Answer 1

a. The gender roles have lost some of the rigidity of the past, but it still has a strong influence in the every aspect of the contemporary society. Women has gained access to education in almost all parts of the world, and also they get better jobs than before. But the effect of gender stereotyping is that they are still considered incompetent for many professions, are paid less than their male counterparts, and has difficulty to get promoted to the top positions of organization. Women are still expected to do her traditional role that is looking after her family and child rearing, and has to manage both her profession and family. These roles are still instilled into the minds of young children through family and school while making them participate in different roles and while they watch their adults.

Media has commodified the bodies of men and women. Men are often portrayed as ultra strong, extramuscular machoised form, while women are portrayed extra tender, fragile, with thin ultra feminine bodies in most of the commercials and T.V shows. This has led to create a frame for the bodies and attitudes of man and woman in the society, and inorder to look attractive suitable for their gender roles individuals try these body frames and attitudes causing many health issues both physical and mental.

b. Social perspectives on man, woman, and gender have changed considerably. Today's society is much lenient on gender roles, but is not free from it. Today the society understands the importance of eradicating the gender stereotyping for equality in the society and prosperity of the society. But, the task is very difficult because what has been practised for ages has been deeply imprinted on conscious and unconscious minds of humans, and they consciously and unconsciously follow the gender roles in some form. But, now a future society with equality can be imagined and the attainment of such equality is possible, though very difficult.

A society without gender role means families without specific gender roles, equal access to all professions, no rapes, no domestic violence and exploitation of women, no different dress codes for men and women. That is equality in every sphere of life and equal participation in the development of the society and life.