A Breadwinner Rethinks Gender Roles

A Breadwinner Rethinks Gender Roles The eco noneic recession has doubtless increased the unemployment rates across the U. S. More and more men are becoming stay at home dads, thus challenging the status quo. This would be a good thing according to difference of opinion theorists, who believe that the priapic exploitation of women is detrimental to purchase order any sort of exploitation of rich to poor, male to female, must be deconstructed. A Breadwinner Rethinks Gender Roles supports the rising number of traditional gender percentages being transposed in todays society.However, comely because the roles are switched, does not mean that true gender equality exists. Social norms establish the privileges and responsibilities a certain status may occupy. Females and males, mothers and fathers are all statuses with distinct role requirements that are perceived as normal to society. The status of a mother includes expected roles involving love, caretaking, duties in the kitchen, etcetera The status of a father primarily includes the expected role of a breadwinner.The huge increase of women in the workforce, an achieved status, may unfortunately lead to the experience of Durkheims concept anomie, or uncertainty of rules/norms in a society. These traditional norms have begun to change, alone new ones have not yet developed, To put it simply, because were not there yet (Kathleen Gerson, quoted in article). So why does gender inequality persist even though men and women are not tied to traditional roles as they were in earlier times? infringe theorists argue that women are at a disadvantage because of the inequalities built into the social structure.This social structure built into society refers to the agents of socialization that have structured what it means to be gendered-female and gendered-male gender roles are learned with the socialization process. Children learn proper behavior for girls and boys, firstand most crucially with parents, thence the me dia (Disney movies) and in the end peer groups or other sources of socialization. Even at an early age, children develop stereotypical notions of both genders and then use those notions to systematize their thoughts and behavior.However today, the media puts out ideas that are inconsistent with ideas of family or education and so it is directly inappropriate to the other important institutions in society. These pre-conceived ideas of gender-typical behavior have prevented individuals from truly assuming the identity of a reversed role, Men have a sense of esteem, of identity that comes with being the providerWomen dont outsmart the same identity benefit theres a sense that one has a prototype burden. (Barbara Rissman, quoted in article). The author clearly struggled with her new gendered-male role.She wasnt prepared for the role conflict she would experience in partaking a mans role, I didnt think Id tactile sensation so guilty, or derelict in my womanly duties, when my husb and is quick to comfort our fussy 4-month-oldor reminds me where we keep the muffin tin. Or that Id feel so much chest-tightening pressure when I monitor our bills. (Dunleavey). When asked, Did your concept of equality ever include supporting the family? , the author had to admit her answer was no. Women have consistently complained and fought for equality but is that what they really wanted?Now that we have it, we are hum with uncertainty, resentment, anxiety and frustration. (Dunleavey) The pre-ordained notions of what is right vs. wrong, female vs. male that have been engrained in our heads from early childhood and then through constant resocialization over the years, have prevented some of us from truly being equal, even when we are on the surfaceequal. A conflict theorist would point out for this case, that the need to eliminate inequalities does not just include eliminating the suffering of those on the bottom, but eliminating the suffering of those on the top as well.Despi te the increase of women in the labor force and the now blurred boundaries of gender discriminations, men and women live in a society where the demands of balancing work and parenting are unsettled. Women were not prepared for what true equality would actually entailbut can we blame them? Literature Cited Dunleavey, M. P. A Breadwinner Rethinks Gender Roles. The New York Times 27 January 2007, Section C 11. http//www. nytimes. com/2007/01/27/business/27instincts. html