There are a lot of themes which were popular in the past and still are actual. Gender roles are one of them. This topic has been always very important and very popular. Gender norms have changed with society and have a big influence. It also depends on the region of location, its culture, religion, traditions, historical beliefs, and habits.
“Gender roles are the product of the interactions between individuals and their environments, and they give individuals cues about what sort of behavior is believed to be appropriate for what sex” (Blackstone). Very often says that the role of women is to raise the child and the role of men is to get a good job and help his family to be as strong as possible. For years it was like a tag, but nowadays there is another thought.
Women try to show that they are strong and can take care of themselves. They say that their rights and men’s rights are equal and deserve the similar respect to them. Of course, they raise the child but also can get a good job and be more independent. Today we can see a big movement of the female which called feminism, where women try to explain their power, goals of being individuals, and their ability to make men’s work.
Today, we all hear and know the term “family”. This word uses to describe our warm relationships with really close people, so the group of good friends can be a family. However, the family usually means your parents, sister, brother and other relatives. The traditional family is a father, mother, and children. These standards also are shown on television and books through the ages. Therefore, the family of nowadays and family of the 1950s-1960s is different. In the 21st century, children are could raise in singled parent homes, by granny or by homosexual parents. Sometimes family doesn’t want to have children or cannot because of medical or emotional problems.
When someone hears about the family he thinks about a wife, husband, and children, but nowadays our modern society a little bit has changed. Gender roles are developing and some children have either two dads or two mans. Gays and Lesbians are a vital part of our society and the also have families and rights. “Although gay and lesbian families currently make up only a small percentage of family totals, there is every indication that teachers and schools will see increasing numbers in the future” (Family Life Today 1).
If we see in the past, we will see that relation with parents and their children were tight and better than today. Children tried to male best for the mother and father, and parents wanted to do the same for kids. In our time, this position has changed to the bad side. The relation between children and parents became ruder. Of course, it happens not in all families but in the most part. Children could be impolite, with bad habits and this all make parent become primitive. “The idyllic picture of mom, dad, and two or three children living happily down the street in the house with the white picket fence is just not as likely today” (Family Life Today 3).
A lot of children start their independent life in early years. They want to separate from parent and make all they wish. If in 1950s children had to take care of their parents, when they became older, today it is not actual. Parents prefer live alone and do not bother their kids, so children accept this.
It is known that the happiest and the most successful family is that family which has both parent and lovely kids. However, everyone has to choose the right partner for their future life. And there are factors which played a big role in mate selection. For example, factors of individual, relationship, sociocultural, historical and evolutionary culture. Choosing a mate is a problem that humans share with most other animals because successful reproduction is central to natural selection. “Peahens choose among the most attractive peacocks, female elephant seals pick males who have already attracted large harems, and even promiscuous chimpanzees exercise choice about the other chimps with which they will be promiscuous” (Mate Selections 2).
“There are many commonalities found across human societies. These range from preferred overt characteristics such as clear skin and lack of disfigurement to personality traits making for good parents and agreeable companions” (Mate Selection - Sociocultural and Historical Factors 4).
An essential part of family and marriage are sexual orientation. “Sexual orientation is a term frequently used to describe a person’s romantic, emotional or sexual attraction to another person” (Sexual Orientation 1). There is no the exact reason why people have some orientation which they have. Some think that it is caused by troubles or argues in the family which has a big influence on the psychological development of people. Another says that the sexual orientation can be chosen and can be changed through years.
It also depends on the attitude of society. Society consists of different people and variety of sexual orientation. Person’s orientation can change because of it. If in childhood kid sees relations of gays or lesbians, there is a little percentage that in an adult life he will choose this way of life too, because it is impressed him. “Each person’s experience in sexuality orientation is unique and the process always stimulates anxiety as well as provides challenging possibilities for personal empowerment and emotional growth” (Understanding Sexual Orientation 4). Parents have a big role in all this too. They nurture us all our life, and sometimes this can be wrong parenting. A lot of families consist of mother and children, so kids, especially boys, just have not possibility to know about man’s world. They are closer to women’s world which can help him to choose his orientation. The same thing with girls.
Works cited
Blackstone, Amy. "Gender Roles and Society", Santa Barbara, CA, 2003.
“Gender Roles in Society” Web. Retrieved from: <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/gender-roles-in-society.html>
“Family Life Today” Web. Retrieved from: <http://www.education.com/reference/article/family-life-today/ >
“Mate Selections” Web. Retrieved from: <http://family.jrank.org/pages/1149/Mate-Selection.html>
“Sexual Orientation” Web. Retrieved from: <http://healthysexualsolutions.com/Info4SexualOrientation.pdf >
“Understanding Sexual Orientation” Web. Retrieved from: <http://2012books.lardbucket.org/books/a-primer-on-social-problems/s08-01-understanding-sexual-orientati.html >
