A married couple views the gender role as less important in their marriage, but the society represents the roles of gender in marriage as a great consideration. There are a variety of roles for male and female after marriage and it is difficult to specifically define a role for the gender as it is traditionally defined; though there are cultural differences. The gender roles in a marriage are substantial, because over the years of marriage it becomes a team work to raise the family and understand the values of each other, and the life of a married couple does not get confined only by the gender roles.
Perception of Gender Roles in Early Years
In the earlier days various societies observed the man to assume the frontrunner role in the marriage by actively participating in making choices and proactively engaging to ensure the continuity of financial aspects in the family. The woman was supposed to be dedicated to the husband and upkeep the man’s decisions to ensure success in the marriage, and even raise the children. These roles and identity negotiation represented attitudinal changes over time that led to conflicts. The conflicts led to divorces often centered on divergent opinions of the responsibility of men and women to the marriage (Lee and Ashcraft, 81).
Urbanization factors in Gender Roles It can be understood that the earlier women were too dependent on their spouses for almost all luxuries of life. The women’s rights movement changed the perception of society as women spoke about their human rights, equality and privileges. Women started to be aware of development, urbanization and its advantages. Urban women are encouraged to get education, engage in employment, social work and even politics, in addition to the activities concerning marriage and family (Sudha, 198).
Valuing Gender Roles in Marriage
Though there should be equality in marriage, it is not necessary that the thoughts of both the gender be the same. The men and women have dissimilar interests, hobbies, likes and aversions and they must be respected. Gender equality would be totally possible only when gender discrimination is restructured according to the values of gender equality (Sudha, 233). It is still a reality that in many societies’ women enjoys equality only in theory, but practically they are still exploited and suppressed by the values controlled by male.
Gender Role Differences in Different Societies
Married Mexican American women feel inferior and inactive and do not believe in the ideology of masculinity. However, a survey conducted on these married women demonstrated that Mexican American women are capable of creating roles for themselves that are separate from the patriarchal influence of male partners (Lee and Ashcraft, 82). The situation of women in India is no different from the other societies. The lives in Indian women is still ruled by the traditional patriarchal values and they are made to accept the gender roles as prime among all (Sudha, 122). In America most of the married women considered teaching to be the best profession after marriage as they believed that they can strike a balance between the role of the working woman and housewife. These jobs are supposed to be respectable and helpful in striking a balance between the career and domestic chores (Sudha, 16).
Assumption of Gender Roles in Future
Gender roles must provide equality and rights for both men and women, and an
obligatory opportunity and liberty to succeed in personal development. In future research focus will be on the masculine gender role that will clarify the men’s identification in the marketplace and how it affects the gender roles and love relationships (Blankenhorn, 349).
Works Cited
Blankenhorn, David. The Book of Marriage: The Wisest Answers to the Toughest Questions.
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. (2001). Print.
Lee, Janice. W. Ashcraft, Amie M. Gender Roles. Nova Publishers (2005). Print.
Sudha, D.K. Gender Roles, APH Publishing. (2000). p.197-214. Print.
