How Does Gender Impact You? Essay Example

Has the role of women been stereotyped throughout History, or has this role changed? What does it mean being a “woman” or a “girl”? Does gender affect your role in society? Does it affect you personally? All these questions demand an analysis in order to understand the mission of being a woman, not opposed to men, but as a different role in the same game. After all, everyone has their own participation in everything, and with these roles associated with gender, the impact is likely to be different. With that being said, the question “Does gender limit your role in the society, or does it allow you to see the difference and encourages you to bridge it?” begs to be answered as well. This question may generate different answers among women, as roles in the society are not only limited to the influences of gender, but also has to do with age, social and cultural background, and different other factors that differentiate one woman to another in terms of the roles that they fulfill. However, despite the role assignments, it does not imply that women, and even men, can be limited to these roles. There will always be something to challenge women, and in the process, give them a new purpose in life.
This happened during the development of Women’s role during the revolutionary era. Back to the old time, when men were sent out to war, women were left at home. Without another gender, women took care of the family, business, and estates. They became the backbone of factories and contributed into expanding them in the absence of men. During the war, women found their place in the military, some were drafted to fight alongside male soldiers in Russia, but most of them served as nurses, taking care of the injured and restoring them to good health. Women worked in munition factories, making guns and explosives that were used in the war. These were the times when women were able to assert themselves, their strength, and the things that they can do. These were the times when women felt that they could do more beyond the household chores and the caring for the children and family. From that on, women discovered their new role in the society. A woman has the same capability as a man. Many women were entering the workforce, having the same responsibility as men.
First of all, motherhood seems to be the key to explain why women are the strongest root to any education process and social rules. Women play a great role in everyone’s life. They take care of themselves, family member, children, and every small detail that happens in the house. Women are definitely taking part in every aspect of one’s life. Although most cultures throughout the world regard women with very different perspectives, there seem to explain a lot about how gender can influence ones present life, as it did in the past, since they seem to be a common denominator to the way the role of women in society is regarded. Women as mothers are the nurturers of this world, a role deeply ingrained in every female member of the society. However, with the nurturing comes every possible task that would ensure that the child is safe and healthy. This includes, but is not limited to, finding food, preparing it, feeding it to the child, making sure that the child, his clothes, and his things are clean so that no insect would come near, taking care of the child when sick, making sure that s/he doesn’t get hurt or get in harm’s way. These are the things that a woman does to her child, sometimes one at a time, but most of the time, simultaneously. It has to be remembered that these are not the only tasks of a woman, but also has to clean the house, prepare food for every other member of the family, and ensure that everything in the house is running smoothly as they should be.
Despite the diversified work that a woman has to deal with, a woman is still either looked as a lady or a woman, depending on her choices and behavior. People still divide women into “good” or “bad” ones. Curiously, the same does not apply to men.  I feel that pressure every day, each time I need to get dressed for school, or for a special occasion and I want to be properly dressed; or when I express myself in public and need to be careful with my vocabulary as a lady is not supposed to say any cursing words. The pressure of being a woman who fits to the standards is undeniable, no matter how much you try to say otherwise. While this is heavily imposed among women, men seem free from this shackle. They are more free to do what they want to do, without any fear of being branded anything. They do, say, and be the things they want to be without the pressure of looking bad in the eyes of the society. This separates men and women, and in the process, limits women from what they can be despite years of proof that there are more to them than meets the eye.
Even though a woman chooses to dress like a woman, all dainty and ladylike, it does not imply that she is weak and is ‘only’ a lady that needs assistance. Although a woman accepts assistance from men or anyone does in no way imply that the woman is not strong and can’t do without men. Although a woman expects a man to let them through first, open doors for them, carry things for them, and pay the bills when outside, that does not mean that a woman is all that. It is called being respected, or giving to the women the kind of respect due them for all the things that these women, and all the women in the past, have done for men. It must be remembered at all times that regardless of who you are and where you are, you are there because of a woman. These are important and golden reminders that come into play in this situation in the society. And besides, when women let men treat them like a lady, it is only the woman’s way of letting the man be a man. Otherwise, women can be left alone by themselves and it won’t matter if someone doesn’t open the door for them, carry their things for them, or pay the bill because they can definitely do that and more.
A respectful lady seems to be associated with a typical role model of a good mother, a good wife, a well-behaved-woman with feminine skills. That is still felt in my own generation when girls hang out with boys or go on a date. Without realizing it, I play the role I am expected to play: I wait for my date to open the door, when I get into the restaurant; I wait when he gets the drinks; I find it perfectly normal when he pays the bill. But is it? Does that passive role mean I am gentle, or does it mean I feel comfortable being greedy and well looked after?  Or is it simply a social role I inherited?  Maybe all the options can apply to answer. That is how being a woman is beneficial to my life.
Men tend to avoid women who are too powerful in history. But in reality, intelligent men like intelligent women nowadays. History has shown that a lot of these women were killed and silenced in the past. Politician Hilary Clinton is considered as the powerful woman in the world. In 2016, she is campaigning for the democratic nomination for president of the United States in the election. If she wins the game, she will become the first female president of the United States. In this case, we can see how women are changing the game of the society. A female role is more dominating the society nowadays. What I hear the most “girl’s “conversation in FIT is about having a boyfriend. According to statistic, here at FIT, 80 percent of the population is female, the rest will be male. By this ratio, girls in our school are not able to find a boyfriend on campus just like other typical college relationship. Thus, girls in our school are more independent. What I see a feminist role in FIT is girls carrying drawing board around the neighborhood, girls carrying fabric to the classroom, or girls getting used to being alone. By that, I believe the independent characteristic will follow us until we enter the working society. Personally, I do not feel the need to assume a feminist role, as I feel comfortable with my choices, but I admit it is a frightening idea to think about what the consequences might be if I chose a career where I would be under pressure all the time, just because I would not be playing the stereotyped role of a “lady”.
 My generation, being a modern one, being free from the anxiety of social judgment in what concerns intimate relationships. In other words, whenever I date a boy I ought to know very well my boundaries, what I can allow or must not allow. I feel the pressure of being a woman in the most important fields of my life: my feelings and my intimate relationships.
It is important to understand if anything has changed throughout the History of mankind in what concerns the social influence of gender. In many regions of the globe, women keep on having a hard, demanding life. Either fighting for their rights or being submissive to slavery traditions. They are still under control of society. Modern women are expected to be good mothers, successful professionals, well dressed, appealing, culturally developed women, in a few words, multi-tasking super human creatures. So the burden has changed, but is no less heavy than it used to be.
All in all, as a woman, I know that gender impacts me. In my personal life and in my personal choices too. It is impossible to forget how demanding the role of a modern woman is. A lot has changed throughout the history of mankind, but a lot of prejudice, unfairness which concern the role of woman will still remain, making it very hard to proclaim real gender equity. Women should use your freedom wisely, making good choices, not hesitating to be yourself, being smart, using your emotional intelligence and multi-tasking skills to prove that your gender is an asset rather than an issue. With time and patience, the future of our modern Society will not depend on gender, but on the capacity of people to be the best they can be and women, I strongly believe, are highly trained and resilient to win the final game.