According to O'Neil (2008 ), gender role legacy is a firm distinction between the roles of male and female. It is a product of socialization that limits, exaggerates and shapes our biological tendencies. In addition to biological factors, identification of gender is developed through social learning. The manner individuals socialize affects how people view as well as express themselves. In the course of development, children are treated in a female or male manner. It is the time when female children are raised to abide female roles and trained to dress and act like the female. The male child is also raised and trained to take the male roles in the society. The gender role matters because it helps people to understand individuals’ differences in society instead of attempting to make everyone be the same.
As a young child, I was encouraged to comply with marriage and motherhood roles that are expected of women in the society. However, I did not want to comply with those mandates because I did not want to be married nor have children. In the society, people viewed this in a negative light and seemed abnormal for a woman. However, I felt I must be true to myself and follow my heart. The decision I made has not been easy because numerous male has been pressuring me for marriage and mother their children, even after I had expressed my opinions on this subject at the start of my relationship with them.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Numerous men seem to see my views as something that could change when the right person comes by. It is really disappointing when people refuse to see your perspective as valid just because it is against what the society expects of women. From my point of view, I feel that gender legacy limits individual’s perception of what is possible and acceptable. In this regard, life has a lot to offer to limit me on what other people view as acceptable female behavior.
Reference
O'Neil, J. M. (2008). Summarizing 25 years of research on men's gender role conflict using the Gender Role Conflict Scale: New research paradigms and clinical implications. The counseling psychologist , 36 (3), 358-445.
