Male and Female Roles

¶ … traditional gender roles. First, women have moved into the workplace, and compete with men at almost every level of almost every profession. Second, the sexual revolution made it physically possible for women to engage in casual sex in a manner similar to men. Both of these changes have contributed to changes in social interactions between men and women; women can pursue men and are no longer dependent upon marriage for support. However, it is important to keep in mind that none of these changes has been complete. Women continue to earn less money when engaged in the same employment as men. Women and men are also treated differently if they engage in casual sex. Despite the fact that many men are open to the idea of women pursuing relationships, people of both genders still place the onus of pursuit and wooing on males. Furthermore, once men and women do enter into marriages, it seems as if most families continue to adhere to traditional gender roles. Women are expected to take care of the home and family, while men are still expected to be the primary breadwinners. Therefore, while there have been substantial changes in gender roles and expectations over the past few decades, it is clear that traditional gender roles continue to shape people's expectations about male-female interactions and behavior.

The most dramatic change in male-female relationships has occurred in the workplace. Prior to World War II, there were few women competing with men in the workplace. Because the draft during World War II greatly depleted the supply of available men in the workplace, women went to work in traditionally male areas like production and manufacturing. Although the number of women in the workforce declined dramatically after the war, it marked a dramatic change in the composition of the American workforce. Today, women and men work in roughly equal numbers in a wide variety of jobs. In fact, women make up the majority of entering workers in some traditionally male-dominated fields, such as law and medicine. However, women continue to earn less money than men for the same jobs. In addition, women still lag far behind men in upper-management positions. Therefore, while women have achieved a modicum of workforce parity, men continue to have gender advantages in the workplace.

Traditional gender roles also continue to influence opinions about sexuality. While women are no longer constrained by biology and can take action to prevent unwanted pregnancies, women and men are still regarded differently for engaging in sexual behavior. Promiscuous women continue to be treated with little regard, as if their sexual behavior determines their entire character. On the other hand, women are expected to engage in a certain level of sexual behavior, and refusal to do so results in them being labeled frigid or abnormal. However, men also suffer as a result of traditional gender sexual roles. For example, homosexual men face far greater discrimination than homosexual women. In addition, men who do not pursue casual sex are treated as less manly than men who do. Furthermore, it can be confusing for a man to understand the appropriate way to behave, because expectations differ in every social interaction.

The combination of growing financial parity and growing sexual parity has led to an interesting change in romantic relationships. There is no question that men are no longer the only ones who are permitted to pursue romantic relationships. However, romances are still largely guided by traditional gender roles. Men are expected to be the wooers, financing the majority of early dates and showering women with gifts and affection. Furthermore, men are expected to play out this traditional gender role without engaging in any behavior that women might find sexist or offensive.

Gender role expectations actually seem to increase once men and women choose to enter into marriages and begin families. While many women have to work in order to provide the second income that many families need, they are also expected to be in charge of the home and the family. The result is that many women work the equivalent of two to three full-time jobs. Depending on their peer groups, women are also exposed to a tremendous amount of pressure regarding personal decisions like whether to be working or stay-at-home mothers. In addition, the expectations for men have changed as well. While men are expected to participate in household chores, they are oftentimes treated as babysitters or helpers by their partners, rather than as competent parents and adults. In fact, while growing equality has proven beneficial outside of the family unit, there is no doubt that it has led to some confusion in family relationships.