Theoretically,
gender role is the manner in which behavioral norms and social norms in a given
society are constructed. It is dependent on the culture and other beliefs. Different sexes are entitled to perform specific
duties and roles. There are various perceptions that people have in respect to
the social genders, and they include attitudes, personality traits that
different genders are entitled to and actions of given genders. Consideration of gender roles is primarily
based in the family and the whole society (DeBiaggi 12). Cultural and
social factors have greatly contributed to gender roles and personality since
divergent cultures have divergent attributes towards people of different
genders. Different in gender roles are contributed by the physiological and
social processes of different sexes. Division of roles between people of
divergent genders is a key factor in the development of gender roles in
divergent cultures across the globe. Gender roles occur in divergent areas such
as religion and communal functions where specific roles and responsibilities
can only be performed by people from certain sexes. Homosexual couples are
affected by gender roles and sexuality due to similarity in gender and sexes.
Sexuality, on the other hand, is the ability
for one to have erotic experience and responses. Sexual interests and
attractions of a person towards the other person may be influenced by their
sexual orientations. Expression of sexuality by people may occur in divergent
ways that include; desires, fantasy, beliefs, attitude, behaviors,
relationships and values. Presentation of sexuality in people may occur in
divergent ways that include; emotionally, biologically, through physical
presentation and aspects based on one's spiritual beliefs. Reproductive roles of different genders are
the chief concern for physical and biological presentation of sexuality. Gender
attributes are the classification of men or women in respect to their traits (
Nye 25). Unlike sexuality characteristics and features, the predominant
attributes of gender are behaviors, attitudes and roles played by people of
different sexes. Gender roles and sexuality have been influenced over time due
to changes that have been taking place in the societies.
There is a close relationship linking gender and
sexuality in society. A society that is highly gendered in which the primary
norm is heterosexuality and disapproval for homosexuality has been done places
a strong relationship between sexuality and gender. The main part of gender and
sexuality is attraction between male and female. The primary question with
respect to gender role in the position that the society is standing and the
effects it has on the existence of human beings. Historical beliefs, religious
aspects and cultural backgrounds are the primary factors that affect the role
and responsibilities of men and women (Nye 91).
Gender role can hence be the role shown by different people regarding a
group of factors and the condition of living provided. For example, males are more interested in
performance of activities that are tough and require a lot of energies.
On the other hand, women are much interested in
performance of the house chores and caring for children. Most societies that
have been developed have rare cases of gender roles. However, they enhance
sexuality among people. In a normal social framework, the responsibilities
include education, professional commitments and other issues that affect the
whole society. The aggregation of these roles are based on the sex that one
belongs to. In the world today, there
are many societies that still base their gender roles on the traditional setup
of their cultures. A female is entrusted to perform some activities such as
household chores, caring for the children and education while the professional
and social roles are to be performed by men.
Socialization concepts in our societies are formed, and a
society acquired through the manner in which different groups of people in the
society (Donnellan 100).
There are instances whereby gender roles and sexuality denies some people their
rights and privileges. In most cases, women have been denied various privileges
that men enjoy. For example, many African societies deny the women the right
for acquisition of education. Women are also denied the rights for taking part
in various communal activities (Parkin 28). Leadership roles in African societies
were only for men and women had no right to leadership. Gender roles play a
vital role in our modern society as they ensure that both male and female can
survive in their societies and cope up with their daily circumstances. Men and
women should play their particular roles in their societies with respect to the
norms of the society.
Most often there are
complications in the couples with people of the same sex as a result of gender
roles. It mainly arise if one or both
male couples have been conditioned to be competitive independent or strong many
cases, homosexuals are unable to adapt to their new chores that demands them to be over committed
at times. Due to gender similarities
among the homosexual couples, they are required to share their roles and
responsibilities. One is hence to perform the roles of the wife whereas the
other performs the roles of the wife. Homosexuality have greatly undermined
gender roles with respect to our traditional settings where women had to
perform certain chores while men performed some.
Gender equality is primarily is evidenced by
labor divisions where both men and women have an equal share of available
opportunities in their societies. In the world today, there are several
organizations that have been formed to advocate gender equality and fair
treatment for all genders( Parkin 40).
Great success has been achieved by the organizations women have can
enjoy the privileges that men enjoy. In the present context of gender roles,
numerous people from the two genders consider themselves free to select what
they want in their lives. There has been great consideration of the transgender
and intersex roles ( Sircar 23). The gap in the gender roles has been greatly
reduced through women empowerment programs resulting in the change of feminist
roles in our societies. Women in the traditional societies had been greatly
undermined as they were given the minor chores while men took the roles that
were influential. Formulation of rights that advocate for gender equality has
greatly changed the setting of gender roles with respect to our traditions.
Women today take up leadership positions and other positions that were
traditionally set aside for men (DeBiaggi 89). According to the feminist theory,
gender can be referred to as a social construct that involve guide males and
female in their behaviors, actions and appearances. This theory explains the
unfairness to women in our traditional societies.
In religious
perspectives, gender roles and sexuality vary. Sexuality is considered holy.
Sexual morality is stressed whereby individuals are required to avoid all
activities of sex before being married. Those who are married are required to
remain faithful to their partners as a way of showing respect to the marriage
covenant ( Lee 34). However, this is not the case in homosexual couples as
roles can be performed by any person. In
moral gravity among the Mormons, the sin that go contrary to the law of
chastity is comparable to the sin of murder.
The church requires that those involved in the sin of sexual immorality
should be prevented from holding any position in the church (Berer 29).
Religious books warn people against acts of sexual immorality and provide a
clear punishment for those involved in such acts. For instance, in the book of
Romans, Paul warns people against any form of sexual impunity and declares that
sex is only for those who are married. Genesis also declares that sex is a holy
covenant that people should respect (Donnellan 86).
Sexuality in our traditional societies was also
respected, and those involved in sexual immorality were punished. Homosexuality
has been rampant in our modern societies since the rights guarantee every
person the right to choice. However, homosexuality is greatly condemned in our
religious and cultural practices and those involved are perceived to be
defiling sexuality.
In conclusion, gender role and sexuality are related in
one way or the other with respect to behaviors, attitudes and actions (Berger 28).
Males and females in traditional societies had divergent roles that are not the
case in our modern societies. Gender roles have been altered giving men and women
equal opportunities to perform different activities. Religious perspectives of
gender roles give men privileges than women as they are responsible for the
most essential activities. Women and men today can play any role especially in
developed societies. On the other hand, sexuality in cultural and religious
perspectives is to be honored by all. People in religious and traditional
setting are required to enhance sexual purity and keep away from any form of
immorality. Homosexual couples are faced with the challenge of labor divisions
and hence gender roles do not apply to them.
Work
Cited
Lee, Janice W. Gender
Roles. New York: Nova Biomedical, 2005. Print.
Sircar, Arpana. Work
Roles, Gender Responsibilities, and Asian Indian Immigrant Women in the United
States. Lewiston: Edwin Mellen, 2000. Print.
DeBiaggi, Sylvia Duarte Dantas. Changing
Gender Responsibilities Brazilian Immigrant Families in the U.S. New York:
LFB Scholarly Pub., 2002. Print.
Donnellan, Craig. Gender
Roles. [New ed. Cambridge: Independence, 2001. Print.
Parkin, Katherine J. Food
Is Love: Food Advertising and Gender Roles in Modern America. Philadelphia:
U of Pennsylvania, 2006. Print.
Donnellan, Craig. Sexuality. New ed.
Cambridge: Independence, 2003. Print.
Nye, Robert A. Sexuality. Oxford
[England: Oxford UP, 1999. Print.
Berer, Marge. Sexuality. Oxford:
Blackwell Science, 2000. Print.
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