Gender

     From birth, gender is weaved into our daily lives and has great influence on the ways that people live. Gender is defined as, “Referring to the culturally constructed roles assigned to males or females, which varied considerably from society to society” (Schultz, 104). Here I will talk about gender and how it has influenced power over time.

     We are taught starting from basically birth what gender to assume. When we are babies, rooms are generally themed by light pink and blue. As we move into being toddlers, male and female genders take two very different paths. Males are generally given cars, trucks, blocks, and are introduced to sports. While at the same age females are commonly given baby dolls, and are introduced to fairy tales and tea parties. As we get older, our gender roles only continue to evolve and build with the person.

      Most colonized communities over time were male dominant. In male dominant communities, males would make the decisions on how it would be run, where funds would come from and go to, laws, punishments, and standard morals to be held. This is not to say that there are not places in the world that are female dominant, because these places do exist. And from studies it can be seen that the societies that are female dominant tend to be less violent and have less wars. While that example cannot stand true for all societies, it is generally true. Is there a happy medium between the stereotypical characteristics of how each gender act when given the power?

     Since being colonized, the United States has been male dominant. Every single president to date has been a male. Like here in the United States, for a long time women were not permitted or advised to go through schooling, go to college, or to get a job. Their role had been to stay in the home and to me a 'maternal' figure by raising kids, and keeping the house in an orderly fashion. Men were the ones that would go out and work during the day and make the money to sustain a family. In present day, these routed gender roles are constantly being challenged. Between Feminist movements pushing for female rights for equality in work and rights in school, to the current economy status forcing families (who are capable) to have both parents working so bills can be paid, gender roles are slowly merging and blending.