Reflection of Stereotyped Gender Roles Essay Example

1950s was due to the high job demands faced by blue-collar workers like mechanics, plumbers, and road construction workers.

According to Natalie Wolchover's article (2011), women generally face challenges in physical blue-collar jobs due to their relatively lower upper body strength compared to men. Women possess about half the upper body strength and two-thirds of the lower body strength of men. Consequently, countries that require physically demanding work typically have less demand for women than men. The limited job options often lead many women to opt for the role of a stay-at-home mom, caring for their families.

In earlier societies, the patriarchal system placed significant importance on the father or eldest male as the head of the family while disregarding women's status. These societal beliefs, combined with gender discrimination, contribute to misconceptions regarding gender roles.

Therefore, it is undeniable to state that the stereotyped gender roles in our society have also compelled women to choose between staying at home and working outside. By applying the feminist theory, which strives to eradicate gender inequality, we can address the unequal gender roles experienced by women. This inequality is unjust because women possess the capability to make a valuable contribution to our society. In particular, women excel as caregivers, enabling them to greatly contribute to education.

The image shows a significant difference in gender representation. It features eight boys and one girl, who is the stay-at-home mother taking care of them. This setup reflects the prevailing notion that women are better at caregiving than men. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance (2012), data confirms this belief as women make up 53 to 68 percent of family caregivers, demonstrating their proficiency in this

role. Additionally, Dirk Van Damme's article (2017) reveals that 83 percent of elementary school teachers are female.

It is undeniable that the large number of female teachers in schools can be attributed to the exceptional caring abilities of women. This is supported by the combination of two pieces of evidence. By having female teachers, students not only achieve their academic goals but also develop strong mental well-being that will have long-term benefits. Hence, the invaluable contribution of women to education in our society cannot be disregarded. In my opinion, women should not be constrained by societal gender roles as they possess notable leadership skills that play a vital role in driving the country's economy forward.

The photo shows a family with an impressive total of nine children, which surprised me because in my home country, families are only allowed to have one child. According to Erin Duffin's 2019 statistics, the average number of children per American family was 2.33 in 1960. In the past, having multiple children was highly valued as a long-term investment, leading families to be more open-minded about expanding their households. Ephrat Livni and Dan Kopf explain that having numerous children provided parents with security in their old age. Despite the challenges of caring for many children alone, the photo demonstrates the mother's ability to manage and educate all nine children, highlighting women's strong leadership skills. In Jack Zenger's 2019 article, it is stated that women outperform men in terms of leadership abilities and achieve higher scores than 90% of men in a well-designed experiment assessing leadership capabilities.

The example provided by Kate Bahn and Annie McGrew (2017) illustrates the impact of women

with strong leadership skills on a country's economy. They claim that if all paid working women in the United States were to take a day off, the country would experience a $21 billion loss in terms of GDP. This emphasizes the crucial connection between a nation's economic growth and the efforts of women possessing strong leadership abilities.

Fortunately, there has been a decline in adherence to biased gender roles according to Jacob Galley (2014). During that period, around 49 percent of mothers functioned as stay-at-home moms. However, this percentage decreased to 23 percent in 1999 and has continued its downward trend since then. These declining statistics indicate an increasing number of women who have been making significant contributions to our society in recent years.

The photo demonstrates the existence of biased gender roles, but these can be diminished through the influence of role models who communicate the message that women possess equal capabilities as men. The remarkable accomplishments of female celebrities can greatly inspire younger generations, motivating them to strive for and even exceed these achievements. In spite of limited career options leading to stereotypical gender roles, the photo portrays women as both caregivers and leaders, highlighting their capacity to make valuable contributions in education and the economy. Employing role models among younger individuals is a pragmatic approach towards eradicating biased gender roles within society.