Women and Society Essay Example

often controlled by men. In today's society, women who have had multiple spouses still face negative perceptions while men with multiple spouses retain a more masculine or 'macho' image.

Moreover, despite legal protection against violence within marriages, women and children are more vulnerable to abuse than men. This unfortunate reality leads to ongoing abuse happening within their own homes. The progress and liberation of women has allowed them to work more but has resulted in neglecting children and an increase in single parenting. As women gain empowerment, their views on marriage change; however, according to sociologists like Macionis (2008), women's primary role still involves emotional care and parenting duties.

On the other hand, men are commonly seen as the breadwinners and main supporters within families.

In situations where only one parent is present, women are faced with the challenge of balancing their responsibilities in taking care of their children and supporting their family. Despite gradual changes in traditional gender roles, many families still adhere to old customs, creating a perception that men hold more power than women. Furthermore, due to the traditional caregiving role assigned to women, they often struggle to assume a more dominant position within the family structure. Although there might be instances or areas where women can gain some level of dominance, societal expectations and norms restrict its extent. Currently, adult women primarily focus on raising children and expressing affection towards them. However, advancements in reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization have provided unconventional means for women to conceive without male involvement through methods such as sperm donation. Consequently, this allows families to exist outside of traditional marriages or legal recognition by engaging in cohabitation.

With men no longer having a role in childbearing, women have gained power and the ability to create families even without male participation. Despite the persistent influence of traditional gender roles, women are still capable of achieving positions of power. Today's societies empower women and offer greater opportunities than ever before thanks to the disregard for traditional roles leading to progress.Despite advancements in society, women still face inequality due to their ongoing responsibilities in childbirth and childrearing. The concept of family has evolved beyond being limited to a union between men and women or a legal partnership. Marriage and family now include same-sex couples and can be recognized as civil partnerships in many states and countries. However, the family remains the smallest social institution within society, even though its significance has changed. Traditional roles have shifted, allowing women to work and earn money. Yet, this shift has also resulted in a new form of inequality as women take on both breadwinning and caregiving roles simultaneously (Macionis 2008).