A Breadwinner Rethinks Gender Roles

A Breadwinner Re deliberates Gender Roles The economic recession has doubtless increased the unemployment rates across the U. S. More and more men atomic number 18 becoming stay at home dads, thus challenging the post quo. This would be a good thing according to conflict theorists, who mean that the male growth of women is detrimental to society any sort of exploitation of rich to poor, male to female, must be deconstructed. A Breadwinner Rethinks Gender Roles supports the emerging number of handed-down sexual activity roles being reversed in instantlys society.However, just beca recitation the roles be switched, does not mean that true gender equality exists. Social norms establish the privileges and responsibilities a certain status may occupy. Females and males, mothers and fathers argon all statuses with distinct role requirements that are perceived as normal to society. The status of a mother let ins expected roles involving love, caretaking, duties in the kitchen, e tcetera The status of a father primarily includes the expected role of a breadwinner.The huge increase of women in the workforce, an achieved status, may unfortunately lead to the gravel of Durkheims concept anomie, or uncertainty of rules/norms in a society. These traditional norms stir begun to change, that new ones engage not yet developed, To induct it simply, because were not there yet (Kathleen Gerson, quoted in article). So wherefore does gender inequality persist even though men and women are not tied to traditional roles as they were in earlier propagation? Conflict theorists argue that women are at a disadvantage because of the inequalities reinforced into the social structure.This social structure built into society refers to the agents of socialization that go for structured what it means to be gendered-female and gendered-male gender roles are learned through and through the socialization process. Children learn proper behavior for girls and boys, firstand most cruciallythrough parents, then the media (Disney movies) and finally peer groups or other sources of socialization. nevertheless at an early age, children develop stereotypical notions of both genders and then use those notions to systematize their thoughts and behavior.However today, the media puts out ideas that are inconsistent with ideas of family or education and so it is directly antagonistic to the other important institutions in society. These pre-conceived ideas of gender-typical behavior experience prevented individuals from truly assuming the identity of a reversed role, Men have a sense of esteem, of identity that comes with being the providerWomen dont get the same identity benefit theres a sense that one has a double burden. (Barbara Rissman, quoted in article). The author intelligibly struggled with her new gendered-male role.She wasnt lively for the role conflict she would experience in partaking a mans role, I didnt think Id feel so guilty, or derelict in my w omanly duties, when my husband is quick to comfort our fussy 4-month-oldor reminds me where we detect the muffin tin. Or that Id feel so more than chest-tightening pressure when I monitor our bills. (Dunleavey). When asked, Did your concept of equality ever include supporting the family? , the author had to admit her answer was no. Women have systematically complained and fought for equality but is that what they really wanted?Now that we have it, we are seething with uncertainty, resentment, anxiety and frustration. (Dunleavey) The pre-ordained notions of what is right vs. wrong, female vs. male that have been engrained in our heads from early childhood and then through constant resocialization over the years, have prevented some of us from truly being equal, even when we are on the surfaceequal. A conflict theorist would point out for this case, that the film to eliminate inequalities does not just include eliminating the suffering of those on the bottom, but eliminating th e suffering of those on the top as well.Despite the increase of women in the excavate force and the now blurred boundaries of gender discriminations, men and women live in a society where the demands of balancing work and parenting are unsettled. Women were not prepared for what true equality would actually entailbut can we saddle them? Literature Cited Dunleavey, M. P. A Breadwinner Rethinks Gender Roles. The New York Times 27 January 2007, component C 11. http//www. nytimes. com/2007/01/27/business/27instincts. html