Introduction
It is significant to mention that women in the last four decades have been able to change the perception of gender roles in society. The 20th century was a time of social and political transformations and revolutions, among which the so-called “women’s revolution” occurred (Eisend, 2019). It was the female movement and the process of involvement in the sphere of wage labor that helped women escape from the private sphere imposed on them. At the same time, these variables contributed to the fact that in the culture of society, a single female parenting a child or a woman who was not married was no more condemnable (Eisend, 2019). Although, women’s gender roles are different depending on the culture. Thus, it is essential to trace the transformation of gender roles in society.
The Social Tendencies
Social expectations concerning a person’s gender identity are termed gender roles. Currently, gender roles are becoming less restrictive; this is mainly because the world is changing (Eisend, 2019). The development of medicine and education has created new opportunities and perspectives for females and males. Therefore, society no longer perceives women only as mothers or wives. Nowadays, all fields of work are available to women, from politics to astronautics. Moreover, this also applies to men since they are no longer the primary breadwinner in the family. There is less social expectation for males to care for the family fully, build the house, and assume leadership roles (Eisend, 2019). Society now appropriately accepts a male’s desire to choose an occupation or engage in household chores. Hence, social roles are not strictly assigned to each gender but are allocated according to the desire of men and women.
It is significant to emphasize that culture is a set of attitudes, values, beliefs, and behaviors shared by a group of people and transmitted from generation to generation. Various cultures have adopted different forms of gender distinctions. In many countries, women are still not treated as equals. Girls and women do not receive the same rights, opportunities, responsibilities, and choices that men and boys are considered to have from birth. For example, in the Arab states, women still suffer from gender stereotypes (Asaf, 2017). More recently, though, females have been involved in business and government positions. In the United States, on the other hand, there is less gradation in social roles because the state has a distinct culture. Accordingly, females have had the opportunity to participate in society’s cultural and social life for a long time, while men have been involved in household affairs (Eisend, 2019). Therefore, the change in gender roles is gradual and depends on the specific culture.
The Double Roles of Single Mothers
Frequently, women raise their children independently and work simultaneously to ensure a decent life. Statistics indicate that the last few decades have been marked by a trend of so-called “extramarital” births. In 2009, the proportion of children born to unmarried mothers was 64.4% in Iceland, 46.3% in the UK, 45.7% in Belgium, and 35.7% in the USA (Abramovitz, 2017, p. 51). Thus, single mothers attempt to fulfill the dual roles of child-rearing and self-actualization. It led to the fact that they could create their own business or build a career in addition to caring for their kids. Consequently, this contributes to the public perception that women can fully fulfill male roles (Abramovitz, 2017). At the same time, the responsibility for children’s lives encourages women to fulfill male and female obligations simultaneously.
It should be emphasized that often after a divorce, a female assumes the responsibility for the children. This is because men try to compensate for the lost time during the marriage, which is why they actively work on their careers or will have a new relationship. At the same time, women are raising children and simultaneously self-actualizing in society (Abramovitz, 2017). Moreover, such cases are observed even during the couple’s married life, when the female completely performs household chores and works in a high-paying job. Meanwhile, the man considers that the husband only has to earn money.
The Movement of Equity
Females in the United States have gained the freedom to work and the fundamental right to be politically and socially active, successfully overcoming the barriers that still exist. The achievement of gender justice requires not only the passage of fairer laws and regulations. It also involves expanding safe and inclusive education and health services, necessary infrastructure, and social norms to allow women to make the choices they need for themselves and their families. It is significant to observe that programs have been adopted in the United States under what is known as “affirmative action policies” (Walter, 2018). They have demonstrated their social validity and effectiveness in providing access to education for thousands of female students. The necessary laws have been passed, in accordance with which organizational and structural units have been made to implement the policy of equal opportunities in various spheres of life (Eagly & Sczesny, 2019). However, it is essential to continue reforming the laws to prevent discrimination against women in the workplace, which can manifest in lower wages or stunted career development.
Conclusion
Therefore, in modern society, people do not want to conform to established general roles and attempt to challenge them. This process continues to this day through the influence of the community and the authorities. Accordingly, the opinion that women and men have the same rights is gradually asserted in society. At the legislative level, programs and laws enable women to receive education and work to ensure a decent standard of living for their kids. Moreover, the continuation of the change of gender roles will ensure that society avoids stereotypes.
References
Abramovitz, M. (2017). Regulating the lives of women: Social welfare policy from colonial times to the present. Routledge.
Asaf, Y. (2017). Syrian women and the refugee crisis: Surviving the conflict, building peace, and taking new gender roles. Social Sciences, 6(3), 110.
Eagly, A. H., & Sczesny, S. (2019). Gender roles in the future? Theoretical foundations and future research directions. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1965.
Eisend, M. (2019). Gender roles. Journal of Advertising, 48(1), 72-80.
Walter, J. G. (2018). The adequacy of measures of gender roles attitudes: a review of current measures in omnibus surveys. Quality & Quantity, 52(2), 829-848.