Grace Carlisle

A7

OPTION D: PARENTS, PEERS & GENDER ROLES

How did your parents influence the development of your gender role? In what ways did

you model yourself after your same gender parent? In what ways are your conceptions of

appropriate gender roles similar to or different from those of your parents? During high

school, what influences did your peers have on your gender role development? How

important were your boyfriends or girlfriends in developing your sense of yourself as a

woman or man? Who are the people who most influence your gender-role concepts

today? As a parent, what gender roles will you model for your children?

Throughout my life my parents have had the strongest influence on my views,

values and opinions. No different, they have shaped the way I view gender roles very

much. My dad has always been relatively old fashioned. He believes in chivalry and

views mens roles on dates and such much differently from the way he views womens

roles in similar situations, however, he has always had great respect for both genders.

My mom is of the opposite nature, being a confident woman, she has always been

very much so a feminist. Being a woman, I think my moms opinions have sculpted mine

the most of my two parents. I consider myself a very independent person as well as

strong and confident, similar in many ways and attributes to my mom.

In my opinion, some of the stereotypes and defined roles of genders should not be

so applicable in modern society. Despite how many are relatively harmless, many of

the double standards and stereotypes for women and men are setting a stage for inequality
and degradation in the future.

Many of my peers and friends have a lasting effect on gender roles as well. I find

myself noticing countless times over again how many double standards there are around

me, particularly in high school. For instance, a boy wearing a less than stylish or

matching outfit may go unnoticed, but were a girl to do the same she likely would get

dirty looks or talked about behind her back. The same goes for many situations around

school, and often times I hear similar things from people I am close to, and even I myself

am sometimes guilty of succumbing to similar double standards.

Today, the people who have the biggest effect on my views on gender

roles and inequality are my peers, and even celebrities. In addition to this, my parents and

teachers also have a large effect on my way of thinking. However, no matter what the

influences may be, I try to stay true to my own opinions and continue to have a voice in

the things that are important to me.

If I ever have a family of my own, I want to be a role model of equality to my

children and teach them that they can be what they want to be, and do what they want to

do however they choose to do it. I would like to also teach them that gender is dynamic

and highly variable (Strong & Cohen), and to that extent they shouldnt worry about

gender roles or conforming to them either.

References

Strong, B, & Cohen, T.F. (2014) The Marriage and Family Experience:
Intimate relationships in a changing society. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth