Gender in a Changing World

One of the problems brought up this week was that there is no real solution being discussed here. Should we continue how we are? Is it realistic to go gender neutral and have men fill the traditional more feminine roles, while women are filling more nontraditional roles?

Gender is such an important part to identity. When someone asks you to describe someone, often you start off with stating whether that person is a man or a woman. Gender is so important to who we are, in both a positive and negative way. Gender is so much more than just man and woman, and it's a term that is becoming increasingly more complex with each passing year. We need to keep in mind that each cultures defines gender expectations. We also need to recognize and respect that gender in America is vastly different from gender in India, Uganda, or China. Different cultures have different expectations, and while we should strive for equality, we must understand that not everyone has the same outlook as we do.

While differences exist among cultures, biologically and psychologically, men and women are also very different creatures. Facts out of my Social Psychology text book, titled as such and written by David Myers, state some of these differences:
The average female has 70 percent more fat, 40 percent less muscle, is 5 inches shorter, and weighs 40 lbs less than the average man.
The average male is slower to enter puberty, but earlier to die (by 4 years worldwide).
Males are three times likely to develop ADHD, and four times more likely to commit suicide.
The average woman is doubly vulnerable to anxiety disorders and depression compared to men.

Let's just think about the women who give up their lives in their native countries to work abroad, or when we learn about the demand of more feminine jobs such as nannying, becoming a sex worker, or working as a maid. These women are biologically more inclined to develop psychological disorders, and because of being smaller, less likely to be able to fight back. Because of their biological gender, these women have nature working against them.

Now lets think about the modern man. In the text, and through a personal story we heard in class, men are without a doubt feeling the burden of changing work demands. Because of their gender these men feel as if they should be the "bread winners" of their families. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. We see that around the world. Here in Bellingham, the man who is forced to act as "super dad" develops depression. In the video we watched in class, the man who's wife owned a business and made all their money resorted to alcoholism.

Many people wonder why we can't just homogenize gender. Why do certain roles have to be carried out by men, while certain roles carried out by women? Why can't everyone do everything?

Ideally, gender roles would not be an issue. However, it's a much more complex issue than meets the eye. We need to go back to the fact that gender helps define who we are. Take "super dad" from Bellingham. He seemed to try to step into a more feminine role, however it just didn't work. While he was good at it, his mental health suffered. Society paints this picture of what a man is supposed to be, and when he couldn't fill that role, he suffered. We see this again with women who work "double days" or "triple days." Take the women in Mexico for example, these women are working not only as farmers, but as mothers, and as businesswomen. The work is overwhelming, and when we take into account the fact that women are twice as likely to develop anxiety and depression, it is obvious that their mental state can't be too great either. While it's a great thing that they can provide for their families and take care of their responsibilities, it comes at a cost.

This issue of homogenizing gender is extremely important and often not looked at. We hear all the time about the world economy, or the state of education, but little about gender roles and the costs that come when one has to step up. We have this ideal vision of fairness, but we have to keep in mind reality. I believe that some day, we can achieve fairness while still keeping people safe and happy. Right now, we must respectfully keep in mind the consequences that remain in cultures and societies around the world. In 2016, when we take into account social stigma, stereotypes, norms and customs, laws, and perhaps most importantly biology and psychology, it is not realistic to say that men and women should be doing the same thing. There's consequences, such as mental health issues, laws, and human rights.

Ideally, people around the world would be happy and able to take care of their families. Men and women would both have jobs and be content with those jobs. People would stay local, and families wouldn't be split up. However, right now that is not the state of the world. We have pushed some countries to such extremes that they are forced to become migrant workers, take on multiple jobs, and work their selves to death. It is an unfortunate cycle that we can only fix with awareness, helpfulness and acceptance. Know where you get your clothes. Vote. Buy organic. We must remember to be creative, authentic and respectful in order for men and women around the globe to prosper.