gender roles?

Question

Why are men pressured to act masculine by society. But the gender roles for women are less rigid and has more options?

Answer 1

I have found this to be very unfair and annoying that society is so very rigid with men. Women can wear men's clothes and it's not looked at twice, but if a man wears woman's clothes, the entire society flips out. I think that it's taught by the parents to the children of each generation. I also hope that as each generation lightens up a bit, these rigid rules lighten up.

Answer 2

It has only been recently that the gender roles of men and women have become less rigid and more interchangeable. The masculine behavior associated with males is rationally based, in my mind. Since the beginning of time, and still today, man has been the stronger gender. Because they were stronger they would go out into the "cruel world" and fight for survival, for themselves and their families. Because of the inborn strength differences they were also the protectors. This has carried over into the modern world. However, women feel less in need of protection and it also also unnecessary to "fight" for survival in the previous sense of the word. Women are inately more compassionate, more motherly, and more protective and therefore are typically the better caregiver (I know some may dispute this, but really, generally speaking, it is clear), thus they took care of the children. Men are doing what they always have (for the most part), but it is the women who are breaking the mold. Despite those thoughts, I don't think men are as pressured to be as masculine as they use to be, thus the uprising of the metrosexual.

Answer 3

In the 60's, women started to fight against gender stereotypes- they could be strong, they could be sexual- things generally reserved for men- and still be women. Because they had so often and so long been disenfranchised and oppressed, nobody dared question them in fear of being anti-feminist, and today women have a broader availablility of gender expression than men.

In addition, stereotypes about gay men (that they are effeminate, etc.) continue to make homophobic men mandate masculinity for others and emulate it for themselves if they are to prove they are straight. Women, on the other hand, can be tomboyish and still be straight, by the stereotype.

It's very unfair, but that's the way it is; we can only hope gender roles lose their rigidity.

Answer 4

as with anything else it varies from country to country somewhat but it is mostly base in masogonistic views of manlyness. womes roles seem less ridgid but really are the same

Answer 5

Gender roles? What are those? Do you get those at the bakery?