gender roles history essay

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Gender Roles Throughout History

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Gender Roles Throughout History Essay

Part one Gender roles of diverse cultures have differed immensely throughout history. The evolution of gender roles first began in the Paleolithic Age and then began to transform with the transformation of the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age. Women in Mesopotamia, India, Greece, China, and Rome were not treated as equals and viewed as inferior to men. Cultures like Egypt and Persia had similar laws for women and treated them with more respect out of any of the other cultures. The Paleolithic Age was responsible for the introductions of many vital aspects of our world today such as, technology, agriculture, and gender roles. The Paleolithic culture was based on a hunter and gatherer society, which had a great influence …show more content…

This led to justifying male domination over females in the Mesopotamian society. Men were in control and held the power, allowing them to abuse their wives, sell them into slavery to pay off debts, and partake in consensual sexual relations even if married, while women were drowned to death as punishment for committing adultery. In Mesopotamia, women were mostly responsible for tending to the children and household. Women did not have the power to make life decisions for themselves and instead, relied on the men in their family to make those decisions for them. In Egypt, although men were the dominant gender in society, women were treated with great respect, which led to a very stable and successful society. The Egyptians believed that the goal of life was happiness and viewed home and family life as the main source of it. Egyptian law basically treated women as equals for the most part. Women were allowed to hold positions of power, own property, own slaves, receive an education, and even borrow money. Although Pharaohs were normally men, certain circumstances allowed for women to hold the same title. The Egyptians believed that marriage and family were very important aspects in life. They believed that unconditional love and kindness were vital in a marriage and thought that husband and wife should always treat each other with respect. In regards to family, unlike many cultures that viewed children as another mouth to

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Women's lives, roles, and statuses changed over various early world history eras and culture areas in many ways. Ancient Persia, Paleolithic, Athens, Mesopotamian and Roman eras were all different in very unique ways. The Paleolithic era treated women fairly and were treated equally. During the Neolithic era women were not treated fairly. She was the daughter of her father or the wife of her husband. Women rarely acted as individuals outside the context of their families. Those who did so were usually royalty or the wives of men who had power and status.” (oi.uchicago.edu, 2010) Athenian women were not treated fairly

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Essay on Gender Roles and Their Effect on Women

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Throughout the history of society, women and men both have faced the constricting roles forced upon them, from a young age; each gender is given specific social and cultural roles to play out throughout their lives. Little girls are given dolls and kitchen toys, little boys are given dinosaurs and power tool toys, if one was to step out of this specified role, social conflict would ensue. Contrast to popular belief, sex is a biological construct, and gender is a social construct specifying the roles men and women are to follow to be accepted into society as “normal”. The effects of gender roles have had on women have proved harmful over the decades. Although the woman’s involvement in society has improved throughout the decades,

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In today’s society, we as women often take for granted the rights, freedoms, and equality we share with men that women in the ancient world were not granted. As all civilisations in the ancient world exercised different treatment towards, this essay will illustrate a few comparisons in the status of women during ancient Egypt with women during ancient Rome. Academic sources will be relied on to provide the necessary actualities when one considers ancient civilizations. The legal status of women in society, the domestic atmospheres and roles that each unique region’s women held, and the possible occupations available to these women, will be discussed.

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Moving ahead into the great civilization of Ancient Egypt, women and men had typical gender roles. Women were still seen as child bearers and domestic housekeepers and men taught their sons and became heavily involved in civic affairs (“Ancient Egypt”). The treatment of men and women was essentially equal in that woman did maintain civil rights, were given their own tombs upon death, and were even permitted to leave their husbands if necessary (“Ancient Egypt”). This was mainly because all property was passed from generation to generation through women- not men- giving them higher status and importance since Egyptians saw their land as sacred.

Gender Roles Essay

Real Lives of Most Men." He says to a friend of his "This must be a

Gender Theory Essay

The textbook identifies four approaches to gender development: biological, interpersonal, cultural, and critical. Define each theory. Then answer the following question: which of the theoretical approaches to gender do you find the most valid? Be sure to include at least two examples from your own experience as well as two scholarly sources to back up your claim.

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Gender Identity and Social Expectations through History

How it works

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Traditional Gender Roles
• 3 Cultural Resistance and Progress in the Workforce
• 4 Conclusion

Introduction

The evolution of gender roles over the centuries has been both remarkable and transformative, particularly from the 1800s to the present day. Traditional gender roles, once rigid and strictly defined, have undergone significant changes, challenging the conventional boundaries that once dictated the lives of men and women. In this essay, I will explore the historical context of traditional gender roles, how these roles have morphed into contemporary expectations, the policies that have facilitated these changes, and the advantages and disadvantages that accompany this evolution. Need a custom essay on the same topic? Give us your paper requirements, choose a writer and we’ll deliver the highest-quality essay! Order now

Traditional Gender Roles

Historically, men occupied roles of power and influence, dominating the political, social, and economic landscapes. Men were the primary breadwinners, tasked with providing for their families, which often meant working long hours to ensure financial stability. They were seen as the protectors of their households, expected to lead their families both physically and spiritually. In contrast, women were relegated to domestic duties, responsible for maintaining the household and nurturing the children. They were considered subordinate to men, often lacking rights to property or education. This division of labor was deeply rooted in societal norms, reinforced by cultural and legal frameworks that limited women's opportunities and autonomy.

Shifting Dynamics: Policies and Progress

The landscape of gender roles began to shift as women increasingly challenged these traditional boundaries. The suffrage movement marked a significant turning point, as women fought for and eventually won the right to vote. This was a crucial step towards gender equality, setting the stage for further advancements. Policies such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and the Affordable Care Act have played critical roles in addressing gender disparities. VAWA, reauthorized in 2013, introduced provisions to protect Native American women, LGBT victims, and immigrant survivors, highlighting the intersectionality of gender issues. The Affordable Care Act, signed in 2010, prohibited gender-based discrimination in insurance premiums, ensuring access to essential health services for women.

Cultural Resistance and Progress in the Workforce

Despite these advancements, cultural resistance to changing gender roles persists. During World War II, women entered the workforce in unprecedented numbers, taking on roles traditionally held by men. The government launched propaganda campaigns featuring figures like Rosie the Riveter to recruit women for factory jobs. However, these efforts often emphasized maintaining femininity, reflecting societal concerns about women becoming too masculine. Nonetheless, the war effort demonstrated women's capabilities beyond domestic confines, challenging traditional gender norms and paving the way for future generations.

In conclusion, the evolution of gender roles is an ongoing process that reflects broader societal changes. While significant progress has been made in challenging traditional norms, there is still work to be done to achieve true gender equality. Policies have played a vital role in facilitating these changes, providing a framework for addressing gender disparities. However, cultural resistance and deeply ingrained stereotypes continue to pose challenges. As we move forward, it is essential to continue advocating for policies that promote equality and to challenge societal norms that perpetuate gender inequality. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society for all individuals, regardless of gender. This ongoing transformation not only benefits individuals but also strengthens the social fabric, fostering a more just and harmonious world.

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Gender Discrimination — Gender Norms and Gender Roles

Gender Norms and Gender Roles

• Categories: Gender Discrimination Gender Roles

About this sample

Words: 438 |

Published: Jan 29, 2024

Words: 438 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Definition and explanation of gender norms, evolution and persistence of gender roles, impact of gender norms and roles on women, impact of gender norms and roles on men, efforts to challenge and redefine gender norms and roles.

• Chadwick, L. (2015). Gender Roles and Society. Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
• Hofstetter, C. R. (2017). Gender Norms and Intersectionality. Rutgers University Press.
• Harper, D. A. (2018). Masculinities in Theory: An Introduction. John Wiley & Sons.

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Gender Roles Throughout History

Part one Gender roles of diverse cultures have differed immensely throughout history. The evolution of gender roles first began in the Paleolithic Age and then began to transform with the transformation of the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age. Women in Mesopotamia, India, Greece, China, and Rome were not treated as equals and viewed as inferior to men. Cultures like Egypt and Persia had similar laws for women and treated them with more respect out of any of the other cultures.

The Paleolithic Age was responsible for the introductions of many vital aspects of our world today such as, technology, agriculture, and gender roles.

The Paleolithic culture was based on a hunter and gatherer society, which had a great influence on the gender roles of males and females. For the most part, the men were responsible for the hunting, mainly due to their physical build. Genetically speaking, men are normally larger in size, stronger, and more aggressive in comparison to women.

Despite the large size and strength differences, both males and females were treated with equality. Women contributed to the Paleolithic society by being responsible for the gathering of edible plants and berries.

Although gathering plants and berries is considered to be less dangerous and fairly easy when being compared to hunting, gathering was considered to be one of the most important contributions to Paleolithic society. When men went off to hunt, there was no guarantee that they would always be able to bring back enough meat, if any, to feed the community.

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The plants and berries gathered by the women were responsible for feeding the community daily, especially when the men were unsuccessful in their hunting trip.

Without the roles of both the women and men, the community would not have been able to survive. The Neolithic Age was the transformation and progression from the Paleolithic Age lifestyle. The transition of the different era’s influenced the gender roles of men and women, changing them based on the development of their new lifestyle. The main gender role difference between the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age was male domination. Although men became much more dominant of the two genders, women were still treated with respect.

Because of the size and strength advantage men had over women, men were responsible for most of the hard manual labor, while women were given roles more suited for their weaker and nurturing nature. Men started to realize that instead of hunting and killing animals, they should capture, domesticate, and breed the animals because it would be more beneficial to the community in the long run and provide a more stable lifestyle. The women also realized the importance of stability and collected seeds for an assortment of plants and fruits so they could invest their time in farming plants instead of gathering them.

Because of the gathering role and responsibility women played in the past in the Paleolithic Age, women were very familiar with plants. Women understood how plants grew and the factors and environment needed in order to be successful in growing them, which is why women were responsible for the start of plant farming. Since communities did not have to relocate so often based on animal migration, and men and women did not have to spend several tiring hours searching for animals to hunt or food to gather, people had more time on their hands.

This extra time allowed women to concentrate more on looking after their families and children, cooking, cleaning, and sewing. This led to men virtually being responsible for all the difficult labor. Unlike in the Paleolithic Age where men and women were equal and relied on each other for survival, men no longer needed to depend on women as much. Most of the responsibility for survival was placed on the men which is what ultimately led to their dominance. The religions and laws developed in Mesopotamia prevented women from asserting control in society.

Elite classes such as priests and warriors manipulated religious beliefs to say male Gods were more valuable and dominant in comparison to female Gods. This led to justifying male domination over females in the Mesopotamian society. Men were in control and held the power, allowing them to abuse their wives, sell them into slavery to pay off debts, and partake in consensual sexual relations even if married, while women were drowned to death as punishment for committing adultery. In Mesopotamia, women were mostly responsible for tending to the children and household.

Women did not have the power to make life decisions for themselves and instead, relied on the men in their family to make those decisions for them. In Egypt, although men were the dominant gender in society, women were treated with great respect, which led to a very stable and successful society. The Egyptians believed that the goal of life was happiness and viewed home and family life as the main source of it. Egyptian law basically treated women as equals for the most part. Women were allowed to hold positions of power, own property, own slaves, receive an education, and even borrow money.

Although Pharaohs were normally men, certain circumstances allowed for women to hold the same title. The Egyptians believed that marriage and family were very important aspects in life. They believed that unconditional love and kindness were vital in a marriage and thought that husband and wife should always treat each other with respect. In regards to family, unlike many cultures that viewed children as another mouth to feed or another worker, Egyptians truly enjoyed their children and experienced much joy in their families. In India, public figures and important positions were given to men.

Although women did not have any public authority or receive any formal education, they were still considered to be important to society by having much influence when it came to family life and were supposed to be treated with respect from their family and husband. Sometimes it was difficult for women to take of the household due to their young age. Beginning as a child, women were taught that they were supposed to devote their lives to men. Very young child brides were quite common in India but ceremonies would not take place until the child had gone through puberty.

Also, according to the Laws of Manu, women were allowed to inherit property. Women could “influence affairs within their families but enjoyed no public authority” (Meridians, page 98). The Laws of Manu state, “deities delight in places where women are revered, but where women are not revered all rites are fruitless,” (Meridians, pg 78). The Code of Hammurabi does not give a lot of freedom to women. Also, the Code is very strict when it comes to marriage. The Code allowes fathers and brothers to arrange marriages and punishes cheating wives by sentencing them to death.

Different from the Code of Hammurabi, the Laws of Manu stresses the importance of husbands revering their wives and keeping them happy (Meridians, P. 78). China was a patriarchal society where men were considered to be the leader of the household. Although women were not normally seen as public figures, women were considered to be very valuable in the home and family. In the beginning, women were actually considered to be extremely important because the female side passed power and the line of succession.

However, there was one woman, Fu Hao, who stood out from all the rest during Shang times. Hao was in charge of her own estate and oversaw the sacrificial ceremonies that most men oversaw (Bentley & Ziegler, pg 124). In Perisa, family and clans were considered to be very important. The Persian culture was considered much more laid back in comparison to many others because classes were free and people were given the freedom to practice any religion, pursue any profession, and even borrow money to start their own business.

Unlike most cultures, women were able to enjoy social and legal freedoms and were a very active part of society. Women were treated with equality and respect. Females were permitted to take part in religious ceremonies and occasionally even serve as the priest. Their were no restrictions on relationships or marriage- young people in relationships were told to practice honesty and loyalty, and to always be faithful and share each others happiness (Notes on Iran, P. 1) .

When selecting a husband, women were instructed to be wise but free to choose who to marry on their own (Notes on Iran, P. 1). Many women took on jobs of weaving textiles and were given portions of grain, wine, beer, and occasionally meat from the imperial and temple workshops who employed them (Traditions & Encounters, P. 170). If the King passed away and the price was too young to rule, the kings wife was allowed to take the throne. Pourandokht was the first Persian Queen and was thought of throughout history as kind hearted and wise (Notes on Iran, P. 1).

Persians tended to have a close knit family and parents were encouraged to teach their children right and wrong and the importance of equality. In Athens, Greece, women were seen as inferior to men, not very intelligent, and thought of to have strong emotions. Women had guardians who were their closet male relative or husband. The guardian system was set up because Athenian philosophers, other than Plato, thought that women needed to be protected from themselves and society so they could not cause any damage to themselves or others (Women in the Ancient World, P. 2).

Women were not allowed to own any property other than clothing, jewelry, and slaves, and we only allowed to purchase inexpensive items. In order for a woman to gain citizenship, she had to marry a male citizen. Fathers were responsible for arranging marriages between their young daughters and older men who were normally in their twenties. Like Indian culture, the girls married after they went through puberty. The job of a wife was to have children and take care of their house. Wives were never supposed to leave their homes unless to attend special events or funerals.

If a married woman was seen outside of her home without it being any of the above occasions, people considered her to be a prostitute, slave, or so poor that she had no choice but to work (Women in the Ancient World, P. 2). Women from Sparta were different from much of Greece because they were able to own and inherit land. Spartan women were known to be bold and run the household, but were not supposed to be seen as too dominant over their husbands in public. The main purpose of marriage for people of Greece was not for love, but for the purpose of breeding (Women in the Ancient World, P. ). In Rome, women were constantly under the authority of men. Roman law insisted that women had to obey their fathers until they married, then in which case, had to obey their husbands. Even if a woman was widowed, she was still supposed to have some kind of male supervision of her finances (Women in the Ancient World, Rome). Roman men greatly valued marriage and treated their wives with great respect. Although women were never allowed to hold office, several men listened to the advice of their wives when not in public.

Women did not enjoy working and only did so if they were lower class and had to (Women in the Ancient World-Rome). The Paleolithic and Neolithic differed in gender roles due to the change in their lifestyles. In the Paleolithic Age, women and men were considered equals because they had to rely on each other equally in order to survive. The transition to the Neolithic Age caused men to dominant women since most of the responsibility for survival was placed on the shoulders of the men. Men no longer needed to rely on females as much as they had to in the Paleolithic Age.

Mesopotamian culture treated women with very little respect. Men were allowed to abuse their wives, sell them into slavery, and even commit adultery. If a Mesopotamian woman ever committed adultery, she would be sentenced to death. The Egyptian culture and Persian culture are most comparable to one another in the sense that they embraced family, love and marriage and treated women with immense respect and equality. In India, ever since women were children, they were always taught that they were supposed to devote their lives to their husbands.

Indian women had arranged marriages and married after they went through puberty, much like the Athens in Greece. In China, although women were normally not seen as public figures, they were considered to be very important in home and family life. Women of Athens, Greece, led very strict lives and were considered to be very weak minded and unintelligent. Like the Indian culture, they had arranged marriages and married mainly to breed offspring. Spartan women different from Athenian women in the sense they Spartan women were very as very bold and not weak minded at all.

In Rome, women were under the constant authority of men. However, despite this, Roman men took the advice of their wives when given in private, and were dominant when in the public eye. Barry. “Role of Women in Ancient Persia. ” Notes on Iran. Web. 21 Oct. 2009. Bentley J. H. & Ziegler H. F. (2008). Traditions & Encounters: A global perspective on the past . New York:McGraw-Hill[pic] Meridians: Sources in World History. (2009). Pearson Custom Publishing[pic] Thompson, James C. “Women in the Ancient World. ” Women in the Ancient World. Nov. 2005. Web. 22 Oct. 2009.

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4.3 Gender History

4.3.1 History and the Challenge of Gender History (1997; 1999), Pdf6 This essay, first published in 1997, provides a critical assessment of debates within and about gender history. The initial hype that claimed that women’s history would subvert the entire discipline of history and introduce a new ‘herstory’ was wildly overdone. At the same time, however, women’s history has indeed enriched the subject and has, importantly, mutated into a broader gender history, which offers scope for the history of men/masculinity as well as of women/femininity. It is an inclusive development which is fostering a holistic history. And these innovations can be warmly welcomed, without entailing an intellectual appeal to a supposedly warm and sensitive ‘female’ intuition, or depending upon a postmodernist onslaught upon an allegedly harsh and dying ‘male’ rationality. The text includes PJC’s response to a subsequent critique, which argued that abandoning women’s history for the delusive cause of gender history was a retrogressive move from the point of view of women. PJC replied that gender history, far from being a cuckoo in the nest of women’s history, was a logical development. It means that ‘Man’ is no longer deemed an ahistorical construct that is beyond analysis; but is being put into the full historical context of emerging and contested gender roles – the pioneering research often being undertaken by experts in women’s history. The diversification of women’s history into gender history, which allows practitioners to choose which themes they prefer to study, is not ‘anti-woman’ but a strong signal of research vitality. Both the original essay and the subsequent debate have also been reprinted in S. Morgan (ed.), The Feminist History Reader (2006), pp. 116-29. 4.3.2 Women and Public Speaking – and Why It has Taken so Long to Get There (BLOG/ 47, Nov. 2014) Conventional prohibitions in Britain upon women speaking in public have proved long-lasting, because the ban managed not only to deter women but also to embolden male audiences to jeer and heckle. This short essay assesses how and why things began to change.

4.3.3 Why is it Taking So Long to Normalise the Role of Women at the Top in Politics? (BLOG/ 64, April 2016) This short essay is a pair to 4.3.2 , on the power of conventional barriers to women’s public participation in politics, as opposed to their behind-the-scenes wielding of influence.

4.3.4 How did Women First Manage to Break the Grip of Traditional Patriarchy? (BLOG/ 65, May 2016) To be read in conjunction with 4.3.2 and 4.3.3 , this essay explores the steps by which women in Britain managed to take plausible steps to achieve full public and political participation. 4.3.5 Why is the remarkable Charlotte Despard not Better Known? (BLOG/ 97, Jan. 2019) Charlotte Despard (1844-1939) was a remarkable figure. She was so controversial in her own day that her pioneering commitment as a feminist, vegetarian, socialist, Irish nationalist and (latterly) communist supporter fell reputationally between all stools. But her passion and civic commitment deserve proper historical recognition.

4.3.6 Is it Time to Look beyond Separate Identities to Find Personhood? (BLOG/ 104, August 2019) Identity politics are powerful. And, up to a point, valuable and enlightening. But this essay (which can be read in conjunction with 4.3.7 ) argues that valuing separate identities should not detract from a proper civic recognition of all people’s shared personhood.

4.3.7 Enlightenment Gender, Womanhood, Manhood, Sexualities & Personhood: Thematic Overview Pdf55 This thematic overview analyses the main trends and conceptual debates which have informed research into eighteenth-century gender and sexualities. It celebrates the quality of much new work, which has dramatically expanded historical knowledge on significant and multi-faceted aspects of human experience, which were once shrouded in coyness and/or silence. At the same time, the essay also notes that women and men have some common human interests, above and beyond their gender roles; and it predicts a new and complementary interest in historical ‘personhood’.

4.3.8 GINA LURIA WALER ‘Women’s History: Galvanizing Marginality’ Web-published here by permission of author © Gina Luria Walker, this essay is a companion piece to Essay 4.3.7 by PJC. It provides a critical survey of the evolution of women’s history as a research theme, complete with ebbs and flows of changing approaches and interpretations. Overall, Walker shows how women’s history has brought the lives of past women back into view, to salutary effect. And she concludes that the knowledge gained must not be marginalised or trivalised; but built into a better, deeper understanding.

4.3.9 Being Assessed as a Whole Person – A Critique of Identity Politics Pdf58 ( BLOG/121, January 2021 ) The title of this text is self-evident. It is a further development and personal affirmation of arguments first addressed in 4.3.6 and 4.3.7 .

4.3.10 Battersea’s Female Pioneers (BLOG/124, January 2021) To celebrate International Women’s Day in Battersea on 8 March 2021, a public meeting was offered a presentation of five pioneering women, with strong Battersea connections. Here are very short pinpoint summaries of their lives. And, at the end, mottoes from each one (improvised on the basis of their lives and recorded words) are offered for all women today.

4.3.11 What Does It Mean to be a Whole Person? Why We Should all be Arty-Smarty. Pdf60 ( BLOG/125, May 2021 ) This commentary picks up the theme of 4.3.9 to explore further what is meant by the concept of being a ‘whole person’. It calls for all individuals to get a rounded education to develop all their talents. Such an approach is sometimes dismissed as too ‘arty-farty’. But that’s wrong. It’s actually arty-smarty, for individuals and for humanity as a whole.

4.3.12 Does classifying people in terms of their ‘Identity’ have parallels with racist thought? Answer: No; Yes; and ultimately, No. Pdf61 This commentary follows responses to 4.3.9 (Pdf58) Being Assessed as a Whole Person; and 4.3.11 Pdf60 What Does it Mean to be a Whole Person? See also 4.4.1 (BLOG/36) . It asks whether classifying people in terms of ‘Identity’ has parallels with racist thought? And it answers: No, yes (in some circumstances); but ultimately NO.

• Urban History Through Time
• C18 European History Overviews
• Gender History
• ‘Racial’ Classifications as Pseudo-Science
• Responding to Climate Change
• Advance of the International Sphere

Penelope J. Corfield

Penelope J. Corfield is a historian, lecturer and education consultant. She currently serves as the President of the International Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ISECS).

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