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I am a man, or maybe Im a male, no wait I am a guy, although my parents still call me a boy, unless you ask an old person then I am a young man. Frankly, I dont know, understand, or care what I am because most importantly Im me. My generation has numerous problems and some of the most pressing issues involve sex and gender. It appears we have some confusion on whos what and why, and I can see why this confusion exists we have some males wearing womens apparel and some females who are only females because of their lack of a penis. When asked the question what was the difference between sex and gender I immediately thought my roommate was about to tell me a dirty joke. Once I realized that I was in class when I heard this statement I decided to research this topic out.
To my surprise there is a difference in sex and gender. I now understand sex is from a biological standpoint, whereas gender refers to the role a society places on a particular sex. What I originally believed was the set-up for a dirty joke turned out to be a lesson learned. What surprised me most about the term sex was the connotation it received when spoken aloud. I find it interesting that a word used in the place of the word intercourse actually has more to do with biology. I feel I am a pretty normal male for my society.
I have a tremendous amount of pride. I enjoy sports and eating ungodly amounts of gut bombing food while watching television. I also feel I am a member of the superior sex and just better overall than most women. On the other hand, I feel I possess some qualities that on a gender level are considered feminine. I am a good listener.
I am compassionate. I am a romantic. I enjoy cooking, and feel obligated to clean when I get the chance. I like to dress nice and smell good. I also am observant of small things. My mother had the biggest influence on my better gender traits, while my father influenced the less appealing ones.
My parents werent very stereotypical in their gender roles. My dad was the emotional one he was much more tender to crying and also getting angry. My mother was the more logical parent. She also was the leader of the house.
She pretty well told my dad who, what, where, when, and how. My mother also takes care of the finances, although my dad is the major breadwinner. My dad was also the non-confrontational parent. I feel I am a good blend of my parents. I seemed to have inherited and learned most of their good traits without taking on their bad ones. When we think about gender roles, starting from the child hood games has been a part of our culture since the beginning of time and is distinguished as a part of growing up.
The world of play is an important aspect in the lives of our children. It is an introductory step into adulthood. When asked the question: Does swapping toys change the basic differences in the ways the genders approach play, my answer would have to be that it doesnt. Our biological make-ups have created boys and girls to have very distinctly different characteristics. Those characteristics have drawn a fine line between the way we behave. Girls on one hand have more caring and nurturing qualities.
They tend to be more loving and understanding and that is why they were given the role of mothers. Boys on the other hand are a hard, rough made type and are ever more competitive than girls. This aggressive behavior is a direct result from higher testosterone levels found in boys. These considerably different characteristics play an important role in the way genders perceive and approach play. For example, lets say that a little boy is having a tea party with his younger sister.
The sister would almost certainly perceive the play to be a formal gathering in which everything is nice and pleasant. The little boy, on the other hand, would see it as a bunch of cowboys, in a sense, bellying up to the bar. Whatever the circumstances, the characteristics of childrens genders will guide their imaginations. Stereotypes have a bearing impact on our society. Whether we realize it or not, these misguided labels shape the way we perceive the vast cultures of our modern social order. All cultures have their individual characteristics, but it is the detrimental perceptions that precincts mental capacity.
It is my personal opinion that by regarding a group of individuals in a particular manor, you are putting in an unconscious stereotype, which those of similar beliefs tend to follow. As a result, these miss leaded perceptions become habits and, in turn, become a way of life. In particular, African Americans are generally attributed to these stereotypical assessments. For example, it is the common misconception that all blacks are naturally athletic.
I find this hard to believe considering I have witnessed some that can barely walk across the court without tripping over their own feet. I believe it is not the naturally ability, but rather the stereotype that influences blacks to be better athletes. If one grows up thinking and believing he or she can accomplish a task, that person will strive harder to achieve that goal. False impressions, such as these, may cause resentment for those of different race or background, but of equal skill. This type of hostility is portrayed in such movies as White Men Cant Jump. Another label bestowed upon blacks is that they all are incompetent and lack educational skills.
To an extent, I would have to disagree with this particular opinion. I have found that some of my most intelligent peers are of the black culture. On the other hand, it is plain to see that a majority of the black race is deficient in scholastic abilities. Again, this is not due to an inability to receive and interpret knowledge, but rather the label that we place upon them as being slow or even retarded. According to a research made by Colombia University, shown that most of African American people are not as successful as white people. How ever, the main reason of this failure is IQ test are made as the way that can white people can understand.
This research shows that African Americans are not slower or idiot than us, their way of understanding is just different than us. Without receiving a fundamental educational background, we, as a society, confine these individuals to the lower social order of mankind. Consequently, these deficient offspring grow to learn other means of survival and fortitude. Unfortunately, resorting to violence, theft, and drug use. Thus, the making of similar stereotypes associated with this culture. Even if one concerns him self as being neutral, it is the preordained decision of our unconscious mind that will engender the actions that take place between an individual and one of a different culture.
For instance, if that same fair-minded white person was placed on a bus with seating only for two left, one being next to a black and the other a white, he would most likely feel compelled to sit next to the white person. This is due to the fear or perception that the black person may follow his common stereotype, such as smelling bad, carrying a gun, or being just strait ghetto. In actuality, the black person may have been of notable intellectual standings and in contrast the white may have been a disease-ridden terrorist with a bomb strapped to his chest. Another example is aimed toward business ethics. When one applies for a job, he should not be foreseen by the color of his skin or the presumption toward the attributes of his culture.
He should be treated and mannered in a uniform evaluation with the rest of the applicants, regardless of background. If one was the president of a famous and successful bank and faced with the task of hiring a new clerk this sort of sensible messaging would be an evident. As employer, one would most likely review applicants of all natures. If it came down to choosing between a black and white person of equal credentials, usually the white person would be considered more applicable for the job. In conclusion, most of the society has affixed with old fashioned stereotypes, I believe it is; moreover, society that is to blame for the dismay we have brought into being. Humanity as a whole tends to perceive them selves as being unprejudiced, yet the underlying principles in their actions speaks louder than words.
Is it reasonable to be prejudice instead of being open minded? I think the general population has evolved a long way from the radical beliefs of the past, but there is still a long bumpy road ahead of us. Not even a century ago, blacks, woman, kids were deem as not even being human, but rather work tools at the white mans discretion. Now, some of the foremost intellectuals of our history have been of the stereotypes. As technology progresses, so does the link between varying cultures and globalization. As these cultures merge together, they will eventually unite and prevail as one.
We need not look at the mistakes of the past, but rather the solutions of the future.
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Research essay sample on Gender Roles African Americans
