Download Gender Roles Worksheet

Connections
WHAT
WE’RE
DOING
TODAY
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Week 9: Gender Roles
Defining
Gender Roles
Expectations
about Gender
Stereotypes
Activity
Reality of
Gender Roles
Transitions
Video
Gender
Equality
Gender Roles
Values Exercise
Gender Roles
Gender Role: Do you believe that you are supposed to act
certain ways and do certain things because you are a man or a
woman? Gender role is a set of expectations held by society
about the ways in which men and women are supposed to
behave based on their gender. For example, my wife once told
me that I should cut the lawn because that is "the man's job."
Although she was kidding (I think) this is an example of an
expectation held because of gender. Remember, these are
dependent on the culture/society and can change over time.
“Instead of being
presented with
stereotypes by age,
sex, color, class, or
What are some other expectations people have
about gender roles?
religion, children
must have the
opportunity to
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Dependent
Independent
learn that within
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Emotional
Non-emotional
each range, some
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Passive
Aggressive
people are
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Sensitive
Competitive
loathsome and
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Quiet
Strong
some are
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Graceful
Rebellious
delightful.”
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Innocent
Confident
― Margaret Mead
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Flirtatious
Active
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Nurturing
Brave
Gender Stereotypes Exercise
You have several magazines in front of you. Break into two groups and
look for different gender stereotypes in the magazines. One group will
focus on Male stereotypes and the other on Female Stereotypes. After
we cut out examples of Male and Female Stereotypes, we will discuss
why we chose these examples as a group.
“Playing roles in
any relationship is
false and will
inevitably lead to
the relationship's
The Reality of Gender Roles
Anthropologist Margaret Mead reasoned that if gender reflects biological facts
of sex, that people everywhere in the world would define the same traits as
masculine or feminine. However, she argued, that if gender is cultural, such
conceptions should vary. Mead researched three societies in New Guinea and
concluded that “culture is the key to how sexes differ”.
collapse. No one
can be any one
thing all the
What are some ways that gender roles are different in other cultures?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
time.”
― Portia de
Rossi, Unbearable
Lightness: A Story
of Loss and Gain
Although our culture continues to emphasize gender roles, in
general, our culture is very open minded about people breaking
traditional gender roles. Some people even choose to change their
gender. We will watch a short video and then discuss it as a group.
Does Gender really differentiate us?
Women perform 66% of the world’s work, produce 50% of the food, but
earn 10% of the income and own 1% of the property.
(UNIFEM)
 Women are a driving force behind Africa’s economy running an estimated
48% of small and medium-sized businesses and growing 80% of the food.
(ONE INternational)
 Women invest 90% of their earnings into the health, education and wellbeing of their families, compared with 30-40% for men.
(ONE INternational)
 There is a direct link between increased female labour participation and
growth: It is estimated that if women’s paid employment rates were raised
to the same level as men’s, America’s GDP would be 9% higher; the eurozone’s would be 13% higher. Anthropologist Margaret Mead reasoned
that if gender reflects biological facts of sex, that people everywhere in
the world would define the same traits as masculine or feminine.
Values clarificationHowever,
on gender she
roles argued, that if gender is cultural, such conceptions
should vary. Mead researched three societies in New Guinea and
“culture
is the key
how sexes
differ in the column that suits your answer.
To what extent do concluded
you agree thethat
following
statements
abouttoroles?
Place a check

Compare responses with the class.
Strongly Agree
Slightly agree
Slightly Disagree
Strongly Disagree
A woman should give up her
job when children are born.
_________________________________________________________________________
A man might help sometimes
with housework.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
A man wouldn’t want his
friends to see him doing
chores.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
There are some jobs
that only a man
should do.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
A woman gives up her social
life when she has kids.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Women are more natural with
kids than men.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Men are the real wage earners. __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Men shouldn’t have to change dirty
diapers.
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