Gender Roles

1. Gender Roles

2. Terms • Role: A part that one plays; expected patterns of behavior. • Gender Roles: Behaviors/tasks that indicate a person’s gender, (male/female). • Nontraditional Roles: Behaviors/tasks not usually “assigned” to a specific sex or gender. • Gender Discrimination: Prejudicial treatment because of a person’s gender . • Prejudice: Making a decision or prejudgment before becoming aware of the facts. • Stereotyping: A perception of people based on first impressions; usually inaccurate.

3. Traditional Roles • Look back in history and think about how gender roles have always been perceived: • Mom: stays home to take care of children. She cooks, cleans, does laundry, etc. • Dad: Goes to work, does not do housework, takes care of the yard and car, etc. • Video Clip!!!

5. World War II changed everything! • Women HAD to be sent to work. They started out in the factories doing hard labor.

6. 1943 Guide to Hiring Women The following is an excerpt from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine. This was written by male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II.

7. Eleven Tips on Getting More Efficiency Out of Women Employees: There’s no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point. The important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage. Here are eleven helpful tips on the subject: 1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they’re less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn’t be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and deal with the public efficiently.

8. 2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It’s always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy. 3. General experience indicates that “husky” girls-those who are just a little on the heavy side-are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.

9. 4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special physical examination-one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibilities of lawsuit, but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job. 5. Stress at the outset the importance of time the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until the point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.

10. 6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they’ll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves. 7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.

11. 8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day. 9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can’t shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman-it breaks her spirit and cuts her efficiency.

12. 10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl’s husband or father may swear vociferously, she’ll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this. 11. Get enough size variety in operator’s uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can’t be stressed too much in keeping women happy.

13. 1955 Housekeeping Monthly The following is an excerpt from the May 1955 issue of Housekeeping Monthly titled The Good Wife’s Guide.

14. The Good Wife’s Guide • Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready and on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal, (especially his favorite dish), is part of the warm welcome needed. • Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

15. 3. Be happy and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it. • Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. • Over the cooler months of the year, you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

16. 6. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him. • Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first-remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours. • Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment, without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to relax.

17. 9. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. • Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with firmness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him. • A good wife always knows her place. How Have Things Changed Today?

18. Non-Traditional Roles • What are some non-traditional roles for women? • Doctors, lawyers, construction, mechanics, coaches, architects, truck drivers • What are some non-traditional roles for men? • Nurses, secretaries, designers, stay at home dad, librarians

19. The Work Force • More than ever, the world holds many opportunities for women. • Economic realities show that 80% of women who start out married will be single by the time they reach their 60’s. • The average married woman is in the work force 28 years of her life. • The average unmarried woman works about 40 years of her life. • Only 1 in 10 young women will marry, raise a family, be supported by her husband, and live to maturity with that husband.

20. The Status of Women • Even though times have changed, there are still countries in the world who hold onto the old definition of what gender roles “should” be. • The five best countries in which a female can be born, reared, educated, employed, married, and spend her life are: • 1-Sweden 4-Germany • 2-Finland 5-Norway • 3-U.S. • The five worst countries are: • 1-Bangladesh 4-Yemen • 2-Mali 5-Pakistan • 3-Afghanistan

21. The Status of Women, cont. • Female life expectancy: • Sweden: 81 U.S.: 79 Bangladesh: 49 • How many die before their 5th birthday? • Sweden: 1 in 167 U.S. 1 in 91 Bangladesh: 1 in 5 • How many won’t survive child-bearing years? • Sweden: 1 in 53 U.S. 1 in 38 Bangladesh: 1 in 6 • How many marry by the ages 15-19? • Sweden: less than 1 % U.S.: 8% Bangladesh: 69% • How many children do the women have? • Sweden: 1-2 U.S.: Less than 2 Bangladesh: 5 or 6

22. The Status of Women, cont. • How many girls are in school? • Sweden: ALL U.S.: ALL Bangladesh:1 in 3 • Female college enrollment: • Sweden: 37% U.S.:59% Bangladesh: 2% • How much of the paid work force is female? • Sweden: 49% U.S.: 45% Bangladesh: 14%

23. Your Role? • You need to think about what you believe when it comes to gender roles. • What do you want your role to be? Your spouse’s role? • Journal Entry: (HONESTLY THINK!) • Girls: • What do you expect your husband and sons to do in the home? • Guys: • What do you believe the women in the home should do? ****Decide what you believe and discuss it with your future mate or else one or both of you will be miserable!

24. Battle of the Sexes • Get into 2 teams….Girls VS. Boys! • Choose 1 spokesperson per team • As a team, you will be given a question that the opposite gender will most likely know. Come up with only one answer! • Your spokesperson will give the teacher the teams final answer. • If you get the question right, your team gets a point. The team with the most points at the end of 20 questions wins. Good luck! • Boys, you are first!

25. Question 1Boys • What would I use cuticle cream on? • A. Fingernails • B. Legs • C. Face • D. Cellulite

26. Question 1Girls • Where would I find a head gasket? • A. Computer • B. Chain Saw • C. Car Engine • D. Washing Machine

27. Question 2Boys • What is a “loofah”? • A. A soft shower puff • B. A rough sponge used to remove dry skin • C. A soft shoe that you slip on • D. A type of fragranced bubble bath

28. Question 2Girls • Jim Bowie, who died at the Alamo, invented a famous what? • A. Cigar • B. Gun • C. Knot • D. Knife

29. Question 3Boys • In this year, women finally got the right to vote in the U.S. • A. 1910 • B. 1890 • C. 1920 • D. 1900

30. Question 3Girls • Rainbow, brown, brook and steelhead are types of what? • A. Turkeys • B. Alligators • C. Trout • D. Bass

31. Question 4Boys • What is a cross between a one-piece and a bikini swimsuit? • A. Bi-Piece • B. Teeni • C. Tankini • D. Tortellini

32. Question 4Girls • Bosch, NGK and Champion are brands of what? • A. Baseballs • B. Spark Plugs • C. Golf Clubs • D. Darts

33. Question 5Boys • Which of the following is NOT a type of makeup? • A. Eyebrow Pencil • B. Concealer • C. Exfoliator • D. Lip Liner

34. Question 5Girls • Pre-mix fuel goes into what type of motor? • A. 2-Stroke • B. Diesel • C. 4-Stroke • D. Rotary

35. Question 6Boys • If my birthday is December 17th, what is my astrological sun sign? • A. Aquarius • B. Capricorn • C. Scorpio • D. Sagittarius

36. Question 6Girls • When a defensive pass interference is called in the end zone, what happens? • A. The ball is placed on the 1 yard line • B. A personal foul is called on the defender • C. It’s a touchdown for the offence • D. The defense is penalized 15 yards on the kickoff

37. Question 7Boys • Which one of these is a shoe designer? • A. John Madden • B. Steve Madden • C. Karl Madden • D. Andrew Madden

38. Question 7Girls • Which of the following once held the NBA record for the most points scored in a single game? • A. Wilt Chamberlain • B. Larry Bird • C. Michael Jordan • D. Kareem Abdul Jabbar

39. Question 8Boys • When is it first acceptable to wear velvet during the year? • A. Labor Day • B. Halloween • C. Memorial Day • D. Valentines Day

40. Question 8Girls • Where would you use a “half-nelson”? • A. On a golf course • B. On a basketball court • C. On a football field • D. In a wrestling ring

41. Question 9Boys • What is the thinnest type of heel on a shoe? • A. Stiletto • B. Wedge • C. Spike • D. Platform

42. Question 9Girls • What is the animal that Indiana Jones is most afraid of? • A. Spiders • B. Snakes • C. Lions • D. Scorpions

43. Question 10Boys • Where on the body would you wear “mules”? • A. Eyes • B. Ears • C. Feet • D. Hands

44. Question 10Girls • Where would you find a Windsor Knot? • A. A boat • B. A necktie • C. A lariat • D. A shoelace

45. Question 11Boys • Which of the following is not a brand name of a sewing machine? • A. Husqvarna • B. Singer • C. Sonata • D. Bernina

46. Question 11Girls • What do you use a “miter box” for? • A. Smoothing out wallpaper • B. Jumpstarting a car • C. Sawing at an angle • D. Starting a fire

47. Question 12Boys • Which “Boy Band” is/was Chris Kirkpatrick a part of? • A. Boys II Men • B. N’Sync • C. 98 Degrees • D. Backstreet Boys

48. Question 12Girls • In boxing, a KO is the acronym for “Knock-Out”. What does the “T” in the acronym TKO stand for? • A. Technical • B. Timed • C. Total • D. Tertiary

49. Question 13Boys • Lollipop, Sunny Daze and Sweetberry are all characters in what animated TV show? • A. Strawberry Shortcake • B. My Little Pony • C. Rainbow Brite • D. Hello Kitty

50. Question 13Girls • Which of the following characters was NOT a member of COBRA in the G.I. Joe cartoon? • A. Copperhead • B. Storm Shadow • C. Destro • D. Snake Eyes