Gender Roles When one talks about gender, everyone seem to not exactly understand what difference it makes to know the biological and cultural influences does it have. The answer to that is that we should look how gender roles throughout history and other cultures compare to our own. After all, if something is completely biological, we humans, we would expect it to exist since from birth of humanity and be the same everywhere. But not many gender norms are the same. The truth is, some of the norms that seem innate and automatic to us might seem unnatural and absurd to people from other cultures. Here are some examples of gender roles. Most common example of a gender role a woman’s place is in the kitchen. The idea that “a woman’s place is in the kitchen” is one of the most common gender roles. It is a stereotype that has been perpetuated for centuries and has its roots in the idea that women are naturally suited to domestic work. However, this stereotype is not supported by history but in fact men have played an important role in cooking and food preparation. In recent years, there has been a shift towards more gender-neutral roles and expectations. The second one is sensitivity meaning men don’t cry but women do. The idea that “men don’t cry, women do” is another common gender role. It is a stereotype that has been perpetuated for centuries and has its roots in the idea that men should be strong and unemotional. However, this stereotype is not supported by history. But throughout history men have cried and expressed their emotions just as much as women. Now any people reject the idea of crying as a sign of weakness and believe that everyone can express their emotions regardless of their gender. Ardner (1985) is known for her work on gender and social inequality. These ideas have helped to shift the way that people think about gender roles and norms in contemporary society. Rather than seeing gender as a fixed identity or role, many people now view it as something that is fluid and constantly changing. Her work has been influential in shaping the way that people think about gender roles and norms in contemporary society. References Barodia, S. (2015). Gender Sensitization and Education