Gender Inequality and Heterosexism
Summary.
Gender Inequality and Heterosexism- Summary
In past traditions gender roles were very specific: women were to be devoted to the family, husband, and church- and nothing else. Men were suppose to be the ‘breadwinners’ and the head of the household. Anything else was considered strange, shunned, and/or forbidden. It has not been till recent times that these roles have switched or shifted in the modern society, mostly in North America and Europe.
This view was driven by the assumption that women were not educated nor smart enough, as well as too weak to assume the positions taken by educated, smart, strong males in society. Earlier scientists believed that females were inferior to men because of biological traits. However, biology cannot explain the varying difference between men and women and cultural variations in behavior and personality.
Homosexuality was first practiced in ancient times, especially among the Greeks as a form of sexual expression. But during the Middle Ages it became a shunned practice, even illegal and punishable by execution. During modern times the social problem as shifted from the act of homosexuality to the act of shunning homosexuality. In 1994, it was said that there was 3 percent of males and 1 percent of females who were active homosexuals. I would imagine this number has gone up. American society in general has become more tolerant of homosexuality, but there is still a large amount of ‘anti-gay’ supporters.
Gender equality in society has improved in the current times, especially in education. Seventy-five years ago, almost no women attended high education. In today’s world however, there are more women than men attending and graduating from college. Women are also advancing the fields of politics. 2008 was a huge year for women in politics, with a woman running for presidency. More and more women are probably going to run for political offices in the future. Our current social environment is a lot more tolerant to gender equality, whether it is being a female, male, or homosexual.
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