gender roles

A look at the evolution of gender roles, from Leave It to Beaver, paternity leave, female breadwinners and more.

Balancing Acts
It was a cold winter morning in an average American suburb. As Holly vacuumed the living room carpet, her peripheral vision caught a glimpse of the USPS truck in the window. It braked, stopped to load their mailbox, then maneuvered between the parked cars and piles of snow, both obstacles that Holly found unacceptable. Can't they park in their own driveways? And couldn't the snow plowers leave enough space for two cars on the road? She took a deep breath: before she could get the mail, she needed to finish cleaning up the mess from her four year old's latest culinary arts experimentation. Once done, she turned on the television to keep the younger ones occupied, shielded herself against the elements with her heaviest down coat, and finally trudged outside.
By Desi Bell5 years ago in Viva
Those Not-So-Trivial things people say to women
It was New Year’s Eve, and my family and I were getting ready to head up to my aunt’s place. My dad and I were waiting in the living room. As usual, he served himself a glass of alcohol to take in the car.
By lorenacol5 years ago in Viva
“Consent Classes” — Kenya’s Unique Approach to Rape Prevention
Recently, I saw a video on Facebook, regarding the amazing initiative taken up by the schools in Nairobi, Kenya. They were educating boys and girls about consent, respecting women from an early age, masculinity ,and sexual harassment. This was one of the very few videos in recent times, which connected with me so profoundly and led me to research more about it.
By Shruthi Sundaram5 years ago in Viva
A Woman's Life
To be a Woman Why is it, that the year is 2021, and women still must fight so hard to find equality, respect, and success? Why is it, that we as women, are judged just because we possess breasts and a vagina?
By Amanda Purcell5 years ago in Viva
On Disabilities, Relationships, and Gender Roles
As we have begun defining and redefining gender roles and gender types, now is the perfect time to explore the effects physical disabilities have on sexuality and gender types. Disabled people are often overlooked when people discuss the tensions that arise from stereotypical gender roles, however, trying to fit these societal molds for females and males can be difficult when living with a disability. Indisputably, gender typing impacts everyone: women are told they should not pursue certain careers, men are asked to mask their emotions, and boys and girls are expected to play different sports. Non-binary folks are often dismissed. Disabled people are no exception to this, and yet it is harder for them to meet these expectations. Superficial distinctions between genders are the most obvious culprit of this issue. For instance many disabled women are unable to apply makeup or wear high heels. Men often cannot attain the “ideal” muscle tone due to chronic fatigue or inability to lift weights. Admittedly, these are superficial qualities, yet when searching for a romantic partner or perhaps even a friend, people look for these qualities before seeking out someone who is kind, intelligent, or funny. Yes, people do search for these more substantial qualities too, but one’s physical appearance is more accessible at a glance than one’s personality is. Disabled people are not immune to the desire for companionship, however, they often struggle to find a partner willing to accept them. Disabled men are not typically viewed as masculine and strong and disabled women are not typically viewed as beautiful and feminine.
By Erica Mones5 years ago in Viva
Rose-colored Glasses
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” This question is almost a rite of passage for children in the United States. Adults expect many answers. Ballerina. Superhero. Astronaut. President. As a foster child, Amber has heard this question, or some iteration of it, thrice as many times as the next kid. When she was young, she had chosen ‘rocket scientist’ or ‘astronaut’. As a preteen, she considered herself much wiser than her elementary school self.
By Eris Nyx5 years ago in Viva
Birth Control Methods are Targeted at the Wrong Gender
Kids are tough, but there has to be some penalty for sex. Humans and Dolphin are few of the creatures who have sex for pleasure. While we don't know about dolphins, we certainly don't want a kid every time we have sex. So, the need for some type of contraception method arises.
By Richa Khare5 years ago in Viva
My Teenaged Daughter is Out All Night
“You gotta be careful. This ain’t Disneyland around here. There are some bad people who are just looking for a pretty little girl like you.”
By Alecia Kennedy5 years ago in Viva
I Miss Not Having Any Identity Other Than Someone's Wife and Mother
Life should be about perfection and not reflection. There always come points in our lives when we think what if we had not made that bad choice or if we should have gone with our instincts instead of listening to others. Many times throughout our lives, we wish we could have changed one thing which bothers us the most.
By Richa Khare5 years ago in Viva
How Harry Styles Subverted the Patriarchy by Wearing a Dress on the Cover of Vogue. Top Story - January 2021.
On November 13, 2020, Harry Styles appeared on the cover of Vogue Magazine wearing a dress. It wasn’t an understated dress either, but rather one with frills and a low neckline. And this wasn’t the only picture in the spread where he donned feminine clothing. In four other portraits, Styles sported skirts. These feminine stylistic choices weren’t meant to make a political statement; rather, Styles notes that he just enjoys experimenting with fashion:
By Sara Rose5 years ago in Viva
"The banality of Evil that is systematic misogyny"
I've been taking a Barre ballet class for the past two months during the Coronovirus epidemic. The class is conducted via Zoom and it is the one thing that keeps me sane during the week! It consists of my quirky ballet teacher - a 30-something millennial who was trained at the CalArts in Los Angeles and works at the House of Yes in NYC, a Brooklyn-based arts collective that hosts an array of artistic shows and endeavors during the week, including Circus Arts!
By Susan Lee5 years ago in Viva
Why #drjillbiden Means so Much. Top Story - December 2020.
More than a few academics and non-academics alike have taken issue with the latest Epstein article from The Wall Street Journal in which he stated his opinion that upcoming First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, remove her doctoral title from her name on the basis that it "feels fraudulent, even comic," as he proclaimed in the article's subtitle. What follows in his article is an opinion so misguided and infuriating that it is what rather feels comic.
By Bryana 5 years ago in Viva