Gender Roles

Men and women have declared a cease-fire in the war that raged between the sexes through much of the last half of this century. In its place, they face common new enemies - the stress, lack of time and financial pressure of modern life.
A new national survey has found that after nearly a generation of sharing the workplace and renegotiating domestic duties, most men and women agree that increased gender equity has enriched both sexes. But both also believe that the strains of this relatively new world have made building successful marriages, raising children and leading satisfying lives ever more difficult.
Washington Post Staff Writers
Sunday, March 22, 1998; Page A1
Gender - in common usage refers to the distinctions between masculinity and femininity
Masculinity - pertaining to or characteristic of a man or men
Femininity - the quality of being feminine; womanliness
Engender - To bring into existence; give rise to:
Ex." Every cloud engenders not a storm"- Shakespeare.
Lesbianism - Sexual orientation of women to women.
bird - woman or girlfriend - now unfortunately a rather unflattering term, but it wasn't always so; until recent times 'bird' was always an endearing term for a girl, derived from the Anglo-Saxon 'brid' which meant 'baby animal', in other words a cute little thing. The origin also gave us the word 'bride'
bloke - man, chap, fellow - various separate roots in Shelta or Romany gypsy, and also Hindustani, 'loke', and Dutch, 'blok'. Perhaps also influenced by African and African-American 'outjie', leading to okey (without the dokey), meaning little man.
big girl's blouse - timid man, man or boy who fails to take up a challenge
man of straw - a man of no substance or capital
Do you see yourself as a typical man/woman? Why or why not?
In your country, are the responsibilities of a mother the same as the responsibilitiesof a father to their families?
What are the responsibilities of a father to his family?
Are fathers capable of carrying out the duties of a mother and vice versa?
Are there different expectations for sons and daughters?
What habits are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?
What behaviors are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?
What jobs are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?
Are more doctors female or male in your country?
Are more nurses female or male in your country?
Are more professional musicians female or male in your country?
Are more teachers female or male in your country?
Are more truck drivers female or male in your country?
Are men and women equal in ability and intelligence?
What things can either men or women do that the other cannot do and why?
What type of clothing do men wear?
What type of clothing do women wear?
Can men wear women's clothing or can women wear men's clothing? Why or why not?
Can men wear pink clothes?
Is it OK for men to cry?