Gender role facts for kids

Gender role is the idea that people are expected to act in certain ways because of their gender. For example, in the past, it was often seen as the man's job to earn money. It was also often seen as the woman's job to take care of the children and the home.

These expected behaviors can come from a person's own feelings. They can also come from the society and culture a person grows up in. When society and culture shape these behaviors, it's called socialization. This means learning how to act based on what your community expects.

Gender roles are different in various cultures and throughout history. Most cultures recognize two genders, male and female. However, some cultures have more than two genders. For instance, Androgyny is sometimes seen as a third gender. Some societies have even more ways to understand gender.

Gender expression is how a person shows their gender to the world. This can be through their behavior, clothes, hairstyles, or other body characteristics. People might express themselves in ways seen as "masculine," "feminine," or something else.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is an international agreement. It says that old-fashioned ideas about gender roles, called stereotypes, should be changed. This helps make sure everyone has equal opportunities.

Understanding Gender Roles

Gender roles are like unwritten rules about how boys, girls, men, and women should act. These rules are not always the same everywhere. They can change a lot depending on the culture and the time period. What is considered "normal" for one gender in one place might be very different somewhere else.

How Society Shapes Roles

When you grow up, you learn many things from your family, friends, and school. This learning process is called socialization. Through socialization, you learn what society expects from you based on your gender. For example, some toys are often seen as "for boys" or "for girls." This can influence how children play and what they learn.

Gender Roles in History

Gender roles have changed a lot over time. In the past, many jobs were only done by men. Women often stayed home to manage the household. But during times like World War II, many women started working in factories. They did jobs that men used to do. This showed that women could do many different kinds of work. Today, it is much more common for both men and women to work outside the home. It is also common for both to share household duties.

Challenging Old Ideas

Sometimes, people break away from traditional gender roles. This can happen when someone chooses a job or hobby that is not typical for their gender. For example, a man might become a nurse, or a woman might become a soldier. These actions help to show that anyone can do any job, regardless of their gender.

Louise Weiss with other Parisian suffragettes in 1935. They fought for women's right to vote.

Images for kids

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  Breaking out of gender role: Michelina de Cesare was a Brigand who fought for freedom.

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  During World War II, women often did work previously done by men. This image shows a woman in a factory in the 1940s.

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  A male nurse at a US Navy hospital cares for a child.

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  Changing norms of gender socialization: Louis XV in 1712, wearing customary clothes for young boys.

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  The world turned upside down, by Israhel van Meckenem the Younger. The wife holds the sceptre and the man is spinning.

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  A woman speaking publicly at a Quaker meeting, circa 1723. This was unusual for the time.

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  An 1883 German illustration of children playing house.

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  Stereotype content model, adapted from Fiske et al. (2002).

See also

In Spanish: Rol de género para niños