Gender Is Cultural

            The traditional roles of a woman are far from that of traditional. Independence and liberalist attitudes are all relatively new trends for women and are the norm for most of the modern world. The commonalities of gender based expectations in other parts of the world greatly differ from those we hold in the United States. It may be a long time before total equality is achieved in genders across the world. Gender roles are cultural but gender itself is not.
             Our history plays a big part in the gender roles we are familiar with today. Many times it is our past that binds us. Old beliefs and expectations must be forgotten to move ahead. For example if a family is second generation American from another country it is likely the roles for each gender are still held to the norms of that culture. The more Americanized the family becomes the less these preconceived gender roles are enforced in the family's. .
             The gender role of the female domestic goddess is one that is held by many cultures; through personal experience especially Latin culture. The idea of a woman being barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen is one that appeals to many males, usually not American males. The idea has been outdated for us but many other countries instill these sexist concepts in their youth.
             The genders ideal is usually set forth by observational learning. What we see our mothers and fathers doing is a main influence in how development as men and women. Depending on the cultural background this varies greatly.
             In the United States women are very liberal. We are allowed to do, say, wear what we please. Our culture (although not completely ie. Glass ceiling) accepts women in the workplace. We are allowed to attend school and through all these liberties we find the makeup of our gender. Tradition is becoming less and less important in the U.S.
             In other countries such as China women are not held with such a high respect at all; especially when you take into consideration all of the horror stories we all have heard about the population rationing (how having a girl was considered useless; drowning girl children so the family can have a boy to carry on the name).