Don’t run like a girl – they said.
Don’t cry like a girl – they say to a boy who was hurt.
Don’t try to act like a man – they say to the girl who takes a stand for herself.
Why is it that most of our actions associated with a part gender? What is being ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’?
Even though some researchers say that the attribution of certain behaviours to women or men is biological, it seems unclear as to what extent.
At large, these concepts are social constructs, that is, made by the centuries old society to be able to differentiate a boy from a girl and to help bring up a ‘model’ child. So, it is debatable how many of these attributes/behaviours came from a biological and the social stand point. Taking a more scientific approach, saying that ‘boys are stronger than girls’ seems more accurate, as the physiologies widely different. Based on their hormones, it can be said that men are more aggressive and women can get moodier.
But it is not to say that one can completely disregard the other sex, look down on them, say to ‘change’ their behaviour or use it as an insult. These other attributions have stemmed from the social construct of femininity and masculinity. Showing emotions and trying to look good is not a feminine trait, but a part of human nature and self-awareness. It shows how a person is feeling and is actually healthy. Standing up for yourself and earning your own bread is not masculine, but shows that the person has a conscious and wants to be independent. Calling a teenager names if she chooses to ‘dress like a boy’ or if he puts efforts into grooming and hygiene is highly offensive and illogical. Think before you say ‘like a boy/girl’ now.
- Akshita
Culturally Born Actions For Males And Females of our society
The term masculinity and femininity refer to the characteristics that are associated with either being a male or female. Masculinity is a set of roles, behaviors, and attributes that are mainly associated with boys and men. Femininity is a set of roles, behaviors, and attributes that are mainly associated with girls and women. Masculinity and femininity are socially firm components of gender.
Masculinity is associated with maleness and femininity is associated with femaleness. Masculinity and femininity are regarded as the component of gender is a complex issue. Both masculinity and femininity perform different actions.
According to the society, numerous actions are to be performed by a male member of the society: like he has the responsibility of supporting the family financially, he is expected to act as the head of the family, he has to act as breadwinner, he has to act as a protector for his family by protecting his wife self-esteem and self-worth of his children's, he has to also act a teacher where he has to set high standards and perform good deeds in front of his children, therefore, they are several other actions that are to be performed by the male member of the society.
Females are also required to perform certain actions in society: the first action that society expects from the woman is that she should dress up in feminine ways and be polite and accommodating. The sole responsibility of women is to act as a caregiver for children and elders in society. There are several feminines of the society who prefer to apply makeup and look good but every culture doesn't allow these kinds of actions they believe that a woman should be dressed up simply according to one's tradition. They believe that women should act as a homemaker and should not interfere in outside matters, they have to only act when they are asked to do so. There are varieties of actions that both male and female member of the society performs. All these actions are different and are determined according to one's culture. There is various masculine action that a feminine can perform and vice versa.
According to the traditional society and modern society both masculine and feminine actions differ and if we look at the present scenario women and men are equal and both the gender can perform each other actions.
- Janvi
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