Gender roles

What are traditional gender roles in society? For the US and most of the Western European countries, men are traditionally known as the providers and protectors of their families and women are known as the nurturers who look after the family and raise the children. In that system, the man is the leader of the household, and the man is to be more competitive and masculine. Likewise, that system dictates that women are to be submissive, care for the children, keep the house clean, and support the husband. Traditional gender roles also dictate how people should dress. In that system, boys and men are supposed to wear short hair, no earrings, very little jewelry, and shirts, pants, or shorts. Women and girls are supposed to wear earrings, long hair, blouses, skirts, hair bows, and smell sweet and like flowers. Gender is defined as the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with one sex, and gender role is defined as a public representation of ones gender identity. Compared to what we see today those expectations have changed for the better.My most important experience sought me out. It happened to me; I didn't cause it.

My preferred companions are books or music or pen and paper. I have only a small circle of close friends, few of whom get along together. They could easily be counted "misfits." To be plain, I found it quite easy to doubt my ability to have any sort of "close relationship."

After the closing festivities of Andover Summer School this past summer, on the night before we were scheduled to leave, a girl I had met during the program's course approached me. She came to my room and sat down on my bed and announced that she was debating with herself whether she wanted me to become her boyfriend. She wanted my reaction, my opinion.

I was startled, to say the least, and frightened. I instantly said, "No." I told her I on no account wanted this and that I would reject any gestures she made towards starting a relationship. I