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Gender Stereotypes In America

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Gender Stereotypes In America
America, is known as the country for opportunity and freedom; it’s where many people can come and have a fair chance to acquire the desired goal of the “American Dream”. The American Dream has acquired many different meanings over time. From the original definition being: the American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. In today’s society the American Dream can be defined as: a belief in freedom that allows all citizens and residents of the United States of America to achieve their goals in life through hard work. Too many, to successfully obtaining the American Dream you must meet a certain criteria being: a household …show more content…
In today’s world, when you look around, you see many different types of people. We live in a world of very diverse sets of people. From Adam and Eve, to the ancient Mayans, to the 1900’s, up until now cultural practices have always formed boundary between men and women, from the way they were raised and taught, even which occupation to choose from. Feminine roles have traditionally been associated with apathy, nurturing, estrogen and subordination. Before the child is born, girls are subjected to gender stereotypes; they are given clothing, décor, an accessories that are pink, which is the color that not only society but our culture assigned to the female gender. Even at a young age, girls are given dolls and the gender roles were set. Women have always been viewed as the ones who take care of the children, tend to the cooking and the cleaning and anything else that has to do with the house or the children upbringing. Ogtrop states “In 1976, when I was twelve, fully two-thirds of all American households that consisted of married couples with children had one parent staying home full-time, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. My mother was one of those …show more content…
Over the years, society's rules and expectations for men and women are very different. Men and women have standards and specific goals that they must live up to according to how others judge. As children growing up, gender roles were put in place as boys would play with trucks and cars and girls would play with Barbie dolls and play kitchen sets. Gender roles shape individual behavior not only by dictating how males and females should behave, but also by frowning upon those who don't conform to the “norms”. As society changes, the gender roles also change to meet the needs of society. The American Dream was constructed believing that anyone could obtainable it, no matter what your race, social status, or gender. This idea, however, is a misinterpreted message, because a person ability to achieve the American Dream is measured by ones amounts of economic and political prosperity which is reflected directly on the color of their skin, how much money a person make each year, and whether they are a male or female. America, “land of the free and equal”, promises everyone equal opportunities to achieve their desired dream; which is ironic considering that a person is discriminated against and prevented from obtaining these dreams based on things that we, as a country, tried to rid for hundreds of years. No matter how “free” a

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