Journal: Gender and Gender Roles

What does it mean to be a woman? What does it mean to be a man? As you might imagine, answers to these questions are complex, varied, and highly subjective. Gender stereotypes simplify the answers into prescribed categories of masculine and feminine. For example, there are traditional expectations that men be strong, with the role of protecting and providing for the family, whereas women should be delicate and emotional, with the role of nurturing the family.

The introduction to prescribed gender appearances and behaviors begins once a child is born, with the choice of a name and the presence of gendered clothing and toys. In the media, gender stereotypes play out in scenes where a woman is praised not for her strength or intellect but for her beauty and her body, or where a man swoops in to save a helpless woman in danger. The reality, of course, is that there is no one experience or one way to be.

For this Journal, you consider how messages you have received regarding gender and gender roles have influenced you and may influence you as a social worker.

To Prepare

• Critically reflect on your socialization into your culture and the messages you received in early life about gender and gender roles.  

By Day 7

Submit a 1- to 2-page written journal or 4- to 5-minute video or audio journal in which you reflect on the messages you have received from your family or cultural group, the media, and others regarding gender and gender roles. Be sure to:

• Analyze how these messages have influenced your experience with gender and how they may influence you as a practitioner.
• Explain how you would address issues related to sexism and diverse beliefs about gender and gender roles in your social work practice.
• Explain the importance of separating personal and professional values. Provide an example to illustrate this importance.

If you integrate the Learning Resources, make sure to provide APA citations and a reference list.