Sex and Gender Final Paper

1 Sex and Gender Final Paper Harvard University 2 A Personal Reflection on Gendered Experiences Gender is an essential way of perception that people use to view and experience the world, impacting family relationships and the educational system. I will illustrate this through my story as a woman, including family relations and gender inequalities at school. I will analyze the responsibilities of the eldest daughter. I will show the impact of gender on my personal experience by juxtaposing the different roles of my mom. I will reflect on the barriers faced in educational institutions, where deeply embedded biases persist, which make it difficult for women to penetrate the largely male-dominated profession. The impact of gender on the foundation of family life and education becomes evident in my experiences as the eldest daughter and a female student; this understanding integrates the position of gender equality and respect for each other’s abilities, irrespective of gender. Gender in Family In my family, as the eldest daughter, I keenly noticed the sex-based claims and workload that cut across my upbringing. My little brother found liberty to exploit his interests while I had to bear the weight of disproportionate household chores and domestic duties. In a range of household cleaning, cooking, and other family affairs, I explored a place where messages of expectations were communicated through my daily interactions. While not necessarily said, these gendered norms formed my understanding of what family roles entail and how they inadvertently illustrated the complicated nature of gender dynamics within the home. Seeing my mother's dual roles within the family triggered by my father's absence, I was amazed at how strong and resilient a single parent she was. Moreover, awesomely, she skillfully combined motherly and fatherly roles, symbolizing the standards of a "strong black mother," 3 who was rejecting established norms (Elliott & Reid, 2016). Nevertheless, with time, I learned to appreciate the complexity of her personality. Besides unshakeable courage, I decided to distinguish times of vulnerability and sensitivity from the notion of true strength. They have influenced how I perceive resilience and appreciate its multifaceted nature. As I grew up, I observed differences in how my mom treated me and my brother. Her attitude towards me was marked by stiffness in her manner, with a clear emphasis on demanding a high level of expectation and standard from me (Elliott & Reid, 2016). On the other hand, my brother seemed to be more permissive and free to do as he liked. These divergent parenting styles indirectly conveyed the cultural norms and rules regarding gender, creating an atmosphere where our perceptions regarding gender roles differed (Ruppanner, 2019). It demonstrated the diversity in familial roles and the importance of reflecting on the impact of societal constructs on the gender dynamics within the family environment. Gender in Education The educational environment in which I was a young girl incorporated gender stereotypes and biases unintentionally. I am drawn to and do well in math and science, but then, the refined societal norms are working against me, pushing me towards the more feminine disciplines like art (Rich, 2014). The displacement began with the subconscious messages that teachers and peers conveyed, leading me to believe I was less worthy than my peers. I was hindered in the process of the exploration of gendered expectations as the systemic barriers for women in STEM fields were demonstrated. Such experiences highlight the necessity of uprooting gender biases to create a level playing field for everyone in education. 4 The implicit environment with inclusiveness to the students inside the college premises has made it evident that the economic field is no exception to gender bias. Being one of the few women in my classes, I had to bear male students constantly, and teachers questioned my ability and negatively appealed to my capacities. This is evident through an article by Miller (2015) posted in the New York Times. In light of my successful accomplishments and perseverance, there is a chance that my input can be ignored entirely and considered inadequate because I am a woman who is not good at math. This proves that, even in academic spheres that claim to base themselves on meritocracy and intellectual depth, the problem of gender-based expectations and bias will remain. These experiences, therefore, strengthen the role of tenacity and processes to deconstruct gender biases in the educational arena. Therefore, all individuals enjoy the chance of a career and recognition based on absolute merit. In conclusion, the personal exploration of family and education shows the actual complications of gender-based norms and their impact on social life. Although we have come a long way and increased the level of gender equality, these outdated stereotypes and prejudices seem to be deeply rooted, defining the lives and prospects of people. Changing those wellestablished norms is critical in developing a community where girls and boys can grow and thrive equally. Through our efforts to overcome such hurdles, we would build a friendly community where everyone is treated equally and free from stigma. In the future, I will keep promoting gender equality in the places relevant to me since the concept of progress is to overcome gender stereotyping and prejudice. 5 References Elliott, S., & Reid, M. (2016). The Superstrong Black Mother. Contexts, 15(1), 48– 53. doi:10.1177/1536504216628840 Miller, C. C. (2015). How Elementary School Teachers’ Biases Can Discourage Girls From Math and Science. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/07/upshot/howelementary-school-teachers-biases-can-discourage-girls-from-math-and-science.html Rich, M. (2014). Old Tactic Gets New Use: Public Schools Separate Girls and Boys. The New York Times. http://nyti.ms/1tsC1Ws Ruppanner, L. (2019, August 14). Women are not better multitaskers than men – they do more work. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/women-arent-better-multitaskersthan-men-theyre-just-doing-more-work-121620