As a young woman growing up in the middle class, I have been taught that no man is better than me. I grew up in a single parent household and was made to believe that the world was mine for the taking and that I should never have to rely on anyone but myself. Typically, this holds true for many young women across America. From the women’s rights movements and other feminist movements we have conquered many battles that denounce our gender. It is interesting that men are still expected to be the bread winner of a household, but a woman having the higher salary of a couple is not always a bad thing. It is not surprising, though, that other countries do not view our idea of gender quite the same.
In Russia, for example, men are still definitely the head of household. They have higher wages and positions in their jobs (Zheleznikova, 2013). Women generally take care of their children at home. However, in more recent years, women have made their jump into politics! The Russian population voted at 75% that they would like to see more women in politics, but only 45% said they would support a woman to the presidency in the next 10 to 15 years (Zheleznikova, 2013). There is some dissonance there, but I feel the same can be said for the United States. Politically we have seen more women in positions like judges and lawmakers, but as seen in Hilary Clinton’s defeat in the presidential elections of 2009 America may not even be ready for a female president.
One of the most interesting aspects about gender roles that I found came from a foreign exchange student from America studying in St. Petersburg. She describes Russian men as very chivalrous and women as the “prettier sex” (Buck, 2012). The major goal in Russian society is to get married, so men are on their best behavior and women dress to the nines in order to be found attractive. And this is all the time. Men will wear suits commonly and women constantly wear high heels around college campuses. It’s quite the contrast to American universities where most students show up looking like they got dressed in the dark.
By getting married, women get to show their love and take care of their children. They set aside their jobs until their children are old enough to go to school (Buck, 2012). Even more interesting, is that preschool is a completely foreign institution in Russia! Most mothers in America leave their children in daycare almost as soon as possible in order to go back to work. While more women are embracing a dual role as mother and worker, in general Russian women remain in domestic roles.
Men and women have progressed to this stage in their roles. Men have always been the superior of the two genders, but the Soviet Communist era made them more equal. Gender equality allowed for both genders to equal up to each other (Feifer, 2010). It was an ideology, though, and the practice of gender equality takes time. With the fall of the Soviet Union, men again climbed back to their dominant roles. Women have only just started driving in Russia in the last 20 years (Feifer, 2010)! In American standards, there is still much to be conquered for women’s rights.
Sources:
Buck, A. (2012, October 25). Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. The Prettier Sex: Understanding Gender Roles in Russia. Retrieved February 19, 2014, from http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/letters/the-prettier-sex-understanding-gender-roles-in-russia
Feifer, G. (2010, September 19). The Iron Ceiling: Sexism Still Strong In Russia. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved February 19, 2014, from
http://www.rferl.org/content/TheIronCeiling_Sexism_Still_Strong_In_Russia/2161847.html
Zheleznikova, Y. (2013, September 20). Role of Women in Modern Russia.Women's Forum. Retrieved February 19, 2014, from http://www.womens-forum.com/stories/role-of-woman-in-modern-russia/27
In Russia, for example, men are still definitely the head of household. They have higher wages and positions in their jobs (Zheleznikova, 2013). Women generally take care of their children at home. However, in more recent years, women have made their jump into politics! The Russian population voted at 75% that they would like to see more women in politics, but only 45% said they would support a woman to the presidency in the next 10 to 15 years (Zheleznikova, 2013). There is some dissonance there, but I feel the same can be said for the United States. Politically we have seen more women in positions like judges and lawmakers, but as seen in Hilary Clinton’s defeat in the presidential elections of 2009 America may not even be ready for a female president.
One of the most interesting aspects about gender roles that I found came from a foreign exchange student from America studying in St. Petersburg. She describes Russian men as very chivalrous and women as the “prettier sex” (Buck, 2012). The major goal in Russian society is to get married, so men are on their best behavior and women dress to the nines in order to be found attractive. And this is all the time. Men will wear suits commonly and women constantly wear high heels around college campuses. It’s quite the contrast to American universities where most students show up looking like they got dressed in the dark.
By getting married, women get to show their love and take care of their children. They set aside their jobs until their children are old enough to go to school (Buck, 2012). Even more interesting, is that preschool is a completely foreign institution in Russia! Most mothers in America leave their children in daycare almost as soon as possible in order to go back to work. While more women are embracing a dual role as mother and worker, in general Russian women remain in domestic roles.
Men and women have progressed to this stage in their roles. Men have always been the superior of the two genders, but the Soviet Communist era made them more equal. Gender equality allowed for both genders to equal up to each other (Feifer, 2010). It was an ideology, though, and the practice of gender equality takes time. With the fall of the Soviet Union, men again climbed back to their dominant roles. Women have only just started driving in Russia in the last 20 years (Feifer, 2010)! In American standards, there is still much to be conquered for women’s rights.
Sources:
Buck, A. (2012, October 25). Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. The Prettier Sex: Understanding Gender Roles in Russia. Retrieved February 19, 2014, from http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/letters/the-prettier-sex-understanding-gender-roles-in-russia
Feifer, G. (2010, September 19). The Iron Ceiling: Sexism Still Strong In Russia. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved February 19, 2014, from
http://www.rferl.org/content/TheIronCeiling_Sexism_Still_Strong_In_Russia/2161847.html
Zheleznikova, Y. (2013, September 20). Role of Women in Modern Russia.Women's Forum. Retrieved February 19, 2014, from http://www.womens-forum.com/stories/role-of-woman-in-modern-russia/27
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