Why gender roles are bad

In turn, this means fewer women are going on to work in the sciences. The gender gap is particularly high in the fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs of the future, such as computer science and engineering. Read more: We must include more women in physics — it would help the whole of humanity. We spoke with students girls and boys from 14 schools and found 7- and 8-year-old children have already made up their minds about what jobs they want in the future.

For example, the top three choices for boys include careers in professional sports, STEM-related jobs, and policing or defence. Meanwhile, girls either want to be teachers, work with animals, or pursue a career in the arts. They told us:. I want to be a nurse because I want to help people if they are hurt and take care of my Dad, and other people — Kate. For instance, they wanted to work in the police force because:. Or they wanted jobs that highlighted traditionally masculine attributes such as strength, dominance and physicality.

Bullying is the most common form of violence in schools, affecting 1 in 3 students aged [iv]. While girls are significantly more vulnerable to sexual violence due to gender norms, the stigma of sexual violence against boys and the lack of services to respond to the needs of male survivors makes it even less likely that such incidents will be reported.

For example, traditional gender norms around masculinity will likely affect whether boys access mental health services, as well as how boys are treated by service providers when they do report sexual violence. To build a more equal, inclusive future, we need to start with childhood. Our work reaches hundreds of millions of children every year promoting gender equality , right from the start. Save the Children works to identify the root cause of harmful gender norms and inequality by addressing discriminatory social practices and institutions which reinforce them.

We work with adolescents, their parents, and communities to foster reflection and dialogue on inequitable norms, including around puberty, household roles, decision-making, and health service seeking. Holding policymakers accountable is critical to ensuring girls and boys experience a future that is full of opportunity. At Save the Children, we invest in understanding how gender norms shape the lives of girls and boys. We include gender and power analysis across our programs to ensure we can develop context-informed strategies to address inequitable norms.

Five ways Save the Children programs are working to shift gender norms to be more equitable:. Donating, advocating or participating in an event challenge are all ways to fight gender inequality around the world. You can help bridge the gap between the challenges girls face and the equal future all children deserve — one that ensures all children grow up healthy, educated and safe. By signing up to receive emails from Save the Children you will receive a subscription to our monthly eNews, access to breaking emergency alerts and opportunities to get involved.

To ensure delivery of Save the Children emails to your inbox, add support savechildren. Gender Roles Can Create Lifelong Cycle of Inequality All children deserve to grow up and achieve their dreams — regardless of their gender. What is gender? What are gender norms? What are gender roles? Harmful gender norms deny millions of girls their rights to education, health and independence Sadly, girls around the world are kept from attending school in favor of gender norms related to their role in household chores and the position of girls in society.

Gender-based violence comes in many forms Gender-based violence GBV refers to all harm inflicted or suffered by individuals on the basis of gender differences and is influenced by gender norms. What is Save the Children doing to challenge inequitable gender norms and promote gender equality? There are few blessings larger than a loving mother in the life of a child.

Men often bring physical and financial security to a family. Men also bring a specific dynamic into a family relationship that cannot be replaced. Mothers may need to work, fathers may need to stay home with the kids. Just because an ideal is not reached every time, does that mean we should all stop striving for it? The uniqueness of both genders creates a need for gender roles, and this complementary relationship brings much greater strength to society than could be found otherwise.

Submit Search.