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Breaking Barriers And Building New Ceilings: Reflections On Gender Roles & Societal Norms

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Breaking Barriers And Building New Ceilings: Reflections On Gender Roles & Societal Norms

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Binary gender identity has been the basis for social construct in society since time immemorial defining gender roles and expectations from both sexes in society such as men are primarily expected to earn and provide for the family and women are expected to bear children and run the household. However, one’s gender assigned at birth does not essentially restrict their role in society, and several examples from modern history can be picked when the gender role reversals have not only been acknowledged but appreciated. One such particular example is women taking a leadership role in politics. Traits such as compassion, aggression, empathy, kindness, and vengeance can be found in any person, irrespective of their sex or gender identity, or even sexual orientation. These characters cannot be confined within the scope of masculinity or femininity. Besides gender identity, the sexual orientation of a person can also differ and there hasn’t been a time better than now in the history of modern society when diverse gender expression and orientations have been acknowledged.

Liberalization of the last few decades has led our society to the sexual revolution in more ways than we can understand without doing an in-depth study. Liberalization has given us great outcomes such as tolerance of diversity, inclusive society, freedom of expression, and many others at the same time, like any other phenomenon. Still, this revolution has given some unintended outcomes which cannot be categorized very positively. Possibly, one of the most tricky and problematic phenomena in this aspect for me as an individual is that, on the one hand, we are more modern than ever that we are ready to land on Mars, whereas, on the other, we cannot let go of the traditional practices no matter how irrelevant they may be today.

Women’s autonomy, rights, and agency are not alien to this. In the society where I live, I have seen that women are often expected to act in a certain way, conforming to the norms of the society set thousands of years ago. This has been normalized to the extent that we even teach girls and women to sit in certain ways, eat less, talk less, smile but not laugh loudly, act reserved, be covert, not speak out their minds, have patience, not step out of homes, etc., the list is quite endless. Whereas we control women and girls from the very early stages of their life, we also do certain things which are beyond my comprehension at least — for example, objectifying women and setting standards of their body and beauty. If we look at the world of advertising, a new type of woman has been created for the consumption of the desires of society.

To a great extent, our society is conditioned to view women as sexual objects, which have led to women being objectified in every sphere of their life, be it the workplace or home, or on the road.

Just because a woman is working late, staying alone, is friendly with the opposite sex, sexually active, drinks or smokes, she should not be a target to be judged, mistreated, or raped. She is not just someone’s wife, partner, girlfriend, daughter, or sister. She is human, and every human being, I believe, is born with the basic right of freedom and dignity.

Sexual objectification and sexism should become a remnant of the past. And with the standards of modern societal development, this should not be only about one gender but about every human being, whether their kind is in the majority or minority, whether they identify as heterosexual or homosexual, whether they follow the gender which was assigned to them at their birth or they have broken themselves free from the expected societal norms and roles attached to their gender.

Breaking Barriers And Building New Ceilings: Reflections On Gender Roles & Societal Norms was originally published in An Injustice! on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Three things I learned about mature people

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Maturity can be seen as the process of becoming better, more skilled, more knowledgeable, or more sophisticated. This is often a sign of growth and development.

Maturity is often used to refer to a person’s feelings and thoughts when they are faced with certain situations. So, it is said that a person has reached his/her maturity level when they have thought through problems and feels capable of handling them.

Some people mature at a faster rate than others, but in general, most people reach maturity by age 25. When this happens, the person becomes more confident about themselves and their ability to handle things.

I have observed that there are three common signs of mature people:

1. Mature people no longer complain about how life is unfair

People who are not mature tend to develop an attitude of complaining. This is because they can’t imagine their life without complaining. It becomes an integral part of their life to the point where it has become a habit. They use it every time they are faced with a situation that makes them frustrated or when they feel unheard. The complaining attitude in them makes sure that they do not let their emotions get in the way of acting on things and instead it lets them out by complaining to someone who will listen.

When you are mature, you find that you are happier with the life you have, and less likely to complain about what is unfair or wrong.

You start to feel gratitude for the things in your life that others would complain about. You feel grateful for your loved ones, friends, and even strangers that are willing to help you when you need it. You start to see the good in everything and realize how lucky you are compared to those who don’t have anything.

A lot of people tend to complain because they think it will help them get what they want. But what these people don’t realize is that by complaining, they’re just worsening their situation because no one wants to work or be in a relationship with a person who complains all the time.

With fewer complaints, everyone wins.

2. Mature people fix problems on their own

When it comes to maturity, self-reliance is the answer. If you want to be mature, you need to be able to do your work independently and still do well. You must have the self-reliance skills that will help you in different situations.

Fixing your problems on your own can be a good thing. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and it strengthens your sense of self-worth. However, some people struggle with the idea of solving their problems because they always want to avoid responsibility, avoid feeling guilty, and so on.

Some people don’t take care of their problems on their own. When they know that there are people out there who can help them, they avoid taking the first step and opt for someone to do the work for them. There is an important lesson in self-reliance, which we all have to learn at some point — that there are no shortcuts in life.

3. Mature people stay calm when things don’t go according to plan

We should not strive for perfection. That’s not always possible, and even if it is, it’s too narrow a goal. And when we keep calm in difficult situations and take one step at a time instead of getting overwhelmed, we achieve more than we would have otherwise.

Maturity shows people how they can handle difficult situations such as work-related stress or pressure. The general advice is to keep calm and composed in any way possible. Staying calm is important for anyone who is dealing with a demanding set of responsibilities at work or home because they help you to stay centred on tasks that need your attention.

Being composed and keeping a clear head is essential for success. One of the most important skills found in a mature person is to have the ability to stay calm and composed in the face of adversity.

It’s not easy to stay calm when things don’t go according to plan. Staying composed is rare, and it takes a lot of energy and effort for people to stay composed in difficult situations. But staying calm is necessary for different sets of situations in life that we come across. When you are feeling frustrated or stressed during a difficult time, take care of yourself by regaining control which can be tried by taking deep breaths. Try not to react too quickly; give your mind time to process what is happening. Take solace in knowing that others have been through what you are going through now.

Three things I learned about mature people was originally published in Dancing Elephants Press on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Things you should never say to your partner: A guide to the loving relationship

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In any relationship, communication is key. But there are some things that you should never say to your partner if you want to maintain a happy and healthy relationship. In this article, I will guide you about what NOT to say in a relationship, and why it’s important to avoid saying these things. By understanding what not to say (and why), you can strengthen your own relationships and avoid potential conflict.

There are some things that you should never say to your partner if you want to maintain a happy and healthy relationship. For example, “You’re lucky I’m even talking to you,” or “I can’t believe you did that. “ These kinds of phrases will only serve to create conflict and tension in your relationship. Instead, try communicating with kindness and respect, even when it’s difficult. It’ll make a world of difference in your relationship dynamic.

Some things are better left unsaid, and can only do harm if said. If you find yourself in a situation where tempers are flared, and words start flying, it’s important to take a step back and think about what you’re about to say.

In my last relationship, I can remember one particular argument we had where everything came to head and we said some really hurtful things to each other. At the moment it felt satisfying to let all my anger out, but afterwards, I realized that those words were permanent and couldn’t be taken back.

You should never threaten to leave your partner.

Why? Because you aren’t communicating to resolve the underlying issues, you are simply trying to get your partner to change their behaviour. The only thing threatening separation or leaving your partner will accomplish is to make them withdrawn and quiet and to avoid conflict. It will not resolve the problem, and in fact, it will likely cause you to get even less attention.

In the end, your partner will see you as weak and will be more likely to act out. Instead of trying to force your partner to change, make it clear that he/she can either work on the problem with you and with your help, or deal with the consequences of his/her behaviour on their own.

Don’t compare your partner by saying: You are unromantic look at them.

How do you compare? According to your age maybe? Are you comparing yourself with them? Don’t. Don’t be “Unromantic”. Be yourself. Be Romantic. A real Romantic. Not a fake.

Don’t compete with others. It only makes you angry, depressed and frustrated. Comparing yourself to others will never help you. The moment you are doing that, you have lost the battle. It is like telling them: I am not good enough for me.

Don’t pretend you are something that you are not.

Those who compare their failures with others’ successes will have many failures.

Never act with a Superiority Complex with your partner.

It’s an easy recipe for disaster. When you feel this emotion, it’s often dangerous. But it can also be funny, as long as it is kept light-hearted.

Never treat your partner with disrespect because of their inability to dominate you. This type of behaviour is toxic, not only because it will bring you an ultimate failure, but because it can really hurt the partner you are trying to dominate. Don’t be a control freak. It is such a turnoff and will lead to nothing good. We have to take the same care and effort in understanding our partners as we do for ourselves.

Listen and listen some more.

We all have heard a million times that the art of communication is communicating without actually speaking. It is in listening to what your partner has to say without any prejudiced opinions or any bias that we need to start listening.

A relationship needs sharing and listening to each other.

While you may be great, your partner needs to know that you are aware they are great, too. While you need to show some competitive spirit, it is not a game of one-upmanship. It’s unique, and that’s what makes it interesting for you and for them. While you may be great, your partner needs to know that you are aware they are great, too.

Never try to show that you are a perfect partner, as it is almost impossible to be one. It is advised not to make promises which you cannot keep, or which can’t be fulfilled. It is not appreciated in any relationship.

Don’t be a ‘know-it-all’ person. Don’t think you are always right.

Avoid complaining about your partner to others. It will only create negativity and make you look mean-spirited. Don’t Treat your partner as a doormat. You do not always come first; your partner has needs too.

Never give up on your partner.

Things you should never say to your partner: A guide to the loving relationship was originally published in Hello, Love on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.