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Essay / The influence of social norms on gender inequality
Among the factors that have influenced the appearance of gender inequality in modern society are social norms. Every society around the world has social aspects and practices related to gender. Brownell and Besnier (2013) explain how social norms have largely shaped gender parity. In every society, there are particular characteristics attached to each gender in terms of behavior and fashion of dress. A universal example is high heels. Initially, high heels were intended for men who went hunting on horseback. Women began to wear high heels and gradually men's shoes became lower and eventually flat. In modern society, high heels are seen as a feminine dress code. The uniqueness of the social norm that skirts and dresses are for women while pants are for men is inexplicable. Gender roles can be explained on a sociocultural basis, making gender parity a dynamic element that varies depending on the particular sociocultural norms attached to a particular society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Although social norms and social gender remain ingrained and socially accepted, they have gradually influenced the aspect of gender parity. Gender parity implies equality in numbers and contributions of both sexes within society. The aspect of gender parity advocates for equal contribution of men and women, whether private or public, to the social, economic and political fields. However, social norms, gender stereotypes, rituals and expectations have undermined gender parity. The above-mentioned aspects have catalyzed gender inequality, with one or the other sex making unequal contributions to the other (In Groner & In O'Hara, 2014).