Source: Image of Cowboys, Public Domain, http://mrg.bz/7PAfsP Image of Beauty Queen, Public Domain, http://mrg.bz/X3h2kk
Hi, I'm Julie Tietz, and welcome to Conflict Resolution, putting the pieces together. Today, we're going to talk about masculine and feminine traits as it relates to cultural identity. Each culture ascribes specific traits to men which are considered masculine traits and feminine traits, which are ascribed to females, so how men and women are supposed to behave according to their gender. Although there are these two dichotomies of gender traits, we need to know that as humans, we have capability to act on all of these types of traits regardless of our gender.
Here are a few examples of masculine traits that are appropriate or related to the United States culture. So men or masculine traits are supposed to be emotionally stable and graceful competitive, risk-taking, rebellious, competent. I'll have you pause and read these over and see if you can add a few more yourselves.
These are a list of feminine traits that are considered appropriate according to United States culture. So being dependent, passive, graceful, weak, insecure are all considered feminine traits appropriate to females in the United States culture. Again, I'll have you pause and look these all over closer and see if you can add a few more of your own.
If we act within our prescribed traits according to our gender, so feminine or masculine, that means we are being gender appropriate according to our culture or the groups that we belong to. If, let's say, we act outside or assume roles that are outside of our cultural gender traits, we would be considered gender inappropriate. There are also gender neutral traits within cultures, so for example, seeking attention or gaining esteem or having esteem are all considered gender neutral, and so it's OK for both males and females to act upon these traits or to possess these certain traits.
If we act outside of our gender appropriate traits and lean into gender appropriate behavior, we could be or our culture could have negative interpretations of that behavior. So for example, in the United States, men are supposed to be tough and emotionally strong, and if they're seen crying, that could have a negative interpretation and they could be viewed as being too emotional and weak, whereas let's say there is an assertive woman within the United States culture, and she is out there and stating what she wants and is being direct, she could be considered pushy and forceful, and that is a negative interpretation of her. And if we act wrongly or outside of our proscribed gender traits, then this can also have an impact on conflict.
So for example, going back to the assertive woman, maybe we aren't used to having a woman that is so direct in our communication, and we then take that as this is completely out of the norm. She's too pushy and forceful. And we may then create a conflict with her because we choose not to listen to her or take her direction, and this is all based upon interpretations of behavior. She may not be pushy and forceful, but rather is taking on certain roles that are supposed to go along with her job, let's say.
Let's look at our key points on masculine and feminine traits before we go. Each culture identifies some traits to women and men more strongly, so there are masculine and feminine traits. Although they do this, as human beings, we have the ability to act or take on either of those traits.
And when we go outside of our prescribed gender traits, it can be deemed gender inappropriate to our culture, so we are not acting in a way that is normal or proper for our gender. There are also gender neutral traits within cultures, so traits in which both men and women can take on and is accepted by that culture. And if we display wrong traits, outside of our gender, it can lead to conflict or impact conflict.
Here are your key terms before we go. Feel free to pause and look at them a little bit closer. Thank you so much for taking the time out, and I can't wait to catch you again next time.