Social Norms

Social Norms

As a term, “social norms” can have a variety of understanding and interpretations. However, the present purposes insist that these differences in definitions do not bear any significance because it is easier to depend upon the conventional understandings. Still, if a definition is a necessity, then it can be said that social norms refer to the approving and disapproving social attitudes that specify what must be done and what should not be done (Bicchieri, 2017). Social norms exist in all areas of the society with norms about dating, littering, smoking, when to stand and sit, and when to express anger, how and why to express it. Social norms are there for every aspect of human behaviour.

It is common to hear the response “it isn’t done” to certain conducts even when the relevant “it” is already done. Such attitudes exceptionally span on a wide range and may or may not maintain themselves because of the reflective judgements Bicchieri (2017), observes that a social norm can count regardless of whether or not people have thought deeply about the sense it makes. Some norms set proper manners such as holding of one’s fork while others reflect on the views that are morally abhorrent such as the taboo in interracial relations. Sometimes, these norms are codified in the law.

Gender roles denote social norms and behaviours that are believed to appropriate for individuals based on specific sex. According to the research which was carried out in the U.S. on the families and work institutes in the year 2008, it shows that gender roles tend to vary both at home as well as at work. Both young men and women are adopting new positions, an act that challenges the expectations of traditional genders (Issitt, 2018). There is also a debate about the biological and environmental causes of the emergence of gender roles. In this paper, we shall address the effects of gender roles in our life, which gender roles are preferable between the current and the traditional gender roles, and finally, compare the pros and cons of the discussed views.

The extent to which people perceive their gender roles has a significant variance based on the relevance of the careers pursued in life. Most of the substantial variation in gender roles is noticed when both women and men enter in job fields. In some cases, women tend to earn more than men. Taking an example of the mothers in the marriage tends to move their gender focus from background to foreground sharp focus (Issitt, 2018). Some of the effects resulting from gender roles are; it makes people shifting their gender roles an irritant, gender roles have significant effects to the foreigners feeling since gender roles vary in different countries, and also gender roles possess a great burden to people entering into marriages in the process of adopting new parental roles.

The current gender roles are preferable since it does not discriminate work roles based on genders. Traditional gender roles specified the duties which were meant for mothers such as domestic chores, e.g., cooking where men were supposed to handle more tedious tasks, but in the current world, bother genders can share roles sh as hunting, gathering, etc., without indicating duties for a particular sex.

Gender roles have gone through several alterations. Traditionally men were the breadwinner of the families, but in today’s society, most women earn more incomes as compared to men (Issitt, 2018). In these cases, women can become financially independent. Traditionally, men used to beat their wives, but in today’s world, there is an anti-violent movement that prevents violence against women.

Social sanctions enforce social norms by creating a range of unpleasant and sometimes pleasant emotions of the minds of the persons that violate them. The disapproval of the public produces embarrassment and the desire to hide when a person behaves in a way that is contrary to the set social norms. Sometimes, the emotions that spark from the disapproval concerning the social norms may prove extremely harmful to a person and the consequences significantly damaging (Bicchieri, 2017). The above points insist that the choice among options is not only a function of the intrinsic value of that option but also the reputational benefit or the cost of the choice and also the effects that come with the choice on the self-conception of one.

Social norms entail a set of unwritten rules by society dictating what is expected of people. Social roles, on the other hand, entail positions in the society that are shaped by social norms but not entirely depend on them. Together, social norms and social roles act to make up the overall character of a person in society. All these comprise the societal culture that influences the behaviour of people.