Oct 11, 2009
The Social Role Theory: Why we do what we do!
Why do we criticize the 12-year-old that wears too much make-up? Or the old man that hangs out at singles bars? And why was it even an issue that basketball star Troy Bolton joined his High School's Musical? These questions may seem to have blatant answers, but do they really? In psychology, the Social Role Theory is one of many theories that concerns human development and accounts for why we act the way we do at different ages. This is a subject that I have been recently intrigued by. So in the next few weeks, I will blog about new things that I read concerning explanations of behavior at different ages for different genders, as proposed by the Social Role Theory. This topic is interesting because it concerns everyone: it (attempts to) explain why I am diligently completing my assignments now, why I will go for a run afterwards, why I am dressed in a particular way -- the list goes on. So in a narrower sense, I'd like to investigate stereotypes of females in Western culture and examine how prevalent social role expectancies are in today's generation. Through this I will ask several questions: How do stereotypes change and differ from young to old age? Where did these expectations originate? In what institutions or settings are they most present? These questions, I hope, will allow me to achieve a more thorough understanding of my topic of specific focus.
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I really appreciate that you will examine stereotypes from both cultural and psychological viewpoints. In my opinion, society sets impossible standards for women. It is no easy feat being a woman in contemporary society. If one is "too girly," then many people will not take her seriously. On the other hand, if one is "too masculine" she is criticized for her lack of feminine charm. How can a young woman discover her true talents and passions if she is constantly confronted by often conflicting societal expectations? I am very excited to learn how these stereotypes and expectations originated. They have always been a huge part of the society I live in; I want to know how they came to inescapably influence so much of my life as a young woman.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great topic. You can join a disciplinary conversation within developmental psychology about the merits of social role theory vs. other theories of development, and you can take a unique cultural approach as well. The focus on gender roles and stereotypes in Western cultures remains a bit too broad, but it is a fine place to begin your research I think. I'm eager to learn more!
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