Introduction
So far we’ve looked at how groups have different beliefs, values and practices based on where they come from or what they believe in. But sometimes in
Australia people are expected to behave a certain way depending on if they are a man or a woman.
Australia people are expected to behave a certain way depending on if they are a man or a woman.
Historical Gender Roles
Today men and women are treated quite fairly, but this hasn’t always been the case. Remember how women didn’t get to vote in Australia intil 1908? Well that’s not the only example of men and women being treated differently. Traditionally, men are seen as providers who go out and work to look after their family. In the meantime, women stayed at home and cooked, cleaned and cared for the children. There’s nothing wrong with this,but for a long time people didn’t have a choice. Women were only allowed to do certain jobs and they didn’t get paid as much as men, this meant that even if a man wanted to stay at home and care for the children, in most cases a family could’t afford it.Today we areallowed to work where ever we want - it doesn’t matter if we are a boy or a girl.
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Cultural Gender Roles
Traditional gender roles are different in other cultures too. As we found out earlier, Australia is made up of many cultures, some of thesecultures have different rules, practices and expectations for men and women.
Some groups have specific types of clothes for men and women.
Islamic women often wear a headscarf, sometimes called a ‘naqib’.
Other cultures have gender-specific practices. Some Aboriginal boys still go ‘walkabout’, a spiritual journey following the paths of their ancestors.
People’s cultural or religious group, as well as their gender play a part in what they believe and what they do. Can you think of anything that you do because you are a boy or a girl?
Some groups have specific types of clothes for men and women.
Islamic women often wear a headscarf, sometimes called a ‘naqib’.
Other cultures have gender-specific practices. Some Aboriginal boys still go ‘walkabout’, a spiritual journey following the paths of their ancestors.
People’s cultural or religious group, as well as their gender play a part in what they believe and what they do. Can you think of anything that you do because you are a boy or a girl?
Change
Gender roles change over time. In Australia we aim for gender equality, that is, everyone has the same rights no matter what gender they are. Men and women are still very different, but one is not more important than the other.
Activities
Brainstorm
Think of all the differences between boys and girls from when we are babies right up until adulthood.
Changing Gender Roles
Read what Mrs Bessie Dingo has to say about her roles in her younger years here.
Bessie’s experiences happen after European arrival. Use the provided table to compare and contrast the roles of Aboriginal women before and after European arrival.
Bessie’s experiences happen after European arrival. Use the provided table to compare and contrast the roles of Aboriginal women before and after European arrival.
Family Interview
Investigate the childhood of one woman and one man in your family. Write a paragraph about what you learned for each.