In this final reflective portfolio, I am going to talk about gender. I believe that all genders
are equal. Everyone deserves the same chance and opportunity in all fields. For example, all
genders should have the opportunity to pursue higher education and receive equal treatment in the
workplace.
I was raised in a community where patriarchy strongly shaped gender roles. Growing up, I
often see how opportunities and responsibilities were unequally divided between men and women.
For instance, In the patriarchal system, it is believed that men hold more power both in the family
and in society. They were expected to be the breadwinners, decision-makers, and leaders. On the
other hand, women were expected to stay at home, take care of the children, and obey their
husbands. This perception in society limited many women to reach their dreams and goals. Some
people believed that there is no reason for women to pursue higher education when ultimately, she
will stay at home with her children and husband. These societal expectations made it difficult for
women to access the same opportunities as men.
I have also noticed misogynistic attitudes in my workplace. In particular, the belief that
women are "too emotional" to have authority. People thought that they could not handle the
responsibilities of being a leader while balancing the focus on her family. Compared to men, who
can fully commit to their careers with no other obligation at home.
As a result, power and privilege were mostly given to men, and women’s voices were often
ignored. Power and privilege are often unspoken, but they are built into the way our social works,
such as: in the structures, systems, and institutions of society (Mery, 2025, Slide 6). As an example,
in the workplace, men are more likely to be taken seriously. They get promoted faster, and are
trusted with important decisions, even when women have the same or better qualifications.
However, my family hold a more modern and open-minded view of gender. We believe
that gender does not determine what someone can or cannot do. Everyone has their own
responsibilities, both women and men participate, dividing chores equally. We also support one
another to pursue our education, believing it is important for everyone, regardless of gender. In our
family, all opinions matter despite their gender and age: from women, men, or even younger
members.
Nevertheless, we are not completely free from stereotypes. Stereotyping means simplifying
and organizing information to make sense of the world. However, it can lead to harmful
generalizations (Mery, 2025, Slide 14). One common stereotype in my community is that boys
should not express their emotions. From my experience, I have never seen my father cry in my
entire life.
I believe limiting people’s opportunities based on their gender is false. No one should be
judged or held back due to their beliefs of what men and women should do. Gender should never
determine a person’s value, ability, or future. From what I have experienced, I have learned that
these stereotypes, misogynistic views, and patriarchal system of power and privilege continue to
harm people, specifically women. While I am grateful that my family supports equality and have
an open-minded thinking, I also recognize that harmful ideas still exist in my community.
References
Mery, L. (2025). 3.1 COMM16117 Module 3. [Lecture Notes]. SLATE.
https://slate.sheridancollege.ca/d2l/le/content/1387127/viewContent/17977059/View
Mery, L. (2025). 3.2 COMM16117 Week 9. [Lecture Notes]. SLATE.
https://slate.sheridancollege.ca/d2l/le/content/1387127/viewContent/17987103/View