"Men and women have different roles to play in modern society." Discuss

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                 “Men and women have different roles to play in modern society.” Discuss

 In the past, men and women generally had their own roles to fulfill. These traditional gender roles were

 the norm back then and, to a certain extent, are still observed today. Men were seen as the breadwinners

 of the family, from whom the family’s main source of income was obtained. Women were in charge of

 the households. This meant household expenses, a child’s upbringing and housekeeping were left to them.

 Now, however, these gender roles are increasingly being challenged.  

 The basis of the argument against fixed gender roles is that it is a product of past ideas which cannot

 apply to modern life. Men and women are created equal, save some physical differences, and hence

 specific roles for men and women apply. To suggest that men and women having different roles to play in

 modern society would seem to be challenging this notion of sexual equality. This, I fear, is open to

 argument.  

 True, the sexual equality revolution that has taken place has dramatically changed the workplace. Where

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 once women were rarely seen in areas such as the offices of major firms and government departments

 they have now become accepted. Women can do tasks just as well as their male counterparts and have

 earnings equal or above their peers. This change did not take place overnight, nor without women facing

 great trials and tribulations. The fact that women today have the option of earning their own keep is an

 achievement.

 To explain, women were previously largely kept out of the workplace because of a lack of education and

 skills. This does not apply today because, unlike ...

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