This table from module 9 was also a game changer for me when it comes to perception of gender roles across different cultures. This was a module I did with my fiancé was raised in a traditional American household, so I figured it would be interesting to see and discuss what I perceived as a proper gender role being raised in a middle eastern household, compared to hers.

Our responses were similar in the majority, it really just differed in the doctor and lawyer spectrum. We discussed these findings, and she expressed that women are better doctors for their caring and nurturing characteristics and that they make better lawyers because of those same attributes, and their drive to express and convince others may help as a lawyer.

I disagreed because I believed that the lack of emotional attachment that men may have may actually help in those two roles because it may keep them focused on the end goal.

I liked this this module because it brought awareness to myself that in the middle eastern culture, emotional caring and nurturance is not seen as a male strength, and is rather seen a weakness to have. So in turn when I thought of those two professions where often it can be life or death, or a fight for freedom, I saw women (being emotional creatures stereotypically) as being not as fit for the role, when in reality they gender has nothing to do with the ability to complete either job.

Ironically we both agreed on other gender biased jobs, when really, either male or female could do and in reality they do all the time, those specific occupations.