Society's Influence on Gender Roles

http://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians/articles/gender-roles-in-the-19th-century
I happened to come across this article on 19th century gender roles in my sociology class earlier today, and it struck me as something especially notable, considering the content of today's class. 

I felt this resonated with a few of the discussions raised in class regarding gender roles.Society inscribes a fine line between the role of a woman and the role of a human. Traits have traditionally been pinned upon genders throughout history, often illustrating the direction that notable figures of society have taken. As individuals, we establish our own personality throughout the experiences that form us into who we are, but I have always been curious as to how much society's influence on us, as genders, comes to change who we inevitably become.

One may claim that the person they have matured into was a result from their own choices, their own decisions, or their own actions - and that's very true, however our preordained identity has much to do with the current state of society. When we make our decisions, they are often heavily effected by the impact of what that decision ultimately does. In a society that frequently punishes and praises certain acts, we are really made to comply. Not through force, or restriction, but by choice.

For example, murder is an action that is heavily condemned in modern society. Visualize a world that praises the savagery of murder, and punishes the act of mercy. These social stigmas would play a massive role in the human beings that we would become, dramatically effecting our thoughts, interactions, and perspectives towards others, and also ourselves. Today's social statuses are comparatively more tame when compared to the killing of others, but we do have social issues that are playing a great role in the development of our minds.

When establishing the importance of equality, especially in gender, it's important to realize just how massive this particular issues is, as every human possesses a gender. Both men and women acquire negative personality effects from an unbalanced society, and it seems that feminism is the most vocal movement in establishing some sense of equality, accomplishing beautiful strides of civil respect along these last 100 year. I am very curious to see what benefits come from equalizing the environment through which future minds may be raised in.