Gender roles have been a commonality in society for ages, placing a set precedent for many youths to follow. However, these roles are outdated in today’s world, and limit what a person can achieve purely based on the gender they were born as.

Starting at a young age, advertisements push boys towards certain toys, such as action figures and cars, while girls are steered in the opposite direction. While some may argue that this is less prominent in today’s society, research shows that less than two percent of the Sears catalog in 1975 was specifically gendered. On the other hand, by 1995,  50% of the Sears catalog was labelled explicitly for boys or girls.

Also, during adolescent years, when the pressure to ‘fit in’ is most prominent, many kids are afraid to embrace their personality because of institutionalized gender roles. For example, 50% of teenagers experience some form of peer pressure, whether it is in regards to social life or relationships.

In addition, as kids turn into young adults, many are steered in the direction of choosing a job that is deemed acceptable for their gender. Career goals and further education are usually considered top priority for men, while optional for women. This is evident in the wage gap, which grants women less money than men, despite being able to have the same positions and educational opportunities.

For some women, the responsibility of children often takes precedence over careers. For example, 27% of women say they have had to quit their jobs to take care of familial duties, while only 10% of men can say the same.

Junior Meghana Vonguru says, “I don’t understand why men are held on a higher pedestal than women when there are women in the same positions as them, or even higher. There are women running for president, but people still cannot fathom the idea of a woman in a position of authority.”

While some may argue that gender roles help society function by allotting specific positions to specific groups, they should also keep in mind that it pressures people to conform their personality to what society tell them.

Sophomore Jason Raman comments, “I do not think the world needs gender roles because women and men have the same skill sets and the same capabilities.”

Gender roles limit a person’s possible achievements by placing irrelevant responsibilities on their lives, simply based on who they were born as. Both genders are capable of the same skill sets, and should not have to distort who they are to fit society’s definition of ‘acceptable.’