Since from an early age I've learned about gender roles from my parents I decided I wanted to take a closer look at the roles my parents had in my life of forming my views of gender. Growing up I had a very stable home, and I'm very thankful for that. However I was very young, around two or three, both of my parents had to work to support ourselves. My dad would work during the day and my mom would work during the night. Then when I was in about 4th grade my dad got a better job so my mom was able to stay at home. I liked all the attention I got. I started to notice that nobody in my family respected what mom did as she stayed at home. My dad's job was the one that paid for our food, school, clothes, and all the other things we wanted to do so what he did was well respected by both my brother and I while we ignored what my mom did. I think this is one of the reasons I feel the need to go into business and get a good job. This is so I know I'll be productive. I think in this way my parents are examples of gender stereotypes.
I think in some ways though my parents don't agree with stereotypes. My dad doesn't like making decisions so for a lot of major decisions in our family it is decided by my mom. Also my mom is in charge of our family's financials and paying the bills. My dad also helps my brother with his homework, and takes him to school. I think seeing how my parents fall into some stereotypes and break others shows me that you don't have to be a cookie cutter of what the stereotypes say you should be.
