Gender roles navigate our lifes and affect our decisions without our realisation, because we consider them as self-evident. I researched the perception of femininity in Upper Savinja region with nine women of different generations. In Upper Savinja region, which is predominantly rural setting, are expectations of women still substantially linked to traditional role of women. Gender inequality manifests itself especially when it comes to division of work in families. Women perform mojority of childcare and domestic work, while men´s participation is understood as helping women. We can conclude, that family has the most important part in maintenance of traditional gender roles. Women integradted patterns from primary family and internalised messages which they have been receiving at young age. Therefore women of middle and older generation perceive femiminity mostly in context of family, while women of young generation focus on more individual values. The process of social change is already visible, however women, which don´t meet social standards, often face social disapproval. I believe, that we should endeavour not only for gender equality, but also for women´s freedom and ability to reject roles and identities in which society forces her. But first, we have to acknowledge, which those roles and identities are. It´s necessary to encurage social discourse about gender roles in Upper Savinja region, that would contribute to greater gender equality. I believe we all have the right to develop our potentials without the burdens and limitations of normative frames.
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