Gender roles

1. Gender roles
Lack of clarity on gender roles has been seen as having a negative impact on productivity at the workplace. The roles of a child, a spouse, and a parent can be seen as gender neutral, whereas the roles of a daughter or a son, a wife or a husband, and a mother or a father can be seen as gender specific. Since each of us are made up of both our mother and father, we are made up of both the gender mindsets. It is best for one to commit to one’s Swadharma (context appropriate responsibilities by virtue of one's scenario specific identities) by prioritizing one’s gender neutral role over one’s gender specific role, while taking due precautions that both oneself and the ‘other’ are happy in the long run. Extreme cravings for the ‘other’ in the gender context could lead to incestual behaviours, while extreme aversions for the ‘other’ in the gender context could lead to homosexual tendencies; one becomes miserable in the swing between cravings and aversions. Love is beyond cravings and aversions and Yoga is said to help one attain Love that encompasses all.

2. Elders, here in India, have expressed concern over the prevalence of ‘girlfriend’ and ‘boyfriend’ culture in the society; as far as my friends are concerned, I have maintained that they are my ‘friends first’ and female or male later.
In the West, ‘boyfriend-girlfriend’ relationship is celebrated as the Valentine’s day, while the Karva Chauth festival in India can be seen as celebrating the husband-wife relationship. Also in India, brother- sister relationship is celebrated as the Rakhsha Bandhan festival. It would be ideal if all the relationships are celebrated by giving them their due place.
'Marriage' can be seen as formally acknowledging one's commitment to one's better half in terms of new roles such as a spouse and an in- law in addition to the continuing role of a son or a daughter as well as a potential future role of a parent; thus, marriage can be seen as signalling the beginning of one's commitment towards propagating the human race by planning a 'family', the fundamental unit of society.
Enough arguments have been fought in the name of 'father-tongue' vs. 'mother-tongue' and 'fatherland' vs 'motherland' and it is the best interests of family and humanity that have suffered. Time to broaden one's vision.