Growing Up Male or Female in America Essay

Total Length: 700 words ( 2 double-spaced pages)

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Growing Up Male or Female in America

Although the status of women in America has improved significantly in the recent past, women in today's American society still face a number of unique challenges. Growing up female in America thus still remains relatively challenging. This text highlights why girls in today's American society still face greater challenges than their male counterparts and how the situation is likely to unfold going forward. Further, the text offers suggestions on how the gender-related challenges facing children as they grow up can be eased.

Growing up Male of Female in America

According to Seeman, it can be argued "that girls face certain challenges in early adolescence that boys do not face" (77). A number of reasons can be presented in support of this assertion. One of the reasons that have been brought forward for this has got to do with the existing gender differences especially in regard to aggressiveness and/or assertiveness. In general terms, boys tend to be more assertive and aggressive than girls. Indeed, in the opinion of Seeman, it is their less aggressive style of interaction that makes girls more prone to depression than boys (77).

Secondly, it can also be noted that girls are more prone to sexual abuse than their male counterparts.
To highlight the seriousness of the issue, Finkelhor et al. (qtd. In Seeman 79) point out that "girls are two to three times more likely than boys to be the victims of sexual abuse." This is yet another indication that growing up in America remains more challenging for a girl than it is for a boy. Indeed, in the opinion of Seeman, this also remains one of the reasons cited for the increasing depression rates amongst girls (79).

Next, it is important to note that due to perceived gender roles, parents tend to utilize different approaches to parenting when bringing up boys and girls. In a way, parents tend to be more restrictive towards girls than they are to boys. According to Block (qtd. In Seeman 78), the level of independence given to boys by parents is significantly higher….....

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