Title: Culture - Gender Roles
Headings: Gender Roles
Appearance and Culture
Language and Culture

Content: Not long after women began working outside the home, pants and trousers, typically worn by men, became popular among females. They symbolized women's new found ground in the workforce and fostered a new era for the working woman. Although cultures may differ, especially between the Kalabari culture and the American culture, it's clear that women are altering their dress and appearance in hopes of expanding their gender roles. Language and Culture
Language, an integral part of culture, shares a relationship with the reinforcement of traditional gender roles. Research has found that the meaning of words and their placement in religious text or cultural sayings affect how women and men view their roles and status in society. In Ghana, specifically within the Akan community, proverbs are seen as traditional, communal beliefs that are important in teaching others how to live a full and enriching life. They are essentially, what binds the Akan people to their culture. However, these old proverbs have established and reinforced traditional, stereotypical gender roles that have fostered negative views about women. Diabah and Appiah Amfo (2014) found that Akan women are still considered to be quite inferior to male dominance, engaging in submissive behaviors around the home, and tending to their children. These researchers argue that the emphasis on proverbs has reinforced male superiority and stifled Akan women’s progress toward more independence and participation in other roles within society.