Sexual roles and inequality
Every year, 600,000 Americans die from heart disease. Almost 60 percent of them are men.
Why are men more prone to heart attacks than women? Some theories focus on purely physical aspects( malnutrition or hereditary predisposition to heart disease).Doctors Meyer Friedman and Ray X. Rosen-men express another opinion: perhaps, the cause of heart attacks are certain patterns of behavior. They argue that people most prone to heart disease are characterized by "type A" behavior. This behavior resembles a parody of a typical American businessman: ambitious, energetic, possessed by the desire to succeed, is gripped by the desire to reach the heights of success."Type A" is often angry and unfriendly, he assesses the successes of others more in number than in the quality of achievements.
Friedman and Rosenman argue that the characteristics of this behavior form physical factors that contribute to heart disease. They contribute to the fact that the body increases the content of certain fats and hormones, under the influence of which the blood cells after eating become "sticky." This slows the flow of blood, increases the likelihood of a heart attack
"Type A" behavior is more common in men than in women. This is due not only to biological differences between the sexes, but also to different cultural perceptions about the behavior of men and women: "Men must be prepared for competition, women are inclined to cooperate." Men may be impatient;Women should have unlimited patience, men can be critical, women should always agree and support, men are allowed to hurry and worry, women always have time to receive guests and chatter and are able to skillfully create an atmosphere of mutual support and sympathy.men can be angry, women should never be angry or at least not have the right to show it. Men attach importance to external indicators of success - wealth, status, promotion;women should be satisfied only with the knowledge of well-done work. "
Although these stereotypes are still stable, they began to deteriorate due to the more active participation of women in competition, characteristic of the economic life of America.
Based on this, Friedman and Rosenman suggest that the behavior of "type A" will be more characteristic of women than before, and accordingly their susceptibility to heart disease will increase.
Do you consider "Type A"?
Check which qualities listed below are more or less characteristic of you:
1. I always think and do more than one thing at a time;I do not seem to have enough time to do what I have planned.
2. I would not notice a new picture in the reception of my office;I rarely stop to enjoy the sunset or the beauty of the surrounding nature.
3. I become impatient if I have to stand in line or go with a slow driver.
4. If I want the case to be well done, I have to do it myself.
5. I create a cult from punctuality.
6. I can not sit idly by.
7. In any game, I always try to win, even playing with my child.
8. I tend to evaluate the success( my own and others) in the number of completed cases( the number of patients examined, written articles, concluded deals).
9. I am impatient when I see that others are doing a job that I could do better or faster.
10. When I say, I gesticulate;it is difficult for me to control myself.
We all have some of these qualities, only a few can be attributed to the absolute "type A".But if you find yourself in more than half of these characteristics, consider that you have a "type A" behavior.
Studying stereotypes of behavior peculiar to men and women makes it easy to understand how conditions create in the society that promote inequality of men and women. Among men, the assimilation of behavioral patterns of "type A" was encouraged;An energetic, competitive entrepreneur usually derives more benefits. In the past, the passivity of women was rewarded;Therefore, when women violate this stereotype and manifest behavior of "type A", they are encouraged to a lesser extent - when they acquire influence or power, they are considered "unfeminine".