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Persuasive Prompt 2

In today’s society, the blatantly sexist gender roles assigned to women such as innocence,

naivety, and obedience are some of the main contributors to sexism. However, the societal

gender roles given to men also reinforce sexism. Much like women who are predisposed to

leadership, men who are more submissive are teased in many niches of the world culture.

Likewise, men who are more emotionally expressive than others are ostracized and taught to be

less emotionally sensitive. Once, in 10th grade, I was hit hard with a wave of depression. When

relationship issues and academic stress built up to an overwhelming point, I had a depressive

episode and cried in front of my parents. My mother understood and comforted me but my father

scolded me for crying and for expressing my emotions. In this way, men are taught to push down

their emotions. This directly causes them to be less sensitive to others’ emotions and reinforces

the opposite gender roles in women as well.