Problems associated with gender in Kenyan society

When a baby is born, he or she ends up being taught different sets of behaviours. There are different roles to be played by boys and girls, and how the two genders should behave and act. In most African communities, boys are taught to act and behave differently from girls.

A boy is taught things such as sports, how to be competitive and self reliant. He is also supposed to be strong and not to cry when hurt.

Boys are taught that this is the masculine gender role and it is how they are supposed to behave and live. Boys become men by finally crossing over from childhood to adulthood through circumcision.

On the other hand, girls also have their own roles to play; behave differently from boys and are expected to act in a certain way. They are taught housekeeping, how to co-operate and please others. They are taught to be soft; if someone is hurt they are expected to comfort them and make them feel better.

Girls are also expected to be emotional because it is part of their nature, especially when their heart is broken compared to boys who are not expected to cry.

Typically, the people who don't act as the society expects them to, might be discriminated against. If parents raise their children without imposing any of society's gender boundaries, we would have everyone with basic life capabilities.

A boy can embrace what the world calls feminine, like cooking, and still remain a man. What a boy can do, a girl can also do it better and vice versa.