What I found to be the most interesting connection to me regarding gender roles was that of the distinction between boys' learning communication skills with that of girls. Looking back through my early childhood I too suffered through the same life "struggles" which most boys do. I was usually at home, playing with my toys while dad was at work or school. However, I think something that helped my communication skills (not public speaking unfortunately) was that I grew up with an extended nuclear family. My mom's parents as well as all of my dad's family lived within an half hours drive and were always accessible. During the verbal formative year we actually lived with my grandparents and my aunt (an elementary school teacher). As per the greatest contributor to my quicker than normal adoption of speaking I will never know, but which ever it was ... I feel that it would have some rooting in the emphasis that my family holds for education in general. Discussion is held on every family decision, ...
             I apologize for that bit of a free write
             Society, particularly media has engrained certain gender stereotypes in our minds. This was much more apparent or rather forced in the "golden age of television" with the mom, dad, kids nuclear family. The Brady Bunch is a prime example, the dad went to work, the mom stayed home (with some help from Alice). It was from a few edgier sitcoms that the image of broken and "modern families" emerged, that of single parents, adopted parents, and sibling parents (90s Party of Five). Likewise, the duel working household emerged with the Cosby show. Such deviations from the Ozzy and Hariet days has made it more acceptable and hence more common for different family structure and likewise the gender roles.
             Take the Cosby show for instance. There is a father, a doctor. This is nothing surprising really. But having the two working home is, more so, a mother who is an attorney ... a professiona...