The shulanite population has a disproportionate ratio between the number of males versus the females due to the
species naturally having a higher birthrate of male offspring. This has affected gender roles and norms, with a strong gender binary, with patriarchal elements, being present.
The concept of separate spheres -one domestic and one public, one feminine and one masculine- is common in shulanite history but has mostly been dismantled especially in the sense of women only being allowed in the public sphere.
Modernly their society has become more egalitarian and has worked at dismantling the patriarchy in their culture but it still peeks through at times, especially in terms of ideals and values which tend to take longer to change and adapt to new philosophies.
Women & Femininity
Women are traditionally seen as precious and rare, and thus valuable and fragile and at risk of harm from non-related men. This has led to a lot of gender segregation and the cloistering of women at home -and thus doing more domestic work- unless a male relative is available to escort them.
Women traditionally are expected to have multiple children and their role as child bearers and mothers are emphasized and celebrated.
It is important to note that while the earlier-mentioned traditions of gender segregation and keeping women at home have mostly been dismantled, the values and ideals surrounding women being domestic and requiring protection as well as the focus on motherhood are still prevalent in their society.
Women are often still associated with domesticity but are modernly also accepted in the public sphere. This has led to women often having to do both domestic and emotional work at home as well as doing work outside of the household.
Women will often have optional gender segregation options that allow them to be separate from men; examples include women-only transportation sections, women-only medical practices that only serve and employ women, and women-only spas and gyms. These have become a bit less common as public life has become more mixed in terms of gender.
Men & Masculinity
Men are traditionally seen as protectors and physical laborers, as well as making up the majority of the political leaders. They are not as valued as female offspring, who are more important in terms of family legacy, but still are important in terms of economics and providing for households. They tend to be more associated with the public and political spheres.
Young men are often seen as troublemakers and threats to young women, as such they are often encouraged to have close relationships with other young men -mostly platonic but sometimes also romantic- as a way of working off such energy until they mature. This idea, especially that of romantic relationships, has led to and affected male homosexual subcultures.
It was also common in traditional polyandrous marriages for men who had been close in their youth -either platonically or romantically- to be married to the same wife.
It is also not uncommon for boys or young men to be castrated, especially if they are from families with a lot of sons or are particularly troublesome. The reasons for doing this are often religious, with Shulanite religious orders often requiring the castration of priests and monks. Castration and those who have gone through it are still associated with masculinity and are seen as a very religious form of masculinity.
Gender Nonconformity & Androgyny
Gender nonconformity and androgyny are more common in modern shulanite culture.
It is more common for males who are gender nonconforming to be more socially accepted due to this having less of an effect on potential reproduction due to their being more men than women.
Gender nonconforming women are less socially acceptable, as it is often seen as a threat to potential reproduction as there are fewer women than men. There is a fear of not enough "suitable" women being available for the large male population.
It is generally the same rules generally for Transgender individuals.
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