Question

Gender Stereotypes

The perspective with which you view gender can influence both your experience of it and its respective psychology. When you extend your understanding of the psychology of your gender beyond your own experiences, you will begin to fully comprehend the concept of gender and its impact.

Gender stereotypes are often expressed publicly but experienced personally. This assignment will challenge you to think beyond your personal lens and consider the experiences and impact of gender stereotypes from the perspective of the opposite gender.

Using the module readings, the online library resources, and the Internet, research gender stereotypes. Select three authoritative resources to support your responses, one for each of the questions that follow.

Based on your research, respond to the following:

How has scientific research influenced gender stereotypes of the opposite gender?

Which stereotypes of the opposite gender cause the most damage in a child’s perception of his or her future abilities and why?

Which stereotypes have lessened over the years for the opposite gender?

Be sure to address all the questions. Also include a commentary from the perspective of your respective gender. Provide evidence and examples from research in support of your responses.

Answer 1

Stereotyping can be defined as the practice of assigning the specific attributes and roles to people limited by their gender. It can limit the healthy development of the natural talent and abilities of men and women, and effect their personal and professional lives greatly.

Some examples of stereotypes are

1) Men are stronger than women

2) Women are not as smart as men

3) Women should be poised, emotional, accommodating while men should be tough, strong and sporty

Till date there are stereotypes still existing in our society, at home, in office and basically everywhere. Of all people still think men are stronger than women. We still don't see women fighting on the front for their country, they are still feared to be let out of homes too late, at least in some cultures for they are not considered physically strong enough to protect them. You will still find people helping a woman in lifting weights or anything too heavy whereas if a man is seen doing that, they might not bother to help. At least the myth of men being smarter than women does not prevail as much, for women can be seen at the heights of careers everywhere, sports, politics, acting etc. Still, there are many brands still portraying women and sexual beings, with their naked and half naked images to promote their product, it still somehow leaves an impression that women in our societies are still reduced to sexual objects having no grey matter.

How one perceives men and women is socially driven and not biologically driven. Stereotyping can lead to various unhealthy consequences like

• Depression
• Sexual abuse
• Leaving the schools early
• Early marriages
• Poor psychological and physical health

And consequences when boys conform to gender stereotypes:

• Engaging in physical violence to a much greater extent than girls
• Dying more frequently from unintentional injuries
• Being more prone to substance abuse and suicide
• Having a shorter life expectancy than women