Question

What are ways that gender and age can be variables that potentially can hold someone back or get in the way? What stereotypes did you grow up with and how did you find that potentially limiting? What are some ways to decrease any limitations self-imposed or learned through families/friends to set yourself free of any gender or age barriers?

Answer 1

There are many ways by which gender and age can be the variables that potentially can hold someone back or get in the way of progress. When gender is considered as a limiting factor or variable capable of holding someone back from the attainable goal of establishing one's self as a successful achiever in any realm, females are the less fortunate ones. Though we have female astronauts, leaders, scientists, engineers, etc., it is still a taboo for a female to walk in the streets at midnight or live without a male counterpart. Those females who live all by themselves will be isolated, especially in religious settings. When age is considered, generally people are not supposed to work after 60 years. It is a norm to consider them as seniors and let them have a peaceful life, which mostly result in loneliness and anxiety/depression from this. I have seen the female stereotypes like the perfect mother, perfect daughter, perfect wife, etc who should lead a submissive life, who don't even have the freedom to question any atrocity. To decrease any limitations, self-imposed or learned through families/friends and to set one's self free of any gender or age barriers, first thing one should do is to break those barriers and to do what shouldn't be done.