What Are Gender Stereotypes?

As we’ve grown up, we have been taught that there are certain things that only boys can do and certain things that only girls can do. Things like the colors that children wear, the toys they play with and even the clothes they wear are stereotyped. Gender stereotypes affect both men and women, some in similar ways and some in very different ways. Many people don’t know what a gender stereotype is, how what we say about gender in Western culture differs from what is actually true, the stereotypes that are actually scientifically proven to be factual, or how some Native American tribes accepted tribal members differing from their biological gender.

Behavior that is defined as masculine, things like physical strength, control over emotions and being a good provider, differs quite a bit from behavior that is defined as feminine, like dependency, expression of emotions, and nurturing and maternal instincts (Kazdin 430). Things like the kind of toys you play with as a child and the type of clothes you wear can all turn into a gender stereotype. Toys for boys are much different from toys for girls. For boys, toys are dark colored and have a “tool-of-terror” function of some sort involved, but for girls they’re frilly and often have caretaking as an underlying function (Turgeon). For girls, playing with G.I. Joes and Hot Wheels isn’t considered “normal” and you’ll be labeled a tom-boy or even a dyke. For boys, playing with Easy-Bake Ovens or Barbies isn’t considered the social norm and can lead to gender stereotypes like being homosexual. In addition, parents usually raise male and female children differently. Girls and boys are taught to be completely different when it comes to emotions, dependency, and competitiveness, and are often gi...

... middle of paper ...

...4. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.

H., Susan. "6 Absurd Gender Stereotypes (That Science Says Are True)." Cracked.com. 10 May 2010. Web. 16 May 2014. .

Kazdin, Alan E. Encyclopedia of Psychology. Vol. 3. Washington, DC.: American Psychological Association, 2000. 430-41. Print.

Magenya, Sheena. "Who makes the news? Results of the Global Media Monitoring Project 2010." Sister Namibia 22.1 (2010): 24. Global Issues In Context. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.

Turgeon, Wendy C. "The Persistence of Gender Stereotypes in the 21st century and what we can do about it." viterbo.edu. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. .

"Why Gender." Gender. Web. 25 Apr. 2014. .