The Importance Of Gender Stereotypes

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Gender is a large part of our identity. Those differences are reflected in many gender stereotypes (Iowa 2015). People are expected to act according to their gender. Most aspects of our lives are based on these specific gender stereotypes and can mold our futures. Gender stereotypes make us believe that we all have to follow a specific role in life. These stereotypes make us believe that we have to fit into a certain mold. It starts from an early age and is pushed onto us throughout the years. Culture does have some impact on the stereotypes also. Certain cultures still believe that women need to stay home and take care of the children while the men work and pay the bills.
Gender stereotypes start early. Even before a child is born, parents …show more content…

Once boys reach their pre-teens the teasing starts to get worse and even can progress to bullying. For instance, if he shows he likes ballet he most likely will be called names such as, "sissy" or "wimp". Young men may be labeled gay and even possibly get pushed around.
Men are generally thought to be competent, assertive, independent, masterful and achievement oriented (Eisenchlas 2013). Men are believed to be the "breadwinners" in a family unit. If they are not they may feel inadequate. If a man's wife makes more than he does he may feel like less of a man due to society stating he is to make the money. When a man goes into a female-dominated career he gets looked down upon by other men and women alike. He is not considered to be a real man if he does "simple" jobs meant for a woman.
These gender stereotypes are slowly fading yet, we are not quite to the point where we as a society completely accepts the changes. We are typically raised to believe that men and women are different from each other and therefore should not be doing the same jobs and having the same interests. It all starts at home yet society pushes the stereotypes even

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