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Gender Stereotypes
Gender Stereotypes
Assignment
Women Studies
UOG
2
Gender Stereotypes
Introduce the concept of gender stereotyping. Gendr stereotyping refers to stereotyped images of
males and females. Images of males and females are sometimes difficult to see as stereotypes
because they are strongly connected with deep-seated beliefs about the roles of males and
females in our society. Many people find it disturbing when these roles are questioned.
Walter Lippmann (1992), a journalist, was the first one to use the term "stereotype" in the social
sciences' context. He described stereotype as "pictures in our head". For Lippmann stereotypes
are negative in nature that protects the relative social standing and interests of those who hold
these. "Racism" and “Sexism" are the two main contexts in which stereotypes are mostly held
and applied. Stereotypes not only affect peoples' interpersonal and inter-group relations and
networking; they also affect one's perception of one's own abilities as well as status as members
of a society.
Gender stereotypes are beliefs about the typical characteristics and behaviors of men and women
(Worchel et.al. 2000).
Stereotyping is universal It is cultural phenomenon. Some stereotypes are culture specific,
whereas most are universal. A stereotype can be thought of a schema about member of an
identifiable group (Hamilton, 1979, 1981).
When you see a person, a woman for example, about whom you hold a stereotype, your relevant
stereotype schema is activated. This activation is automatic, like most other schema.
Dependent, submissive,
Assertive, courageous, active, superstitious,
Attitude adventurous, responsible talkative, curious,
irresponsible
Traditional stereotypes imply that women are weak, less capable and dependent upon their male
counterparts.
Direct Instructions:
Parents direct children how to behave and how not to e.g., “Don’t cry Boys! Don’t cry, Are you a
girl?" “Don’t try to fix the switch daughter! Let your brother dot it! It is boy's job."
Education
School and curricula also transmit stereotypical thinking. Teachers teach boys not to act like
girls, as if behaving like a girl is something deplorable. Textbooks portray males as capable and
professional. Females are depicted as non-professional, and usually home bound. Text books
mostly show man as doctors, surgeons, pilots, scientists, lawyers or engineers. Females are
shown to be doing less prestigious jobs like house work or nursing.
5
Fifty percent of the work in fields in done by females in rural areas, but one hardly sees a woman
depicted as a farmer.
Media
Media, especially electronic media play an important role in strengthening stereotypes.
Females are mostly portrayed as mere show pieces, articles of attraction less intelligent (in fact
stupid), talkative, quarrelsome, and cowardly.
Men are shown as brave, intelligent and saviors of women.
Gender roles play a very significant part in Stereotyping
Aggressiveness as a Stereotype
Research shows that men are more aggressive than women; especially in terms of aggressiveness
causing pain or physical injury (Eagly & Steffen, 1986).
Leadership
There is a greater likelihood for men, than women, to emerge as leaders in initially leaderless
groups. This is truer when the groups are short-term, and when they involve tasks not requiring
complex social interaction (Eagly & Karan, 1991). A review of leadership literature revealed that
female leaders as compared to men are:
More likely to adopt a democratic or participative style
Less likely to adopt an autocratic or directive style (Eagly & Johnson, 1990)
The review also provided some indication that women are more likely to use an interpersonally
oriented style, and men are more likely to adopt a task-oriented style.
Stage 2:
About 6 years of age.
The development of indirect associations for behavior associated with gender begins to
develop.
However at this stage associations with only children’s own gender develop and not those
associated with others’.
Stage 3:
About 8-10 years of age.
Indirect associations with not only own, but the other gender have been learnt.
An 8-10 year old is capable of stereotypical judgments concerning men as well as
women. (Martin, hood, and Little, 1990)