GENDER STEREOTYPES THROUGH APPEARANCE

“Appearance has a lot to do with how we perceive gender and the kind of attributes we assign
to people upon meeting them.”

– Jamison Green
Is it really so or its nothing but stereotype?
• Oh, she is wearing pink, heels, and a lot of jewelry and makeup with curled hair? Must be
a “girly girl”.

• She is wearing baggy pants and an oversized hoodie? Must be a tomboy.

• He’s wearing a dirty, ripped t-shirt and jeans? Must be very manly and tough.

• That male is wearing skinny jeans and a nice polo? And has nicely shaped eyebrows?
Must be gay.
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Speaking
1. Are gender differences mainly because of biology? Or more because of socialization?
2. Beside physical differences, what is different between men and women?
3. Is it possible to be close friends with a member of the opposite sex and have absolutely
no romantic feelings for that person?
4. Should a man hold a door for a woman because she is a woman? Why might this
practice annoy some women?

At work
1. Why are there generally so few women in top positions?
2. Do women face more barriers to succeeding in business than men?
3. Have you ever come across the so-called "glass ceiling" (the point beyond which
women don't get promoted)? Do you think it exists or is it an urban myth? Do you know
of any top managers in your country that are female? What percentage of the total do
you think they are?
4. Would you rather work for a male or female boss?
5. Which gender do you think makes the best bosses? Can you give a reason?

Socially
1. In your country, how do the roles of men and women differ in the family?
2. Which gender spends the most time shopping?
3. Who did most of the housework in the house you were raised? How about if something
needed fixing? Who fixed it?
4. Is one gender unable to "see" unwashed dishes or unmade beds? Is one gender
"overly" concerned with tidiness? What is your experience?
5. Is one gender better at using machines than another? Do you personally like
technology?
6. Is there any difference between the way that men and women drive?
 7. Why do women usually live five years longer than men?
8. As women live five years longer than men, should they retire five years later? Why/why
not?
9. In what aspects of life is it easier being a girl/woman and in what aspects is it easier
being a boy/man?

Children
1. Boys and girls frequently play with different toys. Girls often have dolls and boys often
have toy guns. Is that because they prefer different toys or because we give them
different ones? Does this matter? Should it be encouraged or discouraged?
2. To what extent do you think that the educational system tries to push (or unconsciously
pushes) people into traditionally "female" and "male" roles? Jobs?
3. Which gender do you think studies most?
4. In some countries, the number of female university students outnumbers the number
of male students. What are the implications of this for the future of the labour market?
Of society in general?
5. If you had (or have) children. Should boys and girls be treated differently?
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