“The problem with gender is that it prescribes how we should be, rather than recognizing how we are.” -Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Gender stereotypes have existed before we were even born. Take history, for an example, where women were not allowed to vote because they were considered to be only house wives and mothers. Or even today, when you walk past a teenager your age and overhear them say “all Asian women are bad drivers”. Gender stereotypes exist throughout all of society, but they start at an early age. The toy store is a part of every child’s life, but the toy store is a form of gender stereotypes. They have two different sides, one filled with pink dolls, teddy bears, and paint sets while the other is filled with blue monster trucks, light sabers, and skateboards. As little children we know which side is ours because of how society sets up our standards. We need to stop having two different sides of the toy store and we need to combine those and let kids choose what they want, not what society wants.
Gender stereotypes can really drop a person’s self-confidence to a low-level, and people can’t be themselves if they are pressured to follow these standards. It’s hard for women to go anywhere without seeing many forms of gender stereotypes. For example, at the grocery store there are magazine racks that show a photo-shopped model and the message: “Get this amazing summer body by doing these great workouts.” This message is body shaming women who don’t look like the model featured in the magazine and encouraging them to follow the standard of how a woman “should” look.
Personally, I see the checklist that society sets for women as unbelievable and disgusting. Society’s standards for how a woman’s body should be or how she dresses, eats, and learns should not exist and a woman has the right to do these things as she pleases. Women and girls go through a lot and many are strong. Some have depression and anxiety and they suffer through eating disorders just to look like the models on magazines. Their lifestyle changes and they attempt to follow the expectations that hurt them physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Gender stereotypes have affected me as well. I always heard from people who say I am fat, and I need to lose weight. I need to wear dresses, or that my hair must always be done every day. But I am happy with the way I look. I know I don’t want to change anything about myself. We need to encourage women and girls to love and care for who they are and how they are. We need to shut society up and do it our way!
Gender stereotypes also affect men and boys. Society has standards for men and boys on how they should behave, what they should wear, how they act, etc. Some include…
- Boys have no feelings
- Men are aggressive
- Boys love to play sports
- Men are stronger than women
- If a boy doesn’t want to be in a relationship or if he is shy he is considered to be “gay”
These stereotypes affect boys and don’t allow them to discover their identity and do different things. Society also brands that a man has to be muscular, strong and work in certain jobs such as an engineer or a construction worker.
We can block gender stereotypes by pointing it out in magazines, in public, in school and in the workplace. If we start spreading awareness about this issue, people will start to understand how these stereotypes affect people. If we keep the message going around, those who are affected by these stereotypes will feel encouraged to be themselves and find their own way, and not the way society wants them to be.
“Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong.” -Emma Watson
Let me know what you think. Don’t be afraid to comment below. Thanks for reading.
~ Mona. K
Vista Virtual Students Present The Positive Project 