Gender Stereotypes and their Effect on People

It is not in one’s nature. Gender stereotypes are people’s expectation to behave, think, speak, and interact a certain way based on their gender. Gender roles are stereotypes of behaviors that are considered appropriate for one’s gender in society. Although some may believe that different genders innately behave a particular way, gender roles are adopted since childhood through various social factors such as expectations of an individual’s family, friends, community, and such beliefs shape a person to conform to society’s idea of normalcy.

Some may think that different genders innately act in a specific way. Research has shown that women are naturally more inclined to take on jobs with fewer responsibilities. For instance, matters concerning the wage gap have raised various questions among gender roles. Through a 2008 survey about gender roles in the workplace, women’s “responses point to concerns associated with job pressures” (Galinsky 1). Specifically, among millennial women “31% cited concerns about the increased job pressure that goes along with greater responsibility at work . . . and 13% were concerned about not having enough flexibility to successfully manage work and personal or family life in a job with more responsibility” (Galinsky 1). This suggests that women naturally prefer jobs with lower pressure and responsibilities. Such behaviors are said to be gender specific and innate; therefore, a wage gap between male and female is evident. However, according to the World of Health gender roles start to develop since childhood and are caused by parents’ expectations on specific genders’ behaviors. To illustrate, “studies have shown that parents tend to respond more quickly to an infant daughter’s cries than those of an infant son. Parents also tend to cuddle girls more than they do boys. They are also more likely to allow boys to try new things and activities–such as learning to walk and explore–than they allow girls. Parents tend to fear more for the safety of girls” (“Gender” 1). This contributes to the understandings as to why girls are more delicate and fearful than boys. In addition, parents’ affections towards infant girls gradually teach them to be more affectionate and compassionate. In a family, males are obliged to deliver more industrious activities because girls are overprotected for their safety since childhood. This explains why females take on jobs with minimal responsibilities.

Gender roles can be recognized in distinct aspects of a family as well. In earlier times, “fathers were employed out of the home, and mothers tended to the household. That meant not only housekeeping but taking primary responsibility for child upbringing” (Neuman 1). In the past, a man is responsible for going to work and earning wealth to finance family bills. A wife, on the other hand, is responsible for taking care of her children and performing house chores. However, gender roles have minimized with time. Cross-gender roles are no longer uncommon in western culture.

Additionally, gender stereotypes hold a critical aspect in the development of gender roles. Such stereotypes are prominent in earlier literary works. According to the International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, “[s]ocial identity theory contends that people conceptualize the self at different levels of inclusiveness that range from the subordinate to the superordinate” (“Stereotypes” 1). Stereotypes are defined as people’s perspectives on others’ social identity. It is one’s outlook of categorizing different groups of people, expectations for others, and the idea of normalcy within a group. Gender roles and stereotypes being implemented by social factors are notable in earlier times as depicted in Othello. For instance, women are treated as a commodity by their husbands. To illustrate, Iago tells Othello, “Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack: If it proves lawful prize, he’s made forever” (I,ii,60). Iago refers to Desdemona as a prize, suggesting that Othello has won an award by receiving Desdemona. Iago regards Desdemona as an object, a medal to show off Othello as a nobleman. Women are handled as their husbands’ possessions, which require them to operate under compliance and fear of men. This ties back to gender roles today as women take on positions with fewer obligations because they are more comfortable in settings of limited power. Furthermore, Iago tells Desdemona and Emilia, “You rise to play, and go to bed to work” (II,i,114). Iago only uses women for sex and sees them as submissive individuals who are under his authority to “play” accordingly as he desires. The dominant role of men in families supplements to women’s passive behaviors growing up. Due to family customs of dominant males and submissive females, gender roles are acquired and executed in children’s minds since adolescence. Females become accepting of their duty to declare complete loyalty to men. This links back to the social factors that mold individuals of separate genders to behave differently.

Today, socially accepted individuals are forced to conform to gender norms. For instance, researchers diagnose non-conformists with “Gender Identity Disorder” in order to justify the “treatment of children who do not conform to stereotypical gender roles” (Helgeson 8). Such diagnosis is implied to stem from the parents’ disapproval of a child’s ‘abnormal’ behavior. Parents are concerned with children who are not in the normative fit and press treatment on those defying stereotypical gender roles. Furthermore, the “inclusion of Gender Identity Disorder as a mental illness increases the stigma and subsequent discrimination associated with gender nonconformity” (Helgeson 8). Diagnosing Gender Identity Disorder to those who do not conform to gender norms pressures people to enable public judgments control their behaviors. Individuals often feel ashamed when being diagnosed with a disorder because they appear different from their gender norms. Therefore, many try to avoid withholding a disorder by taking on gender roles.

Numerous people strive to defy gender roles in the past and often struggle with great hardships; an example of a nonconformist is Clare Boothe Luce. Although being a “highly successful independent woman” is incredibly challenging, Clare Boothe finds a way to defy gender roles and become an inspiration to aspiring women (“Clare” 1). Clare Boothe worked “for the Republican Party” in the 1900s (“Clare” 1). Women in law and politics are against the norm, especially in earlier times. Such jobs require great confidence and strong-minded individuals, qualities that are often overlooked in women. As a politician, Luce touched on a rather serious issue. Luce “proposed gender equality in the armed services” (“Clare” 2). She wanted armed forces to consist of both women and men. Jobs that require great strength are often categorized as a man’s job. Women appear too vulnerable to accomplish such tasks. Luce’s notable journey and her recognition as a public figure suggest the lack of nonconformist in society. As Luce witnessed through her journey, gender roles are constantly imposed on her through surrounding factors such as people’s beliefs of how a job belongs to a specific gender. Luce continues to stand as a well-functioning human being regardless of concerns on the diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder. As Luce progresses, she faces numerous hardships along the way.

Similarly, Alice Thompson is dealing with various obstacles regarding gender roles as well. She mentions, “According to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy I am a man. I know this because I adhere to social norms of masculinity: I am independent, confident, rational, sexual, competitive, take risks and care about my work” (“Gender” 1). Through diagnosis and therapists’ statements, Thompson does not adhere to the socially acceptable standards of women. Thompson, who portrays masculine characteristics, is categorized as a man because she stands out from the normative fit. In addition, men who exhibit feminine traits feel outcasted and pressured to conform. For instance, “young men in the UK, US and Mexico reported feeling pushed to live in the “man box”. They feel pressured to act tough, hide weakness and “look good”” (Robb 1). Unlike Thompson, some men struggle to demonstrate masculinity. Those who do not display a tough exterior are said to lack masculinity and fail to fit in the “man box”. Eventually, these misfits feel pressured to fulfill the qualifications of their specific gender. Therefore, the “sexual stereotypes are reinforced socially, politically and culturally” will “become self-fulfilling” (Johnson 2). When stereotypes are repeatedly reinforced, nonconformists will mask their identity to allow themselves to fit in. Through these social factors, gender roles are created as men and women eventually give in to the gender norms.

One’s gender role is developed and shaped by social factors and is not a biological component. Issues exploring the wage gap, gender inequality in one’s workplace, gender roles forced upon a child in a family, gender roles in marriage, and their effects on one’s character are inevitable today. Therefore, it is crucial to underscore gender bias many often overlook. It is not in one’s nature to behave in a specific form. Instead, those traits are acquired through time.

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