Gender Stereotype 

By gender stereotyping is meant that a gender is linked with certain behaviours, and it is considered that certain traits or attributes are adequate for men and others for women. Gender stereotyping occurs when a gender is linked with certain attributes, thoughts and roles. Gender stereotypes are one-sided, they are exaggerated images of men or wo, and they are constantly firmed up by different social institutions like family, school and media.

Definitions of Stereotype 

1. As stereotype is a label which involves a process of categorization and evaluation.

2. Although it may refer to situations or places, it is most used in conjunction with representations of social groups.

3. In simplest terms, an easily grasped characteristic (usually negative) is presumed to belong to the whole group.

According to sociologists, "Gender stereotyping is a process under which children are moulded into sex roles, and due to which the adults and children are deprived of certain aspects of their personality development."

                    Common Gender Stereotypes

There are several gender stereotypes to define each gender. Following are the common traits or stereotypes linked with women :

• submissive                                                            • emotional          

• quiet                                                                       • neat and clean

• clumsy                                                                    • artistic

• housewife                                                              • child-rearing

• nurturing                                                               • rational

• unrealistic

On the country, the gender stereotypes linked with men are concerned with showing them as macho and masculine, as follows :

• aggressive                                                             • loud

• unemotional                                                         • messy

• athletic                                                                   • mathematics and                                                                                                science-oriented

• high positioned                                                    • money-maker

• rational                                                                  • unemotional and                                                                                                 level-headed

• logical

              Masculine Traits                            Feminine Traits                       

      active                                                         considerate 

   aggressive                                                  emotional

competitive                                                 gentle

               independent                                          excitable in major crisis

       rough                                                           tasteful   

               self-confident                                       understanding of others 

        dominating                                                       submissive

  Gender Stereotype Visual Map (Source : Michelle Bingert)

Stereotype gender roles are learnt from childhood. Guardians transmit specific behaviours and roles to them when they tell boys not to cry like girls, and tell girls to behave like women. In such a situation, they are transmitting to children the desirable behaviours of them. It is from these transmissions that children name certain behaviours as feminine and masculine. In the school years, children accept art and music as girlish or feminine and mathematics, athletics and mechanical skills as boyish or masculine. Girls too accept boys smarter than themselves, and think that boys should attain accomplishments. In most societies, this is considered proper even today. It is true of less developed and developing countries of the world if girls do not acquire higher education, or do not try to be self-dependent financially, or not work, as they have to ultimately marry and look after the family and husband.

      ALSO READ --

• http://www.utkarsheducation.com/2022/03/gender-identity.html
• http://www.utkarsheducation.com/2022/03/gender-introduction-static-meaning-definition.html
• http://www.utkarsheducation.com/2022/03/meaning-of-sexuality.html