Gender Stereotypes Still Prevail in Modern Society

A question that has concerned many people to this present day, but has yet to be answered, continues to linger in the minds of those who feel threatened. We live in a time where women proceed to sense hesitation or uncertainness when competing against males. Females have typically had to ‘bow down’ to males by reason of obligation, since that is the way things have been for centuries. However, the relationships between males and females have finally become a topic of conversation and an idea for change. Gender stereotypes are being recognized as something to improve on within our society.

According to the book “The Good Wives Guide” from the 1950’s, women were only accepted as homemakers. They were expected to have the house immaculately sparkling and spotless with dinner freshly cooked and steaming on the table, including a recently poured alcoholic beverage, awaiting their hard-working husband. Children and wives had to look presentable and not be bothersome when the man of the house arrived home from a tiresome day.

In this time period, men were received as the strongest in the family. They were the boss and the provider for all financial encounters. Additionally, they were to discipline children and set rules to abide by, making the household stable for all. Men were perpetually known to fix the broken pieces and do the yard work around their residence.

To this current date, gender stereotypes are still taught from the moment we are born and wrapped in a pink or blue blanket, expressing a definitive dress code for females and males. Growing up, we teach our children to play with gender-specific toys. Girls are entertained by dolls, plush animals, and dress-up clothing while boys are given toy trucks, nerf guns, and superhero gadgets. Cross-gender toys are available, but as a society we tend to label toys as either masculine or feminine.

Children are unaware of gender stereotypes. They simply do not care whether they are playing with a pink coloured Lego set or a blue one. They do not think that it is demeaning for a boy to dress in a “girly” outfit or for a girl to do the opposite. As a child you are very naïve and all you truly care for are the things that make you the happiest. Children look up to their parental guardian’s opinion, therefore if the parent is telling them to choose a certain toy that suites their gender they will most likely choose it.  Parents should be accounted for because they are enforcing gender stereotypes and teaching their child what is best for them based on their gender.

A reoccurring aspect adolescents and adults face growing up in our society is that men and women are treated differently in regards to certain topics. Females are frequently complimented for how they look, teaching them that it is necessary to always look suitable and perfect. Whereas males are more often complimented for their achievements. Another example would be when boys act rambunctious we say “boys will be boys.” However, if girls replicate this action, they are considered tomboys and unfeminine.

As of today, women are still expected to behave in a mannerly way, acting friendly, passive, and nurturing. If acting in an “improper” order, they are taken as bossy and aggressive making them looked down upon and disliked. As for the male gender, behaving insistent and extremely competitive are seen as masculine, strong-willed, and confident. Men gain respect through showing masculinity.

In past generations, women were treated unfairly when it came to equal rights. Tragically in some parts of the world today, women are still not given equal healthcare, nutrition, education, and ethnic values as men. Generally, men were given more sufficient job opportunities and could vote long before women could. However, since then, women have evolved into strong, independent and successful people and are showing power by speaking out in the media about feminism and gender inequality. They have demanded equal rights and have been responsible for higher achieving positions in the workplace. The common future for a woman is no longer perceived as go to school, get a job, marry, and have children.  Slowly we are seeing more females in law, military, and politics rather than the stereotype of childcare, healthcare, and social work. Men have also taken to working in different fields such as healthcare, education, and clothing industries.

Equal rights for both women and men should not be a problem still occurring today. As of 2015, women shouldn’t feel threatened by men and men shouldn’t be threatened by women. The world needs change and every person has the power to do it. So my question is, why are women viewed as less empowering than the male population?

Written by Tessa R. Adamski