Clothing, in our society, is closely integrated with sexuality and gender definition. Men often determine who they will have a sexual interest in based on the clothing of the person in question. A woman in a housecoat is not generally seen as a sexual target in the same way that a woman in a leather miniskirt is. Because women are seen as weaker than men and as belonging to them sexually based on the gender roles of our society, men tend to think they have power over people wearing women's clothes, whether that person be a boy or a girl. This is a power they would not assume that they have over boys, and it is the association with femininity and the stereotypes that are perpetrated about females in general that causes this.
A reflection of how gender roles are determined and enforced in society can be seen in a number of sources. For one example, research has shown that children's literature is influenced by gender role definitions, as well as helping to make and encourage those definitions. " in children's literature, males typically are portrayed as competent and achievement oriented, while the image of females is that they are limited in what they do, and less competent in their ability to accomplish things. Female characters are involved in few of the activities and assigned few of the characteristics or goals that are accorded prestige and esteem in our society." (Kortenhaus) This separation of the abilities of boys vs. girls in something as influential as children's literature creates something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Because everyone is lead to believe that boys are capable of certain things and girls are not, boys tend to be the ones to have the confidence to pursue those things while girls become contented to submit to not reaching their potential. This kind of stereotyping actually encourages gender-bending in girls as they "must identify with the male figures in these stories if they are to acquire any sense of competence or achievement from the literary role models."
Kortenhaus) Girls must take on the role of a boy in order to be independent or have strength, while boys must take on the role of a girl in order to be nurturing or sensitive. The necessity to properly fit into gender roles to be considered "normal" leads parents to foster these prejudices to continue in their children. Even parents that hold more liberal views in general will try to protect their children by attempting to mold them into the proper gender behaviors. "Parents want to teach their children sex-appropriate chores and family roles (Thrall, 1978, p. 264). Even "liberated" parents do not wish to risk having their children become misfits in society as it is currently constituted... In essence, gender-equal parents feel some social necessity for traditional gender norms in socializing their children."
Peters) the attitude that parents have about their children's gender identity and behavior has a significant impact on their self-esteem and ability to develop into healthy individuals. "Parental attitudes toward their children have a strong impact on their developing sense of self and self-esteem, with parental warmth and support being key factors...Sex role stereotypes are well established in early childhood. Messages about what is appropriate based on gender are so strong, that even when children are exposed to different attitudes and experiences, they will revert to stereotyped choices." (Wit) Yet, despite the fact that parents and other authorities will try to convince children that it is for their own good that they are being forced into the stereotypical gender roles, it has been found over and over again that people able to break free from those gender roles are healthier and happier individuals. "Androgynous individuals have...
Gender Back in history, the only roles of a Korean woman were to be a good daughter, a good wife, and a good mother. She was expected to sacrifice for her family, caring not only for her husband but also for her in-laws. Similarly in America, as the picture published in 1950's "Harmony at Home" shows, only men were authoritative. In the picture, the man is the only one sitting comfortably
Men believed that a drinking woman was more likely than a sober woman to engage in illicit sex; they feared the sexuality of sober women, and the fears increased with each cup of wine or jug of beer. Nonetheless, women had their cups and their jugs. Some historians have failed to recognise the strong connection between drink and sexual activity in traditional Europe and have as a consequence attributed
The idea that gender differences in education might be genetically-based is confirmed somewhat in other studies that suggest that some genetic differences might influence achievement in certain areas of education (Zohar, 1998). However, genetic influences only comprise a small portion of the available studies. Many other studies point out the tremendous influence stereotyping has on gender and education, and suggesting that males and females are traditionally assigned certain 'roles' within
Essay Topic Examples 1. The Evolution of Gender Neutrality in the English Language: Explore the historical progression of gender-neutral language, addressing how societal changes have influenced the use of pronouns and gender-specific terminology. Analyze the impact on literature, media, and everyday speech. 2. Gender Neutrality in Education: A Pathway to Equality: Examine the role of gender-neutral practices in the educational system. Discuss the implications of a curriculum free from gender biases and how gender-neutral
Gender and Identity Perhaps the most important question facing any human, be they male or female, is that of the discovery of their own identity. The majority of child development theories, from Freud onward, have dealt with the way in which children must learn to disengage their own identity from that of their parents (mothers in particular) and discover who they are as adults. Yet this process is far from over
GENDER ISSUES & COMMUNICATION AT WORK Gender & Communication As with a number of changes in business, such as "going green," diversity in the workplace was not initially or always welcomed. Eventually, as the times change, there are some organizational changes that must be made across industries simply to keep current with the trends in business practice. Diversity with respect to culture and gender is certainly a change that came with intense
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