Consequences Of Gender Stereotypes

Language for society is important especially when it is used to communicate between one another. Language and gender are related in a way that the language and the settings that the language that we use differentiates the two genders. Most of the time, males are considered to be more dominant and that females are less dominant in the way they use the language in different context as well as the tone that is used when they speak. For example, “what a lovely idea!” used by females and “what an awesome idea!” used by males. Gender biases in language can also relate as there are certain terms or words that are used where its basic form refers to the description of men and not used to describe women.

In Igbo society, these roles are defined by both their culture and beliefs. Many aspects of their lives have men as the prominent heads of their households, but women also have some importance in many of the concepts. In the novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe presents the idea of how Igbo culture and religion define the roles for each gender and examines how unequal roles in society can lead to conflicts between each gender in order to illustrate how they can lead to permanently damaged relationships. The main driving forces behind gender role beliefs in Things Fall Apart are a result of the ideologies set by the Ibo people. Their culture dictated men as stronger people who did more work, while women were dictated as individuals who were weak and inferior because they did household activities.

Despite inequity, there is a myriad of comparable traits that are shared by humans which portrays our personality. It is in one's power to decide whether or not to conform to society. Indeed both texts include many similarities and differences such as the stereotypical roles set on each gender, their search for individuality and their desired privileges. While approaching adulthood, many people encounter obstacles which lead their understanding to a fact that gender stereotypes do not only occur for women but, for men as well. The narrator in Boys and Girls discovers the societies’ views and expectations of her.

It is believed that stereotypic views might affect individuals’ self-cognitive development, as well as their feelings, actions, and attitudes. According to Allen (2000), stereotype is associated with the development of beliefs concerning the traits supposedly possessed by most members of a society. It is an exaggerated belief that members of a group have certain traits that are peculiar to them. This implies that the impact of stereotype tends to change the individual’s perception of reality over a period of time. Stereotypes are widely held beliefs about the character and behavior of all members of a group.

Social Breakdown in The Great Gatsby Women can achieve what they want using their intelligence, but men treat them in a way that makes them feel worth less than they actually do or are unable to do things because of that. “The thing that women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.” (Roseanne Barr). Women’s surroundings and the way they are treated affects their decisions and behavior. Also, Men play a role in how they are treated and viewed.

A majority of the world’s population is female. Yet despite the fact in many cultures females have often been treated as though they were a minority group. They have been the subject of strong negative stereotypes, and they have faced over discrimination in many spheres of life. (Baron, 1997) The difference in the way male and female are treated is a result of gender roles. Gender roles are the expectation, defined by society that indicates what appropriate behaviour is for men and women.

Moreover, the discrimination in social classes leads a path to discrimination in gender roles. People, especially women, were thrust into gender specific roles which withheld them from society. “The diabolical happiness of men on the loose presented an even greater threat to women” shows that women were treated as objects and as something to throw away. One of the things that was thought as useless trash was themselves. It is very clear in the stories that the authors didn’t have very high opinions of themselves.

People deeply influence and have a huge impact on each other. Interacting with others help us modify our thoughts, behaviour, attitudes, and feelings and adjust according to the needs of our society and culture. It is through socialisation that gender roles and stereotypes are developed and learned. Gender stereotypes have a huge impact and deeply affect the way we behave and think. Simply put gender stereotypes are the characteristics that are considered to be unique traits of women versus men (Cuddy, 2010).

Feminism Today a lot of women, and some men, will say, “I’m not a feminist, but…,” and then go on to add that they hold certain beliefs about women’s equality and traditional gender roles that actually fall into a feminist framework. Their reluctance to self-identify as feminists underscores the negative image that feminists and feminism hold but also suggests that the actual meaning of feminism may be unclear. Feminism refers to the belief that women and men should have equal opportunities in economic, political, and social life, while sexism refers to a belief in traditional gender role stereotypes and in the inherent inequality between men and women. In the United States, feminism as a social movement began during the abolitionist period

Some may possess high level of masculinity where as some with femininity. But some with high degree of both .and the index is called Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). The first euphoria faded as criticism began to be voiced against BSRI type psychometrics. If certain qualities are seen inherent to being female, these then also appear unalterable. But if we claim that they are unique to being female, then we are being in the patriarchal.