Stereotypes On Women

Our understanding of gender inequalities in society is based on how hegemonic masculinity operates. Subordinate men only exist because they are measured in relation to hegemonic masculinity. Even so, as a group, subordinate men can still access power and privilege by aspiring to hegemonic masculine traits (Messner, 1997). Emphasised femininity implies that individuals are orientated to accommodate the desires and interests of men (Kilduff & Mehra, 1996). Women who possess hegemonic masculine characteristics, such as successful, competitive and physically superior women, are often seen as threats to men, unfeminine and ‘bad’ (Vescio, Schlenker & Lenes, 2010).

LITERATURE VIEW In today’s world, it cannot be denied that patriarchy, political, social and traditional power of male over other genders, is faced inevitably (Goldberg, 1993) Sexism is one of the most common problematic issues in today’s society that shapes people behavior on gender and usually it is seen as hostile behavior against women. However, its one side of which people are unaware is missed: positive-thought part of sexism (Glick and Fiske, 1996). Benevolent sexism and hostile sexism are subdivisions of ambivalent sexism. Benevolent sexism refers to sexist ideas, behaviors thought for the benefit of females. On the contrary, hostile sexism is having negative, unfavorable notions and behave accordingly against women (Glick and Fiske,

The study of intellectual powers starts between two sexes, with men simply claiming more education and rights in society. The documentary, Miss Representation explores how media’s often degrading the portrayals of women. Jane Fonda said, “Society is toxic to young girls”, in relation most advertising discriminates women. Majority of the time media is used to make women look weak, it usually contradicts gender portrayal guidelines, based on the sexuality, authority, violence, and language content. I personally think that all of this is true, media reinforces the gender stereotype that men are always looking to attract women; and women are merely the objects looking to get caught.

Gander stereotypes could limit women’s and men’s capacity to develop their personal abilities. There are many gender stereotypes about men and women such as men are leaders, men are strong, men are rulers, but women are treated conversely like a second gender. In the poem "Rite of Passage," Sharon Olds describes all today's stereotypes about male and shows how the world views a normal man in a society. Also, in the writing "The War Against Boys" Christina Hoff Sommers writes Patricia O'Reilly opinion about that "It is really clear that boys are Number One in this society and in most of the world" (283). All those gender stereotypes could lead to misogyny, sexual harassment, and violence into families, at school, even on streets.

To put it simply, gender is the identification of male or female due to their ability to perform as male or female (reproductive roles). it could also be seen as a range of characteristics pertaining to and differentiating between masculinity and femininity. Gender plays a very significant role in the society. The gender of a person could determine how well they fit in the society as some societies tend to favor the males better than the females as they believe that males are superior to female. This in some societies is a problem as women are trying to fight for their right to be able to do things that the males do.

Tolmach Lakoff (1975) in her attention to masculinity and men´s use of language suggested that gendered linguistic norms for men served as ways of portraying an engagement with power. This issue was addressed not only with respect to men of different social classes but also to men whose political or occupational identities distant them from masculine norms. Tolmach Lakoff´s work led the way for those men who may choose to resist the trend of masculinity. There is also a dominant and degrading discussion on women´s desire to “having it all” (usually as one of the female form of greed) or the rise of the “supermom” and the “soccer mom”. According to her, such words clearly indicate that women´s status is still not equal to men´s: it is normal

“Deep cultural beliefs in male/female differences in attitudes and abilities supported this situation and giving the women the vote posed a direct threat to male powers and privileges” (Cooney Robert Taking a New Look - The Enduring Significance of the American Woman Suffrage Movement). Some groups of activists and reformers were against

Gender roles with man and women are viewed to be so different when in reality both are close to being equally the same. In the play “For The Men Who Still Don't Get It” Diehl, not only express how she feels about male dominance playing a huge role in society but the feelings a woman experiences due to men's actions and beliefs. When Diehl says “What if to many of your friends had been raped by women wielding giant dildos and no K-Y jelly¨. Only shows the control over women's body and changed gender roles with a men to a women to what a women would do if they were men. In The Vagina Monologues, Eve Ensler has a similar saying to Diehl.

The Women’s Movement excluded women of color as well as queer women of color because the Anglo Women’s Movement focused on at least three positions: some wanted access to whatever men had access to, others felt that men had all the power and were responsible for women oppression, and others felt that women oppression was one of many in society that had to be corrected (NietoGomez 54). The Anglo Women’s Movement felt that they needed equal opportunities as men, while the Chicana Feminist Movement focused on racism, sexism, and classism. The Chicana Feminist Movement recognized that men did not have all the power because the Chicano men had no power, they made up for that lack of power through “male privilege” (NietoGomez 55). Due to so much oppression and machismo the Chicana Feminist Movement came to existence. The fact that there were two Women’s Movements hurt the strength of each movement because it was easier to divide and conquer; although it did hurt the movements strength, it

All women have experienced it, even if they are not fully aware of it. Benevolent sexism is a form of sexism that casts women as the weaker sex and in need of protection or help of men. BS is seen in many situations where a man believes a woman is not capable of doing an action herself, such as computer issues or lifting heavy items. While these actions in and of themselves are not necessarily harmful towards women, they reinforce gender roles by subtly implying that women are weak and unable to do such things themselves. (Fiske and Glick 2011) Benevolent sexism seems harmless, but it is a lot darker than it seems; it actually is directly correlated with hostile sexism (HS) which is a full-on negative view of women.