Gender Roles & Stereotypes
What makes a man a man? Is there a perfect woman? Who says we have to live up to these expectations? This section will explore the gender roles we have heard our whole lives and how these have created stereotypes that we see and hear everywhere. What would the world look like if we didn’t have to do something “just cuz that’s what girls/boys are supposed to do?”
What is Gender?
The concept of gender has changed over time. Today it has a more complicated definition then if you get a pink or blue hat in the delivery room.
If you’ve ever been asked on a survey to put a check mark next to your “sex”, it typically has 2 boxes, male or female. This is because, when we are born, people have assigned us as being either male or female based on our physical characteristics. This is called “Biological Sex”.
Once people are assigned a biological sex, our culture and society have created Gender Expectations around how that person should act. Females are expected to “act feminine” and males are expected to “act masculine." For instance, have you ever heard anyone say, “boys don’t cry”, or “girls talk on the phone a lot”?
Believe it or not, expectations about gender may change from culture to culture, and they may also change over time. For example, in the 1600's boys were dressed in lace and frill. This one painting shows a young man in typical dress. Now, little boys are put in shorts and pants. Today, many cultures say ‘boys do not wear skirts’.
Also, how we feel inside, like feeling masculine or feminine, is called “Gender Identity”. Sometimes people who are biologically male feel masculine while sometimes people born biologically male feel feminine. Likewise, sometimes people who are biologically female feel feminine, and sometimes people born biologically female feel masculine. So, your gender identity is separate from the biological sex you were given at birth.
How Does this Effect Me?
Stereotypes, specifically gender stereotypes, hurt people. Stereotypes are a way to strip people of their individual characteristics and to put them in categories. Stereotypes make it easier to put down or ignore someone you really don’t know.
Examples of gender stereotypes:
| Girls | Weak
Caretakers Gossipy Gold Diggers |
| Boys | Tough
Loud Insensitive Players |
What To Do
It's time to break Gender Stereotypes! Here are some tips how:
- Take a critical look at the media and how it uses gender stereotypes.
- Show respect to people who are different.
- Take a stand! Check out our Make A Difference section.
- Think about how gender stereotypes have affected your life.
- Learn how other cultures and people define gender.
- Read books that have characters that break gender stereotypes.
- Ask questions that challenge gender stereotypes.
Support your friends and celebrate your differences!
Gender Public Advocacy Coalition
Gender Youth
The place to go to connect with other people who believe this world is bigger then masculine and feminine boundaries!
Mix It Up Program
The mix it up program encourages students to “mix up” social boundaries in schools. On this website find out how to “mix it Up” in your school.
The JUST for Youth Coalition
The JUST for Youth Coalition is committed to increasing awareness, reducing risky behaviors, and providing support for gay, lesbian, bisexual, trangendered, and questioning (GLBTQ) youth in Delaware.
The Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League
(SMYAL)
A Washington DC based agency dedicated to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.
