Sexual Stereotypes

The stereotyping of men and women is so apparent but at the same time society is so blind to it. In society parents teach their children gender role at a very early age. Gender role refers to the attitudes, behavior, and activities that are socially defined as appropriate for each sex learned through the socialization process. Males are traditionally expected to show aggressiveness and toughness, and females are expected to be passive and nurturing. For example, little boys play with toy guns and play "cops and robbers" and little girls play with baby dolls and play "house". What we need to be thinking about is; to what extent are these portrayals hyperboles and are they dated.

The mass media are powerful factors that influence society's beliefs, attitudes, and the values they have of themselves and others as well as the world. If a male is seen in media doing "feminine" things, such as shopping or cleaning he is seen as weak, and women who are seen doing "masculine" things such as car repair and management positions she is seen as callous and cruel. Even though media still pretends that men and women in society are equal, it isn't the case. Women are still seen as homemakers and men are still seen as professional, successful and independent. To an extent, these stereotypes are true but one cannot call them unison throughout an entire gender class. The stereotyping that occurs within what men and women do is the same now as it was fifty years ago.

If Men Could Menstruate by Gloria Steinem asserts that if men could actually menstruate, it would become “an enviable, boast-worthy, masculine event. Men would brag about how long and how much.” (Steinem) I say this because women always are complaining about their periods and men give no support in getting through this monthly event. I completely agree with Gloria Steinem in her statement about men turning menstruation into a “masculine event”. The reasoning behind men making menstruation a masculine event is so they don’t look weak in anyone’s eyes. Men must be strong and show no weakness (which is another typical stereotype).

What about men in their relationship with women. Am I wrong in saying when men do lower themselves to engage in womanly activities they generally are way better than women. Like, the best chefs are men without a shadow of doubt, and that’s weird because it's something traditionally done by women. But if a man sets his mind to it he really kicks some butt. I think generally