Gendre Stereotyping Essay, Research Paper
In the year 2000, the average person is spending more of his/her leisure time watching television, or using their computer. The shows on TV and the information available to us available through all types of media influence our decision process. An individuals perception of the world is ever-changing as he/she recieves more and more information. Although being informed is good, it can be very dangerous. TV influences every aspect of our lives; our life style, what we wear, how we look, and how we act.
Children are more susceptible to the influence of television compared to adults. This is true because of a lack of maturity. Children often identify with a popular movie or television character although both adults and children are influenced by television. Information acquired through all media can be destructive. We know information can be harmful when we use the terms “tomboy” and “sissy”.
These terms automatically make the accused party an outcast. The term “tomboy” is used when referring to a girl who may seem slightly masculine, whereas the term “sissy” is used to describe a boy whe may seem slightly feminine. The socially accepted despcription of what it is to be masculine is to be strong, to be able to support a family, and to have high stamina. On the other hand, what it is to be feminine is to be a loving mother, and to stay home with their kids. Men and women have very specific and very different dress codes. Men must where suits and women must wear dresses. Men must stay away from feminine colours such as purple and pink. Whoever crosses the gendre based lines may be made fun of or shunned by others.
We are not only trying to fit in the gendre molds ourselves, but also tend to pass them on to our own children. We attempt to protect them from being shunned by society by setting the mold for them as well.
The key differences between men and women seem to have been existing since the beginning of time. This is because from birth, a boy is dressed in blue and a girl wears pink. Children even have much different toys. Boys play with trucks and violence oreinted toys, and girls play with dolls. Since men and women are conditioned to be different from birth, it is not surprising that there is a huge gender gap.
Gender gaps are common in sports, because sports are traditionally regarded as masculine activities. Women athletes, predominately tennis and basketball players, are afraid of losing their femininity. These sprots are known for having a large number of gay players, and therefore hetero athletes become targets of suspicion of being gay. In an attempt to negate this offset, hetero women athletes tend to act more feminine.
Most people are still uncomfortable with gay men and women. Gay people tend to be linked to negative things such as AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Most straight men feel uncomfortable around gay men, and act paranoid. Becuase they are the exception, it is harder for a gay person to get a well paying job. Although some people think that being gay is a disease and can be transmitted, studies have shown that gay people are born gay. There is a specific piece of DNA that dictates whether or not a person is gay.