By: Leah Pradeep

Editor: Pruthvi C.S, Namitha A

Gender stereotypes are pre-existing beliefs that people have about the characteristics of people based on their gender. People are taught these gender stereotypes at a very young age, and they show evidence of knowing objects or activities associated with a particular gender by the age of 5.

When these children make a judgement about a person, they apply the said stereotypes while creating a first impression of them, then rely on that judgement and are less likely to consider other information.

There are many problems with Gender Stereotyping. It can affect someone’s self-esteem and diminish their confidence. People hesitate to showcase themselves as they like. Men are expected to be “strong”, both physically and mentally. When they do not fit these stereotypes, they are ridiculed. Men are expected to be “manly” and are criticized for showing emotion (which some see as a weakness).

Women are considered to be weaker than men, and are assumed to not be able to do certain activities because it's not considered “feminine”. They’re considered to be more sensitive as they express their emotions, and are assumed to be fragile. Gender stereotypes also affect the way people want to show themselves. Many people cannot wear the clothes and accessories that they wish to because they “do not match their gender”. Men are not supposed to wear dresses, or experiment with makeup, whereas women are expected to dress and act “ladylike”, even if they are not comfortable with it.

Clothing styles being used to determine gender also affects people that do not identify as male or female, as they could be misgendered by the outfits they’re wearing.

Gender Stereotypes can also affect mental health. Men undergo the same emotions as women do, but these have been categorized as feminine. They are taught at an early age by society to hide their emotions which means that men are less likely to seek treatment for mental illnesses. It all comes down to how accepting society is with these symptoms.

Wage gaps are still an issue, and it is majorly fueled by the same stereotypes. In some places, women get paid less than men for doing the exact same job. Many jobs dominated by women are low paid. Some people that are eager to diminish evidence of the wage gap would claim that low paying jobs are voluntarily chosen by women by going into stereotypically female professions. But even when men and women work in the same career, men make more on average than women.

These stereotypes also affect the LGBTQIA+ community. Gender is viewed as a rigid construct, and those who have features of a particular gender are expected to have other traits of that gender as well. This also implants the view that gay men are always feminine and gay women are masculine, and that if they don’t fit the stereotype, they’re not considered to be their preferred identity. This leads to assumptions that a gender non-conforming person is either male or female, and this is disrespectful towards their gender identities.

Gender Stereotypes can be inconsiderate towards the feelings of many, and eradicating these stereotypes can help make a more inclusive society.