Stereotypes of males and females
VICTORIAN ERA
Merriam-Webster defines a stereotype as believing unfairly that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the same. Therefore, gender stereotyping is an unfair belief that all women or men should behave the same because of their sex. Gender stereotypes have changed drastically over centuries. The Victorian era painted the iconic stereotype of women showing servitude and domestication. The women of the time period were seen as very modest and coy. They rarely expressed their opinions. The men were the bread winners and went to work while the women stayed home, cooking and cleaning, in preparation for their husbands. As time went on, women began to have a more independent role from men but the difference between men and women was still very pronounced. During World War II, women began to get jobs in factories while the men were at war. The women’s action sparked the idea that women could contribute to the household income while also maintaining duties in the home. While this revolution helped women get more equality with men outside the home, they were still expected to prepare meals and clean. But, the women’s step out of the home brought about the potential for women to alter gender roles.
Merriam-Webster defines a stereotype as believing unfairly that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the same. Therefore, gender stereotyping is an unfair belief that all women or men should behave the same because of their sex. Gender stereotypes have changed drastically over centuries. The Victorian era painted the iconic stereotype of women showing servitude and domestication. The women of the time period were seen as very modest and coy. They rarely expressed their opinions. The men were the bread winners and went to work while the women stayed home, cooking and cleaning, in preparation for their husbands. As time went on, women began to have a more independent role from men but the difference between men and women was still very pronounced. During World War II, women began to get jobs in factories while the men were at war. The women’s action sparked the idea that women could contribute to the household income while also maintaining duties in the home. While this revolution helped women get more equality with men outside the home, they were still expected to prepare meals and clean. But, the women’s step out of the home brought about the potential for women to alter gender roles.
A significant turning point occurred in the mid twentieth century. Since World War II, great strides have been taken to focus on making gender roles more equal. In today’s society, it is now uncommon for women to be unemployed. The notion of “stay at home dads” is also becoming more popular. Society is becoming more accepting of men being primary care givers to children, as well as women. While there are still many stereotypes against both men and women, there is much more awareness and there are groups fighting to end it. The emergence a gender spectrum has also become a popular idea in present day. Gender is no longer cut and dry: masculine and feminine. People are becoming more androgynous and exhibiting traits of both traditional male and female characteristics. There will always be differences between males and females due to genetics. However, the gender spectrum can be equalized.
The gender spectrum concept led to the emphasis on the differences between gender and sex. Although, stereotype exists, we cannot forget that boys and girls are different in that fact that they have different chromosomes. While gender can be equalized and have an array of diversity, sex will always have some distinct differences. Even though, this should not create different stereotypes it does create a difference between diseases. “Boys are at greater risk than girls for most of the major learning and developmental disorders-as much as four times more likely to suffer from autism, attention deficit disorder, and dyslexia. Girls, for their part, are at least twice as likely as boys to suffer from depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. Boys are 73% more likely to die in accidents and more than twice as likely to be the victims of violent crimes (other sexual assault). Girls are twice as likely as boys to attempt suicide, but boys are three times likelier to succeed at it.” Despite obvious genetic differences, every person across the gender spectrum should have equal opportunities to succeed.
For more information on the resources used in this article, visit the following links:
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=3-OYWPKl-gUC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=womenroles world warII&ots=4BBcTe38BF&sig=xquGuRg6L11cPAHksTR0R_D9JXA
http://books.google.com/bookhl=en&lr=&id=XutLIQTmFDQC&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=victorianwomenstereotypes&ots=wC4zzPovyV&sig=_Jijf5Wbt-L6u3gb5OYmhtvK9Ho.
Milam , E. "Making males aggressive and females coy." Women, Science, and Technology: a reader in feminist sceince
studies. (2001): 175-193.
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=3-OYWPKl-gUC&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=womenroles world warII&ots=4BBcTe38BF&sig=xquGuRg6L11cPAHksTR0R_D9JXA
http://books.google.com/bookhl=en&lr=&id=XutLIQTmFDQC&oi=fnd&pg=PA3&dq=victorianwomenstereotypes&ots=wC4zzPovyV&sig=_Jijf5Wbt-L6u3gb5OYmhtvK9Ho.
Milam , E. "Making males aggressive and females coy." Women, Science, and Technology: a reader in feminist sceince
studies. (2001): 175-193.